Patrick Gale is a renowned author, born on January 31, 1962, on the Isle of Wight. He is the youngest of four children, with one sister and two brothers. His father was a prison governor, and his grandfather had served in a similar capacity at a nearby prison. The family moved frequently during his childhood, living in London, Winchester, and various other places. Gale's early education began at the cathedral choir school, Pilgrim's, and continued at Winchester College. He completed his formal education with an English degree from New College, Oxford in 1983.
Gale's writing career began in earnest after he finished his education. He lived in several locations, including a bedsit in Notting Hill and a crumbling French chateau, while working on his first novels. During this time, he held various odd jobs to make ends meet, including working as a typist, singing waiter, designer's secretary, ghost-writer, and book reviewer. His first two novels, "The Aerodynamics of Pork" and "Ease," were published in 1986. In 1987, Gale moved to Camelford in Cornwall, where he developed a love for the county that has inspired much of his work since. He now lives with his husband, Aidan Hicks, on a farm near Land's End, where they raise beef cattle and grow barley. Gale is an avid gardener and cellist, and he enjoys attending opera performances.
Patrick Gale is a prolific writer, with seventeen novels to his name. Some of his most notable works include "Take Nothing With You" (2018), "Rough Music" (2000), "Notes From an Exhibition" (2007), "A Perfectly Good Man" (2012), and "A Place Called Winter" (2015). In 2017, his two-part drama "Man in an Orange Shirt" was screened by BBC2 as part of the Gay Britannia season. The drama has been broadcast in various countries around the world and won the International Emmy for best miniseries. Gale is currently working on a television adaptation of "A Place Called Winter" and a stage version of "Take Nothing With You." Extracts from the BBC documentary "All Families Have Secrets – the Narrative Art of Patrick Gale" can be viewed on his website.