Michel Faber

Extending across genre boundaries from uncanny science fiction to expansive historical drama, speculative and literary prose converge in a body of work that spans multiple formats. Author Michel Faber gained international acclaim with his 2000 novel Under the Skin, which was shortlisted for the Whitbread First Novel Award and later adapted into a 2013 film directed by Jonathan Glazer and starring Scarlett Johansson. Faber further established his place in contemporary literature with his 2002 Victorian saga The Crimson Petal and the White, demonstrating a talent for pairing granular historical realism with modern narrative techniques.

Career & Background

Born in the Netherlands on April 13, 1960, Faber emigrated with his family to Australia in 1967. He studied Old, Medieval, and Modern English literature at the University of Melbourne, earning his Bachelor of Arts in 1980 while learning to read Anglo-Saxon. Prior to his success as a published author, Faber worked in a wide range of occupations, including nursing, childcare, domestic cleaning, telephone sales, pickle-packing, and serving as a subject for medical research. During these years, he wrote extensively without anticipating immediate publication, storing manuscripts away until moving to a remote cottage in the Scottish Highlands in 1992.

Faber made his published book debut with the short story collection Some Rain Must Fall and Other Stories in 1998, which earned literary prizes. Following the major success of Under the Skin and The Crimson Petal and the White, he continued publishing across distinct forms. His later works include the 2014 novel The Book of Strange New Things, the poetry collection Undying: A Love Story, and the 2020 young adult novel D: A Tale of Two Worlds, a Dickensian fable released for the 150th anniversary of Charles Dickens's death. He has also authored non-fiction, including Listen: On Music, Sound and Us.

Writing Style & Themes

Faber's writing is characterized by psychological precision, formal experimentation, and recurring examinations of isolation, bodily vulnerability, and human connection. Drawing upon his background in medieval and early English studies, as well as literary influences such as Charles Dickens, James Thurber's The Wonderful O, C. S. Lewis's The Chronicles of Narnia, and Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, he constructs immersive narrative worlds. His stories frequently feature characters navigating unfamiliar environments or social structures, balancing precise physical observations with imaginative premises.

Major Works

• Under the Skin — Published in 2000, this debut novel blends science fiction and psychological thriller elements. It was shortlisted for the Whitbread First Novel Award, nominated for the International Dublin Literary Award, and adapted into a 2013 feature film.
• The Crimson Petal and the White — Published in 2002, this bestselling historical novel explores the social strata of Victorian London through the life of an ambitious literary prostitute and a wealthy perfume manufacturer.
• Some Rain Must Fall and Other Stories — Published in 1998, Faber's award-winning debut collection of short fiction introduced his distinctive short prose to readers.
• The Book of Strange New Things — A 2014 novel depicting a Christian missionary assigned to a distant extraterrestrial colony, examining faith, distance, and emotional strain.
• D: A Tale of Two Worlds — A 2020 modern fable written for young adults to mark the 150th anniversary of Charles Dickens's death.