David Huggins British novelist, illustrator Date of Birth: 14.08.1959 Country: Great Britain

Biography of David Huggins

David Huggins, a British novelist and illustrator, became a renowned writer and formed his own opinion about people in the publishing industry. He once stated that "actor-people" are much more attractive than "writer-people" because they are "warmer." Huggins was born in 1959 in the United Kingdom to famous actors Anna Massey and the late Jeremy Brett. Although his parents divorced when he was three years old, Huggins never felt deprived of a father figure as Brett always remained a father to him. From childhood, Huggins was certain about his disinterest in becoming an actor. He grew up shy and introverted, uninterested in activities related to performances. Growing up among the "star-studded" acquaintances of his parents, he personally knew many celebrities, but the "celebrity life" never appealed to him. Only once, when he visited his cousin who lived and studied in Santa Barbara and saw the bright room in a college dorm with a view of the ocean, did he compare that life to England, where he was studying, and notice the difference. Tanned people, cheerful surfers with their boards, bursts of laughter, and beach volleyball... all contrasting with the dull, gray Cambridge he would soon go back to. However, even after becoming famous, Huggins never participated in social events and gatherings, preferring to stay "behind the scenes." Nonetheless, he speaks highly of actors. Forming his own opinion about people in the publishing industry, Huggins once said that "actor-people" are much more attractive than "writer-people" because they are "warmer." His childhood was spent in England, and according to him, that time was like paradise, with anticipation of trips to America, visiting his father in Los Angeles, going to Mexico, strolling along Hollywood Boulevard, and enjoying quiet joys with his family in Britain. One of the most remarkable moments in David's life was his eighteenth birthday when his father gifted him a brand-new motorcycle. After that, there was Cambridge and a degree in English, and it was then that David began contemplating literature. Initially, he worked as an illustrator for "Elle" and "The Sunday Times," selling them his series of satirical drawings. Ten years passed, and in 1996, Huggins' first book, "The Big Kiss," was published. However, the book turned out to be not just about kisses or solely focused on them. This dark satirical comedy told the story of the protagonist's downfall, starting with the collapse of his family. The "Sunday Telegraph" described the writer's first novel as a book with a "finale unmatched in the recent fiction literature." Although the slightly sexual tone stirred some criticism, Huggins was officially recognized by the "Bad Sex Award." His second novel, "Luxury Amnesia," was released shortly after the first one (the writer worked on both novels simultaneously) and achieved similar but equally controversial success. A mix of thriller and comedy, the book is rich in harsh, repulsive scenes that would displease prudish readers. However, it is honest and unscrupulous in its own way. The fame of the writer, although somewhat unusual, spread beyond the borders of Britain and the United States, with translations of his book into other languages. The third novel by Huggins, titled "Me Me Me," was published in 2001 and is dedicated to his mother, Anna Massey. Interestingly, this novel deviates significantly from the previous two, as it lacks violence, ambiguous sexual scenes, and black humor. Huggins himself jokes that this book was the most challenging to write. David Huggins currently resides in Notting Hill, West London, with his wife Madeleine Christie. He remains a great admirer of Patricia Highsmith's work, which he has always found inspiring.