# Joe Stretch

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{{Short description|English writer and singer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}'''Joe Stretch''' (born 7 January 1982) is an English writer and singer.

His first novel, ''Friction'', was published by [Vintage Books at Random House](/source/Vintage_Books_at_Random_House) in 2008. His second novel, ''Wildlife'', was published in 2009. His visceral, savage writing style has led to comparisons with French novelist [Michel Houellebecq](/source/Michel_Houellebecq).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/features/talent-issue--the-novelist-joe-stretch-766036.html|title=Talent issue - the novelist: Joe Stretch|work=The Independent|date=29 December 2007 |accessdate=20 July 2015}}</ref> His third book, ''The Adult'', was released in August 2012. It won the Somerset Maugham Award and was shortlisted for the Portico Prize.

In his review of ''Wildlife'' in ''[The Independent](/source/The_Independent)'', [Lee Rourke](/source/Lee_Rourke) describes the book as "a serious meditation on technology and individualism."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/reviews/wildlife-by-joe-stretch-1675069.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220609/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/reviews/wildlife-by-joe-stretch-1675069.html |archive-date=9 June 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Wildlife, By Joe Stretch|work=The Independent|date=27 April 2009 |accessdate=20 July 2015}}</ref>

In 2010 Stretch wrote the first ever interactive audio novel to appear on [Spotify](/source/Spotify).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.spotify.com/uk/blog/archives/2010/08/30/hurt/#comments|title=Interactive audio novel from Hurts|work=Spotify Blog|accessdate=20 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130310071447/https://www.spotify.com/uk/blog/archives/2010/08/30/hurt/#comments|archive-date=10 March 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> It was read by the actress [Anna Friel](/source/Anna_Friel) and marked the release of the debut album by the band [Hurts](/source/Hurts_(duo)).<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.culturedeluxe.com/music/musicnews/joe-stretch-hurts-bring-the-rolling-dice-novel-to-spotify/ |title=Joe Stretch & Hurts bring the rolling dice novel to Spotify &#124; Culturedeluxe |access-date=2010-09-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100905200110/http://www.culturedeluxe.com/music/musicnews/joe-stretch-hurts-bring-the-rolling-dice-novel-to-spotify/ |archive-date=2010-09-05 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Stretch grew up in [Burton-in-Kendal](/source/Burton-in-Kendal).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.manchesterconfidential.co.uk/Culture/Architecture/Joe-Stretch--Manchesters-next-major-novelist_3898.asp|title=Manchester Confidential your guide to city life, eating out, night life, food and drink, bars, and more|work=Manchester Confidential|accessdate=20 July 2015}}{{dead link|date=November 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> He studied politics at [Manchester University](/source/Manchester_University) and sings in the band [(we are) Performance](/source/Performance_(band)).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.randomhouse.co.uk/catalog/author.htm?authorID=56832|title=Joe Stretch|work=randomhouse.co.uk|accessdate=20 July 2015}}</ref> The other members of the band are Laura Marsden on guitar, Joe Cross on drums. Hilary Marsden (Laura's sister) was also a member of the band prior to the release of their self-titled debut album in 2007. The group met whilst they were at university in Manchester.

He has lectured in Creative Writing at [Keele University](/source/Keele_University),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.keele.ac.uk/depts/en/pgrad/mawriting/staff/joestretch.html|title=English|work=keele.ac.uk|accessdate=20 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101022164959/http://www.keele.ac.uk/depts/en/pgrad/mawriting/staff/joestretch.html|archive-date=22 October 2010|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref> and [Manchester Metropolitan University](/source/Manchester_Metropolitan_University).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.manchesterwritingschool.co.uk/writers/joe-stretch|title=Our Writers|work=mmu.ac.uk|accessdate=5 December 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.keele.ac.uk/english/people/joestretch/ |title=Joe Stretch - Keele University |access-date=2014-11-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140723103107/http://keele.ac.uk/english/people/joestretch/ |archive-date=2014-07-23 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://www.penguin.co.uk/authors/215777/ joe-stretch]
* [https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/reviews/friction-by-joe-stretch-801555.html friction-by-joe-stretch] 

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Stretch, Joe}}
Category:1982 births
Category:21st-century English novelists
Category:Living people
Category:People from Carnforth
Category:Alumni of the University of Manchester
Category:English male novelists
Category:21st-century English male writers
Category:21st-century English singers
Category:21st-century English male singers
Category:Writers from Lancashire
Category:People from Burton-in-Kendal

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Joe Stretch](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Stretch) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Stretch?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.