Philip Hoare

Last updated

Philip Hoare
Born1958
Southampton, England, UK
OccupationWriter
Website www.philiphoare.co.uk

Philip Hoare (Southampton, 1958) [1] is a British writer, film-maker and curator. He won the 2009 Samuel Johnson Prize, now known as the Baillie Gifford Prize for Non-Fiction, for his work Leviathan, or the Whale.

Contents

Early life and education

Hoare was born in Southampton. [2] He attended St Mary's Independent School, Southampton on a scholarship. [3] He went on to St Mary's University, Twickenham. [2]

He was born Patrick Moore. [4] He chose the name Philip Hoare to avoid confusion with astronomer Patrick Moore: [2]

Imagine having to spend your entire life living with people asking: 'You're not that astronomer, are you?' Or: 'Do you play the xylophone?' Another reason was that when I was managing bands I used to review my own bands for the NME and Sounds as Philip Hoare. Philip was my confirmation name; Hoare my mother's maiden name.

Hoare is a Roman Catholic. [5]

Career

Music

In 1982–83, Hoare ran the record label Operation Twilight, a UK-based subsidiary of the Belgian label Les Disques du Crépuscule. [2]

2009 Samuel Johnson Prize

Hoare was the winner of the 2009 Samuel Johnson Prize, now known as the Baillie Gifford Prize for Non-Fiction, for his work Leviathan, or the Whale. [6] The book, which describes a personal and societal fascination with whales, received praise. [7] [8] Jonathan Mirsky, writing for Literary Review , called the book "tremendous". [9]

Other work

Hoare has recorded podcasts for NPR, VICE and Al Jazeera Media Network. [10] His curatorial work includes Derek Jarman's Modern Nature, [11] and he contributed to the Victoria and Albert Museum's international touring exhibition, David Bowie Is. [12] [ better source needed ]

Hoare has written articles on whales, including one on the orca 'attacks' off the Iberian Peninsula in 2023. [13] He is special ambassador for Whale and Dolphin Conservation, visiting fellow at the Fine Arts Work Center, Provincetown, and lecturer at the Rhode Island School of Design, Providence. [14]

As a writer, Hoare has represented the British Council in Berlin, Guadalajara, and Moscow. [14] [15] [16]

Works

Hoare is the author of 11 works of non-fiction:

He has also edited The Sayings of Noël Coward (1997).

Hoare has co-authored or contributed to the following publications:

Notes
  1. Briefly reviewed in the May 31, 2021 issue of The New Yorker , p.63.

References

  1. Philip Hoare, Public Space
  2. 1 2 3 4 Sandhu, Sukhdev (21 June 2013). "Philip Hoare: A Life in Writing". The Guardian. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
  3. Hoare, Philip (2002). Spike Island: The Memory of a Military Hospital. Fourth Estate. p. 31. ISBN   978-1-84115-294-3 . Retrieved 15 July 2025.
  4. Vickers, Hugo (23 October 2011). "How We Met: Hugo Vickers and Philip Hoare" . The Independent. Archived from the original on 26 May 2022. Retrieved 20 November 2015.
  5. "A writer's life: Philip Hoare". The Telegraph. 13 February 2005. Archived from the original on 11 November 2012. Retrieved 23 April 2025. he is an ascetic and a devout Roman Catholic
  6. Brown, Mark (30 June 2009). "'Classic' study of whales wins Samuel Johnson prize". The Guardian.
  7. "Review: Leviathan or, the Whale by Philip Hoare". 3 October 2008.
  8. Brown, Mark (30 June 2009). "'Classic' study of whales wins Samuel Johnson prize". The Guardian.
  9. "Jonathan Mirsky - Animals Before the Fall".
  10. "Napi's Lecture Series to resume Jan. 24 with author Philip Hoare". Center for Coastal Studies. 11 January 2024. Archived from the original on 29 May 2024.
  11. "Derek Jarman's Modern Nature".
  12. "David Bowie is: | Deluxe Hardback Exhibition Book | V&A Shop".
  13. "Philip Hoare | the Guardian". TheGuardian.com .
  14. 1 2 "Philip Hoare - Literature".
  15. "How I made a career out of my whale obsession (podcast)".
  16. "Philip Hoare talking about his work at #BritLitBerlin 2015". YouTube . 23 February 2015.
  17. Douglas-Fairhurst, Robert (4 April 2025). "A bonkers adventure in the world of William Blake". The Times. Retrieved 8 April 2025.