Graham Swift was born in 1949 and is the author of ten novels, three collections of short stories, and┬аMaking an Elephant,┬аa book of essays, portraits, poetry, and reflections on his life in writing. With┬аWaterland,┬аhe won the Guardian Fiction Award, and with┬аLast Orders┬аthe Booker Prize. Both novels have since been made into films. His work has been translated into more than 30┬аlanguages.