Patrick Gale Books In Order

Publication Order of Standalone Novels

Publication Order of Collections

Publication Order of Non-Fiction Books

Publication Order of Anthologies

About Patrick Gale

British author Patrick Gale is a world-renowned novelist who readers greatly admire from both far and wide. He is well known for his literary fiction, typically writing about periods in time, looking back to the past, and creating an evocative and immersive writing style. This approach has served him well over the years, as he’s become a household name for many, creating highly accessible stories and fiction. Knowing his audience well at this point, he’s a true professional and master of the craft, taking it in both new and exciting directions.

Setting a real precedent for the genre, he knows what he wants to say, giving his readership greater depth. Taking them on a journey essentially, he’s gifted in terms of both pacing and narrative, really keeping his audience invested in the action. The work he creates also speaks for itself in many ways, delivering fiction that stays in readers’ minds long after they’ve put the book down. Giving his stories a real sense of vitality and wit, too, there’s a definite sense of warmth there that makes it all the more inviting.

His characters also stand out from his writing, as they essentially speak for themselves while coming alive on the page. Often drawing from real life, Gale uses actual people to help inspire many of his best-loved protagonists, establishing a sense of rapport with his audience. Becoming a bestselling author worldwide, his style and approach have worked as he continues to draw in readers. With lots more to come, he continues growing as an author, as there’s plenty more on the horizon.

Early and Personal Life

Born on the 31st of January on the Isle of Wight, 1962, Patrick Gale would grow up with a clear affinity for the written word. This passion of his would develop over time, and he would build upon it over time while growing up, drawing plenty of material from his own childhood and roots. His father was the prison governor of Camp Hill, and later his family would move to London, and he was the youngest of four siblings.

Attending boarding school at the age of eight, he’d attend Winchester College Quirister while his father ran Wandsworth Prison before moving on to Winchester. Gaining an English degree from New College, Oxford, in 1983, he lived in a variety of different locations, from Notting Hill to a French château. Currently living near Land’s End in the UK with his husband Aidan Hicks, he continues to write on a consistent and regular basis.

Writing Career

The first books that he would publish were through the ‘Abacus’ imprint, releasing his first novel back in 1986. His first book would be titled ‘The Aerodynamics of Pork,’ with his second book, ‘Ease,’ being published later that year. He’d mainly focus on stand-alone novels, with no series as such, and many of them would be historical books, with several Young Adult titles too.

Publishing several omnibus editions of his work as well, he has an extensive backlog of novels, along with a few novellas. Publishing a non-fiction book, too, titled ‘Armistead Maupin’ in 1999, it would be a biography of the famous writer and LGBT icon of the same name. Contributing to several collections as well, he’s won numerous awards, including the ‘Costa Book Award’ in 2015 and the ‘Walter Scott Prize’ in 2016.

A Place Called Winter

Initially brought out through the ‘Tinder Press’ publishing label, this would first come out on the 26th of March in 2016. Not a part of any series, it’s a historical novel set during an era of American and Canadian history, taking place within the 1900s. Based on Patrick Gale’s own great-grandfather, the story comes from a very real place, using actual lived experiences to help inform the material.

Set during the 1900s, this sees the shy and reserved Harry Cane looking to court Winnie from the Wells clan. Disturbing his life of leisure, the gentleman Cane soon comes to realize that Winnie’s family may be less respectable than he’d been led to believe. Living with her by the sea, they have a daughter, and that’s when a chance encounter leads to him leaving the land that he once called home, taking up residence in the newly colonized Canadian prairies. Will he be able to make a new life for himself here, can he settle in these harsh lands, and what will happen in a place called Winter?

A highly authentic account inspired by real life, it feels like a realistic portrayal of what life was actually like during that era. Delivering a well-written story with equally well-developed characters, it’s definitely a book that has something to say to the reader. The world it creates feels wholly immersive, offering its audience a window back into the past, informing them in the process.

Take Nothing With You

First coming out back in 2018, this would be released on the 20th of September, with it being another stand-alone title. Not a part of an overall series, it would come out through the ‘Tinder Press’ imprint once again to much critical acclaim. It was a well-received novel, with it being a historical coming-of-age novel set during the 1970s in the United Kingdom.

Taking place in Weston-Super-Mare, Eustace is a ten-year-old only child who’s been signed up for cello lessons by his mother. Finding trouble fitting in, he discovers a musical release through the lessons, with him otherwise being an emotional volcano. His mother is controlling and frustrated, and it’s when he’s enrolled in holiday courses located within the Scottish borders that everything begins to change. Where will this journey take him for the future, can he manage to make sense of it all, and what will happen as he’s told to ‘take nothing with you?’

This story is very well told on several different levels, as Patrick Gale draws heavily from his own life and upbringing. The book itself is accessible, yet it has an in-depth story that’s deceptively simple, making it easy enough to follow along. It has strong, engaging characters, making it an excellent example of the coming-of-age genre and a must for any fans of the author.