Origins & Early Life

Marlon James (born 24 November 1970) is a Jamaican writer. He is the author of six novels: John Crow's Devil (2005), The Book of Night Women (2009), A Brief History of Seven Killings (2014), which won him the 2015 Man Booker Prize, Black Leopard, Red Wolf (2019), Moon Witch, Spider King (2022), and The Disappearers (2026). He also wrote the limited television series Get Millie Black. Now living in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States, James teaches literature at Macalester College in Saint Paul, Minnesota.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

He is also a faculty lecturer at St. Francis College's Low Residency MFA in Creative Writing. James was born in Kingston, Jamaica, to parents who were both in the Jamaican police: his mother (who gave him his first prose book, a collection of stories by O. Henry) became a detective and his father (from whom James took a love of Shakespeare and Coleridge) was a lawyer. James attended Kingston's prestigious Wolmer's Trust High School for Boys.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

He is a 1991 graduate of the University of the West Indies, where he read language and literature. He left Jamaica to escape anti-gay violence and economic conditions that he felt would mean career stagnation,...

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Abraham Maslow — Contemporary (Died in 1970) (1970): Pioneering American psychologist known for the Hierarchy of Needs and self-actualization theory.
• Alan Shearer — Contemporary (Born in 1970) (1970): English football legend, record goalscorer, and respected pundit.
• Allen Lane — Contemporary (Died in 1970) (1970): Pioneering British publisher who founded Penguin Books, bringing literature to the masses.
• Baruch Spinoza — Shared historical date (11-24 · Born) (1632): Radical philosopher of the Dutch Golden Age, known for his pantheistic metaphysics.
• Benjamin Silliman — Shared historical date (11-24 · Died) (1864): Pioneering American chemist and science educator, instrumental in establishing modern scientific pedagogy.
• Andre Agassi — Historical peer (Born in 1970) (1970): American former professional tennis player, known for his dramatic career arc and longevity.
• Andy Burnham — Historical peer (Born in 1970) (1970): British politician, Mayor of Greater Manchester, and Prime Minister of the UK.
• Ahmed Zaki (actor) — Historical peer (Died in 2005) (2005): Iconic Egyptian actor celebrated for intense dramatic performances.
• Anthony Barber — Historical peer (Died in 2005) (2005): British Conservative politician, Chancellor of the Exchequer (1970-1974)
• Aage Bohr — Historical peer (Died in 2009) (2009): Pioneering Danish nuclear physicist, Nobel laureate for atomic structure theory.
• 1970 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1970
• November 24 (11-24) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on November 24