Chris Cleave

By: Sarah & TatiannaChris Cleave

Chris CleaveBy: Sarah and Tatianna 1Chris Cleave, 36, is the author of two well known novels titled Incendiary and Little Bee. (The Other Hand). His works have been published in twenty countries including the United States and Canada. Cleave is also known as a columnist for The Guardian, a newspaper in London. He lives in London with his wife and three children. Chris states he likes to ride bicycles and spend time with his kids.

Chris Cleave is an author of two novels named Little Bee and Incendiary. He is also a columnist for The Guardian, a newspaper in London. Cleave is 36 years old and lives in London with his three children and wife.

2Why Cleave WritesWhen asked why Chris has decided to write he quotes D.H. Lawrence-Ours is essentially a tragic age, so we refuse to take it tragically. The cataclysm has happened, we are among the ruins, we start to build up new little habitats, to have new little hopes. It is rather hard work: there is no new road into the future: but we go round, or scramble over the obstacles. Weve got to live, no matter how many skies have fallen.

Cleave quotes D.H. Lawrence to explain why he has decided to write as a profession. The quote states, Ours is essentially a tragic age, so we refuse to take it tragically. The cataclysm has happened, we are among the ruins, we start to build up new little habitats, to have new little hopes. It is rather had work; there is no new road into the future: but we go round, or scramble over the obstacles. Weve got to live, no matter how many skies have fallen.3Cleaves Favorite AuthorsCormac McCarthyDon DeLilloHoward JacobsonDavid MitchellEvie WyldPhilipp MeyerRachel SeiffertMichel HouellebecqVirginia WoolfCharles DickensJohn SteinbeckEmile Zola

Chris Cleaves favorite authors include Cormac McCarthy, author of No Country for Old Men, Philipp Meyer, author of American Rust, and Charles Dickens, author of A Christmas Carol. 4AwardsLittle Bee (The Other Hand)New York Times #1 bestsellerSunday Times bestsellerA New York Times Book Review Editors ChoicSanta Monica Citywide Reads selection 2010NPR On Point- Best Books of the YearO Magazine 10 Terrific Reads of 2009Hudson Books- Top ten Books of the YearShortlisted for the Costa Book AwardsIncendiary2006 Somerset Maugham AwardShortlisted for the 2006 Commonwealth Writers PriceUnited States Book-of-the Month Clubs First Fiction award 2005Prix Special du Jury at the French Prix des Lecteurs 2007

Cleaves works have received a lot of notable awards. Little Bees awards include New York Times #1 bestseller and O Magazine 10 Terrific Reads of 2009. Incendiary received awards including the 2006 Somerset Maugham Award and the United States Book-of-the-Month Clubs First Fiction award 2005.

5Motion PicturesIncendiary was made into a feature film starring Ewan McGregor and Michelle Williams. Little Bee is in development to become a feature film.

Cleaves Incendiary was made into feature film in 2008 which was directed by Sharon Maguire and starred Ewan McGregor and Michelle Williams. Cleaves Little Bee is said to be in development to become a feature film.

6PraiseIncendiaryChris Cleaves Incendiary is both funny and moving and, all in all, an extraordinary accomplishment . . . replete with dark comedy.- The Boston GlobeAn audacious, provocative voice [Cleave] has a clear and disturbing vision of the psychological effects of an attack on a city population.- New York Times Book ReviewLittle Bee[an] immensely readable and moving second novel. Cleave uses his emotionally charged narrative to challenge his readers conceptions of civility, of ethical choiceThe character and voice of Little Bee reveal Cleave at his finest. An affecting story of human triumph. The New York Times Book ReviewCleave has a Zola-esque ability to write big, and deeply . . . . Cleave makes the reader think about political issues and care about his characters.USA Today

Cleaves works have received tons of notable praise from The Boston Globe, New York Times Book Review, and the USA Today. All the reviews about Cleaves works give him the praise he deserves for two amazing novels. 7Works CitedCleave, Chris. Little Bee . New York : Simon Schuster, 2009. Print."Chris Cleave / Little Bee / The Other Hand / Incendiary." Chris Cleave/Little Bee / The Other Hand / Incendiary. N.p., n.d. Web. 5 Apr. 2011. .

8