Damian Barr

Damian Barr tells stories. Some are true. Some just might be.
 
He is a journalist, Radio 4 playwright, Host of the Soho House Literary Salon and cultural entrepreneur. Here’s his story—it is true.
 
Recruited by the Times straight out of university, Damian is dedicated to discovering new lifestyle and social trends, people and places. He has convinced Sir Terence Conran to kiss Philippe Starck, cooked a 32-bird roast with Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall and had a manicure with Paris Hilton’s mother. He reported on New Orleans one year after Hurricane Katrina and on the ever-flooding state of Venice. He has appeared in The Independent, The Financial Times, Guardian, Telegraph, Harpers and Evening Standard. He’s been shortlisted for a British Press Award. Shamefully, he’s also a Times Big Brother Blogger.
 
In 2006 Hodder & Stoughton published his book about the quarterlife crisis. ‘Get It Together: Surviving Your Quarterlife Crisis’ was serialized in the Times and featured on Richard & Judy before being published in China.
 
Damian made headlines from the New York Times to the Times of India for his pioneering role as the world’s first ever reader-in-residence. He now spends a month a year living in hotels reading stories aloud to guests. He’s been a celebrity judge for the Orange Prize and runs reading holidays in the UK and abroad - see www.readingweekend.co.uk.
 
Also fascinated by film, Damian runs www.silent-cinema.co.uk and www.starliteurbandrivein.co.uk both of which are about enjoying film in new ways.
 
Damian lives by the sea in Brighton. There he talks to his chickens, brews damson gin and flicks through his books while fretting slightly about deadlines.