Nick Barlay is the author of four widely acclaimed novels, including Hooky Gear, which was mentioned among Granta’s Best of Young British Novelists in 2003.

He was born in London to Hungarian Jewish refugee parents, and his first non-fiction book, Scattered Ghosts, explores the story of his family over two centuries. It was longlisted for the Wingate Prize 2015.

He has written wide-ranging journalism, including a long-running series about London for The Times, as well as contributing to many other publications, such as Time Out, The Guardian and Central and east European Review.

He regularly teaches fiction and life writing, as well as Guardian Masterclasses on writing a family history.