Steve Toltz is an Australian novelist, born in Sydney in the year 1972. After completing his high school education at Killara High School, Toltz went on to attend the University of Newcastle, New South Wales, where he graduated in 1994.
Before beginning his literary career, Toltz lived in several cities around the world, including Montreal, Vancouver, New York, Barcelona, and Paris. During this time, he held a variety of jobs, such as cameraman, telemarketer, security guard, private investigator, English teacher, and screenwriter. His diverse experiences and extensive travels have likely contributed to the rich and multifaceted perspective that is evident in his writing.
Toltz's first novel, "A Fraction of the Whole," was released in 2008 to widespread critical acclaim. This comic novel tells the story of a family of Australian outcasts, with the narration alternating between Jasper Dean, a philosophical, idealistic boy who grows up over the course of the novel, and his father, Martin Dean, a philosopher and shut-in who is described at the start of the novel as "the most hated man in all of Australia." The novel also features Jasper's uncle, Terry Dean, who is described as "the most beloved man in all of Australia."
"A Fraction of the Whole" spans the entirety of Martin's life and several years after, and is set in Australia, Paris, and Thailand. The novel has been compared favorably to John Kennedy Toole's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel "A Confederacy of Dunces," and was shortlisted for the 2008 Man Booker Prize and the 2008 Guardian First Book Award. Toltz's writing is known for its humor, intelligence, and depth, and his work continues to be well-received by critics and readers alike.