Pat Barker is a highly respected English author, known for her work in historical and contemporary fiction. Her writing is characterized by its directness, bluntness, and plainspoken style, which she uses to explore complex themes such as memory, trauma, survival, and recovery.
Barker was born in Thornaby-on-Tees, Yorkshire, and grew up in a working-class family. She was raised primarily by her grandmother and step-grandfather, after her mother introduced her as her younger sister rather than her daughter due to the stigma surrounding illegitimate children. Barker attended King James Grammar School and Grangefield Grammar School before going on to study international history at the London School of Economics.
Barker was born as Patricia Mary W. Drake on May 8, 1943. Her mother, Moyra, became pregnant with her after a night of heavy drinking and, fearing the social stigma of an illegitimate child, introduced Barker as her sister rather than her daughter. Barker was largely raised by her grandparents and chose to remain with them even after her mother got married and settled down.
Barker has received critical acclaim for her work, including multiple awards for her fiction novels. Many of her books explore themes of trauma, memory, survival, and recovery. Her Regeneration Trilogy is particularly well-known, with The Observer naming it as one of the top 10 historical novels. Barker is a CBE and FRSL, and she currently lives in Durham, England.