Barker, Raffaella 1964–

PERSONAL:

Born November 24, 1964, in London, England; daughter of George (a poet) and Elspeth (a writer) Barker; married; children: three. Ethnicity: "Caucasian." Education: Attended girls' independent school in Norwich, England. Religion: Roman Catholic. Hobbies and other interests: Horseback riding, buying items from auctions, reading, talking on the telephone, country and western music.

ADDRESSES:

Home—Norfolk, England. Agent—Caroline Michel, William Morris, Centre Point, 103 New Oxford St., London WC1A 1DD, England. E-mail—raffaella@raffaellabarker.co.uk.

CAREER:

Writer. London Library, member.

WRITINGS:

NOVELS

Come and Tell Me Some Lies, Hamish Hamilton (London, England), 1994, Penguin Books (New York, NY), 1995.

The Hook, Bloomsbury (London, England), 1996.

Hens Dancing, Headline Review (London, England), 1999, Random House (New York, NY), 2001.

Summertime, Random House (New York, NY), 2001.

Green Grass, Headline Review (London, England), 2003.

Phosphorescence, Macmillan (New York, NY), 2004.

A Perfect Life, Headline Review (London, England), 2006.

Poppyland, Headline Review (London, England), 2008.

OTHER

Columnist, Country Life. Contributor to periodicals, including Harper's, Country Life, Daily Telegraph, Sunday Telegraph, and Queen.

SIDELIGHTS:

Raffaella Barker once told CA: "I began my writing career by accident. I had no skills whatsoever, not even typing, but was fortunate to get my first job as a journalist when I was twenty-one years old. Once I learned to type, the scope of my writing increased. I wrote my first novel as my way of coming to terms with the death of my father in 1991. My next book is about the nature of trust.

"My writing is not particularly influenced by anyone, although I admire the work of Michael Ondaatje, Tolstoy, Edith Wharton, Candia McWilliam, and many others. I find it best not to read any of them when I am writing. My working habits are undisciplined—four hours one day and none the next. I advise aspiring writers to be aware of the solitary nature of writing, and to have an unstoppable urge to say whatever it is they are trying to communicate. You can't lie, and you should beware of adjectives."

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

ONLINE

Raffaella Barker Home Page,http://www.raffaellabarker.co.uk (December 27, 2007).