David Mitchell
2 SeriesDavid Mitchell, an English author of literary fiction, holds degrees in English and American Literature from the University of Kent and an M.A. in Comparative Literature. He began his writing career while living in Japan in 1994. Mitchell has resided in Italy, Japan, and currently lives in Ireland with his wife Keiko and their two children.
In "Black Swan Green," David Mitchell chronicles a pivotal year in the life of thirteen-year-old Jason Taylor in Worcestershire, England, during 1982. The novel unfolds through thirteen interconnected short stories, each capturing a distinct moment in Jason's life. Key events include Jason's navigation of school politics, his secret forays into "nightcreeping," and his struggle to replace his grandfather's broken watch. The backdrop of the Falklands War and Margaret Thatcher's recession adds tension, while personal challenges such as his parents' slow-motion divorce and his first experiences with cigarettes and kisses shape his coming-of-age journey. Through these episodes, Mitchell crafts a vivid portrayal of adolescence against the backdrop of a changing England.
