# Lawrence Osborne

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British author (born 1958)

This article is about the British author. For the English footballer, see [Lawrence Osborne (footballer)](/source/Lawrence_Osborne_(footballer)). For the American baseballer, see [Bobo Osborne](/source/Bobo_Osborne).

Lawrence Osborne Born 1958 (age 67–68) London, England Education Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge; Harvard University Notable awards Edgar Award nomination Best Novel (2019) Best American Short Stories (2012) The New York Times Notable Book (2018)

**Lawrence Osborne** (born 1958) is a British [novelist](/source/Novelist) and [journalist](/source/Journalist) who is currently residing in [Bangkok](/source/Bangkok). Osborne was educated at [Fitzwilliam College](/source/Fitzwilliam_College), [Cambridge](/source/University_of_Cambridge),[1] and at [Harvard University](/source/Harvard_University), and has since led a nomadic life, residing for years in Poland,[2] France, Italy, Morocco, the United States, Mexico, Thailand, and Istanbul.

Osborne has been published widely as a long-form [journalist](/source/Journalist) in the United States, most notably in *[The New York Times Magazine](/source/The_New_York_Times_Magazine)*,[3] *[The New Yorker](/source/The_New_Yorker)*,[4] *[Gourmet](/source/Gourmet_(magazine))*, *[Salon](/source/Salon.com)*, *[Playboy](/source/Playboy)*, and *[Condé Nast Traveler](/source/Cond%C3%A9_Nast_Traveler)*. His writings about wine and spirits appeared in a regular column called Cellar in *[Men's Vogue](/source/Men's_Vogue)*.[5] He has also been an occasional Op-Ed columnist at [Forbes.com](/source/Forbes.com) and is a frequent contributor to *[Newsweek International](/source/Newsweek_International)*, *[The Daily Beast](/source/The_Daily_Beast)*, and *The Wall Street Journal Magazine*. His feature for *Playboy*, "Getting a Drink in Islamabad", won a 2011 Thomas Lowell Award for Travel Journalism. He is also a regular contributor to the London *Spectator* where his short story *Demonia* appeared in the 2024 Christmas edition.

He is the author of the novel *Ania Malina*;[6] a book about [Paris](/source/Paris), *Paris Dreambook*;[7] the essay collection *The Poisoned Embrace*;[8] a controversial book about [autism](/source/Autism) called *American Normal: The Hidden World of Asperger Syndrome*;[9] and three subsequent [travel books](/source/Travel_literature) published by [Farrar, Straus and Giroux](/source/Farrar%2C_Straus_and_Giroux) between 2004 and 2009: a book about wine, *The Accidental Connoisseur*;[10] *The Naked Tourist*;[11] and an account of [expatriate](/source/Expatriate) life in [Bangkok](/source/Bangkok) called *Bangkok Days*.[12] His short stories have appeared in many American magazines. His story "Volcano", originally published in *[Tin House](/source/Tin_House)*, was selected for inclusion in *[The Best American Short Stories 2012](/source/The_Best_American_Short_Stories_2012)*. His novel *[The Forgiven](/source/The_Forgiven_(novel))* was published in 2012 to widespread acclaim. It was selected by *[The Economist](/source/The_Economist)* as one of the Best Books of the Year for 2012.[13][14] Osborne's next book, *[The Wet and the Dry](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Wet_and_the_Dry&action=edit&redlink=1)*, a [travelogue](/source/Travel_literature#Travel_journals) about [Islam](/source/Islam) and [alcohol](/source/Alcohol_(drug)), was published in 2013. It was included in the Top 10 Books of 2013 by *[The New York Times Book Review](/source/The_New_York_Times_Book_Review)* critic, [Dwight Garner](/source/Dwight_Garner_(critic)).

## Reception

Reviewing Osborne's 2004 nonfiction wine-world travelogue *The Accidental Connoisseur* in *[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times)*, [Tony Hendra](/source/Tony_Hendra) wrote: "Osborne is a new voice in the wine world, smart, generous, perceptive, funny, sensible, free of cant and arrogance and self-interest."[15]

A novel, *[The Ballad of a Small Player](/source/The_Ballad_of_a_Small_Player)*, was published by [Hogarth](/source/Hogarth_Press) in spring 2014 to considerable critical acclaim, both in the United States and the United Kingdom. *The New York Times* selected it as one of its 100 Notable Books of 2014.[16] [NPR](/source/NPR) also included it in its Year's Best Books of 2014.[17] Paul French in the *[Los Angeles Review of Books](/source/Los_Angeles_Review_of_Books)* wrote that "Osborne's novel is the best on contemporary China since [Malraux](/source/Malraux)'s."[18] [Neel Mukherjee](/source/Neel_Mukherjee_(writer)) picked it as one of his Books of the Year in *The [New Statesman](/source/New_Statesman)*.[19] In the *[London Sunday Times](/source/The_Sunday_Times)*, Robert Collins wrote: "A modern [Graham Greene](/source/Graham_Greene).... into this relatively quiet period for British fiction, someone remarkable and unexpected has emerged fully armed with a formidable, masterly grip on the British novel. At precisely the point where most novelists start to show signs of flagging, Osborne has hit his creative, fictional stride...and has arrived as a thrilling, exceptional talent in British fiction's landscape."[20]

His third novel, *[Hunters in the Dark](/source/Hunters_in_the_Dark)*, was published by Hogarth in May 2015 and received glowing reviews on both sides of the Atlantic. [Arifa Akbar](/source/Arifa_Akbar), literary editor of *[The Independent](/source/The_Independent)* in London, selected it as one of her 15 Best Novels of 2015,[21] and the novel was notably praised by Neel Mukerjee in *[The Guardian](/source/The_Guardian)*[22] and by [Lee Child](/source/Lee_Child) in *The New York Times Book Review*.[23] Nishant Dahiya reviewed it for NPR.[24] British critic David Sexton wrote in the *[Evening Standard](/source/Evening_Standard)*: "Those comparisons with Graham Greene aren't even flattering any more."[25][26] [Anita Sethi](/source/Anita_Sethi) reviewed it in *The Guardian* with praise for its stylistic finesse.[27]

*[Beautiful Animals](/source/Beautiful_Animals)* was published by Hogarth in July 2017 and was featured on the cover of *The New York Times Book Review* with a review by the Japanese-American novelist [Katie Kitamura](/source/Katie_Kitamura).[28] In her long review of the novel in *[The Washington Post](/source/The_Washington_Post)*, [Lionel Shriver](/source/Lionel_Shriver) wrote: "So let's not mince words. This is a great book."[29]

Osborne was asked by the [Raymond Chandler](/source/Raymond_Chandler) estate to write the next [Philip Marlowe](/source/Philip_Marlowe) novel, released in 2018. Widely and favourably reviewed, *[Only to Sleep](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Only_to_Sleep&action=edit&redlink=1)* was selected by philosopher John Gray as his Book of the Year in the *New Statesman*,[30] and was included in *The New York Times* 100 Most Notable Books of 2018[31] and [NPR](/source/NPR)'s Best Books of 2018.[32] It was selected by [William Boyd](/source/William_Boyd_(writer)) in the same category in *The Guardian*.[33]

*[The Glass Kingdom](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Glass_Kingdom&action=edit&redlink=1)* was published in 2020 and was included in the *New York Times* Notable 100 Books of 2020. It was also reviewed at length in a profile of the author by John Gray in *The New Statesman*.[34]

A novel *[On Java Road](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=On_Java_Road&action=edit&redlink=1)*, set in Hong Kong, appeared with Random House in August 2022 to enthusiastic reviews on both sides of the Atlantic. It was named as a recommended book by Molly Young in the New York Times. A collection of short stories, *Burning Angel*, appeared a year later in 2023 and was selected as a New Statesman "Book of the Year 2023."

## Films

As reported by *[The Hollywood Reporter](/source/The_Hollywood_Reporter)*, Osborne sat on the jury of the 2017 [Macau Film Festival](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Macau_Film_Festival&action=edit&redlink=1).[35]

The screen version of *[The Forgiven](/source/The_Forgiven_(2021_film))* was announced at [Cannes](/source/Cannes_Film_Festival) in 2018 with director [John Michael McDonagh](/source/John_Michael_McDonagh) and [Ralph Fiennes](/source/Ralph_Fiennes), [Jessica Chastain](/source/Jessica_Chastain) and [Matt Smith](/source/Matt_Smith_(actor)) attached. Shooting began in Morocco in February 2020 and was completed in September of that year. The film was shown at a Gala opening at the 2021 Toronto Film Festival and was shown at the Tribeca Festival in 2022 prior to its US release with Focus and Roadside.[36]

Set in [Macau](/source/Macau), *[Ballad of a Small Player](/source/Ballad_of_a_Small_Player)* was shot in summer 2024 in both Macau and [Hong Kong](/source/Hong_Kong). Directed by [Edward Berger](/source/Edward_Berger), starring [Colin Farrell](/source/Colin_Farrell), [Tilda Swinton](/source/Tilda_Swinton) and [Fala Chen](/source/Fala_Chen), the film was released by [Netflix](/source/Netflix) in 2025.

In June 2020 it was announced by both *[Variety](/source/Variety_(magazine))* and *The Hollywood Reporter* that Osborne will script and co-produce the film adaptation of [Jon Swain](/source/Jon_Swain)'s 1997 Vietnam war memoir *River of Time* in conjunction with [Indochina Productions](/source/Indochina_Productions). His script "Solstice" is currently in development, to be shot in Mongolia.

"On Java Road" is currently being produced as a feature film with Anonymous Content. His novel "Children of Wolves," set in Istanbul, is scheduled for publication in 2026.

Osborne is a voting member of the European Film Academy.

In May 2025, Deadline announced the creation of JAVA ROAD, a production company formed by Osborne, producers Mike Goodridge of Good Chaos and Nicholas Simon of Indochina Productions (based in London and Asia).

## Bibliography

### Non-fiction

- *[American Normal](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=American_Normal&action=edit&redlink=1)* (2002)

- *[The Accidental Connoisseur](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Accidental_Connoisseur&action=edit&redlink=1)* (2004)

- *[The Naked Tourist](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Naked_Tourist&action=edit&redlink=1)* (2006)

- *[Bangkok Days](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bangkok_Days&action=edit&redlink=1)* (2009)

- *[The Wet and the Dry](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Wet_and_the_Dry&action=edit&redlink=1)* (2013)

### Fiction

- *[Ania Malina](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ania_Malina&action=edit&redlink=1)* (1989)

- *[The Forgiven](/source/The_Forgiven_(novel))* (2012)

- *[The Ballad of a Small Player](/source/The_Ballad_of_a_Small_Player)* (2014)

- *[Hunters in the Dark](/source/Hunters_in_the_Dark)* (2015)

- *[Beautiful Animals](/source/Beautiful_Animals)* (2017)

- *[Only to Sleep](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Only_to_Sleep&action=edit&redlink=1)* (2018), a [Philip Marlowe](/source/Philip_Marlowe) novel

- *[The Glass Kingdom](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Glass_Kingdom&action=edit&redlink=1)* (2020)

- *[On Java Road](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=On_Java_Road&action=edit&redlink=1)* (2022)

- *[Burning Angel and Other Stories](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Burning_Angel_and_Other_Stories&action=edit&redlink=1)* (2023)

- *Children of Wolves* (2026)

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-fitz_1-0)** ["Books by Members – Optima (p. 18)"](https://web.archive.org/web/20140222005538/http://www.fitz.cam.ac.uk/mi-client/media/import/documents/optima_19_web.pdf) (PDF). Fitzwilliam College. 2013. Archived from [the original](http://www.fitz.cam.ac.uk/mi-client/media/import/documents/optima_19_web.pdf) (PDF) on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 7 February 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Cumming, Ed (7 February 2016), ["Lawrence Osborne interview: how the novelist became the new Graham Greene"](https://www.theguardian.com/global/2016/feb/07/lawrence-osborne-novelist-interview-graham-greene-thailand), *The Observer*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** [New York Times Search: Lawrence Osborne](https://query.nytimes.com/search/sitesearch?query=lawrence+osborne&)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Osborne, Lawrence (18 April 2005). ["Letter from New Guinea: Strangers in the Forest"](https://www.newyorker.com/archive/2005/04/18/050418fa_fact_osborne), *The New Yorker*, p. 124.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Lawrence Osborne"](http://santamaddalena.org/lawrence-osborne/). 8 June 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Osborne, Lawrence (1 February 1989). [*Ania Malina*](https://books.google.com/books?id=n4sH_xO3vPgC). Penguin Books. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9780140113105](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780140113105).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Osborne, Lawrence (2 June 1992). [*Paris dreambook: An unconventional guide to the splendor and squalor of the city*](https://books.google.com/books?id=82IYYSPHoBAC). Knopf Doubleday Publishing. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9780679737759](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780679737759).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Osborne, Lawrence (1 October 1993). [*The poisoned embrace: A brief history of sexual pessimism*](https://books.google.com/books?id=gvYhAAAAMAAJ). Pantheon Books. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9780679427230](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780679427230).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Osborne, Lawrence (8 May 2007). [*American Normal: The Hidden World of Asperger Syndrome*](https://books.google.com/books?id=5bPdBgAAQBAJ). Springer. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9780387218076](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780387218076).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** Osborne, Lawrence (15 March 2004). [*The Accidental Connoisseur: An Irreverent Journey Through the Wine World*](https://books.google.com/books?id=v8Lr1Am6OtYC). Macmillan + ORM. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9781429935111](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9781429935111).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** Osborne, Lawrence (12 June 2007). [*The Naked Tourist: In Search of Adventure and Beauty in the Age of the Airport Mall*](https://books.google.com/books?id=b2KqMxKPc_YC). Macmillan + ORM. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9781429934985](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9781429934985).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** Osborne, Lawrence (26 May 2009). [*Bangkok Days: A Sojourn in the Capital of Pleasure*](https://books.google.com/books?id=G-42c31y-xYC). Macmillan + ORM. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9781429957328](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9781429957328).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** Osborne, Lawrence (30 October 2011). ["Boxer, Godfather, Politician. Can Manny Pacquiao Do Everything?"](http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2011/10/30/boxer-godfather-politician-can-manny-pacquiao-do-everything.html). Thedailybeast.com. Retrieved 29 December 2013.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** Osborne, Lawrence (25 September 2011). ["Pedro Almodóvar on the Verge"](http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2011/09/25/pedro-almod-var-on-the-verge.html). Thedailybeast.com. Retrieved 29 December 2013.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** Hendra, Tony (28 March 2004). ["The Reign of Terroir"](https://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/28/books/the-reign-of-terroir.html). *The New York Times*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** ["100 Notable Books of 2014"](https://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/07/books/review/100-notable-books-of-2014.html). *The New York Times*. 2 December 2014. [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0362-4331](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0362-4331). Retrieved 8 September 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** ["NPR's Book Concierge: Our Guide To 2014's Great Reads"](https://apps.npr.org/best-books-2014/). *apps.npr.org*. 3 December 2014. Retrieved 8 September 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-18)** French, Paul (14 January 2015). ["The Book the China Crowd Missed – Lawrence Osborne's the Ballad of a Small Player"](http://blog.lareviewofbooks.org/chinablog/book-china-crowd-missed-lawrence-osbornes-ballad-small-player/). *Los Angeles Review of Books*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-19)** ["Books of the Year: NS friends and contributors choose their favourite reading of 2014"](https://www.newstatesman.com/culture/2014/11/books-year-ns-friends-and-contributors-choose-their-favourite-reading-2014). *www.newstatesman.com*. 19 November 2014. Retrieved 8 September 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-20)** Collins, Robert. ["The Ballad of a Small Player by Lawrence Osborne"](https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/the-ballad-of-a-small-player-by-lawrence-osborne-xgzk8c2zlgf). *[The Times](/source/The_Times)*. [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0140-0460](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0140-0460). Retrieved 8 September 2020.{{[cite news](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_news)}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_deprecated_archival_service))

1. **[^](#cite_ref-21)** Akbar, Arifa (26 November 2015). ["Christmas 2015: The top 15 books in fiction"](https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/features/the-best-fiction-of-2015-a6750551.html). *The Independent*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-22)** Mukherjee, Neel (6 May 2015). ["Hunters in the Dark by Lawrence Osborne review – edgy, gripping and beautifully written"](https://www.theguardian.com/books/2015/may/06/hunters-in-dark-lawrence-osborne-review-written). *The Guardian*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-23)** Child, Lee (13 January 2016). ["'Hunters in the Dark,' by Lawrence Osborne"](https://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/17/books/review/hunters-in-the-dark-by-lawrence-osborne.html). *The New York Times*. [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0362-4331](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0362-4331). Retrieved 8 September 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-24)** Dahiya, Nishant (16 January 2015). ["'Hunters' is a Dark, Elegant Tale of East and West"](https://www.npr.org/2016/01/16/462262247/hunters-is-a-dark-elegant-tale-of-east-and-west). *NPR*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-25)** Sexton, David (7 May 2015). ["Hunters in the Dark by Lawrence Osborne - review: Stepping out of the"](https://www.standard.co.uk/lifestyle/books/stepping-out-of-the-shadow-of-graham-greene-10233208.html). *Evening Standard*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-26)** Kemp, Peter (3 May 2015). ["Hunters in the Dark by Lawrence Osborne"](https://www.thetimes.com/travel/destinations/europe-travel/france/paris/hunters-in-the-dark-by-lawrence-osborne-wf8hm5m3rc5). *The Sunday Times*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-27)** Sethi, Anita (24 May 2015). ["Hunters in the Dark by Lawrence Osborne review – expert narrative"](https://www.theguardian.com/books/2015/may/24/lawrence-osborne-hunters-in-the-dark-review-anita-sethi). *The Guardian*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-28)** Kitamura, Katie (5 July 2017). ["Affluent Idlers Find a Just Cause in a Refugee Swept Ashore"](https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/05/books/review/beautiful-animals-lawrence-osborne.html?_r=2). *The New York Times*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-BeautifulAnimals_29-0)** Shriver, Lionel (13 July 2017). ["Let's not mince words: Lawrence Osborne's 'Beautiful Animals' is a great book"](https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/books/lets-not-mince-words-lawrence-osbornes-beautiful-animals-is-a-great-book/2017/07/11/25b69b4a-5c12-11e7-a9f6-7c3296387341_story.html). *Washington Post*. Retrieved 6 March 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-30)** ["The best books of 2018"](https://www.newstatesman.com/culture/books/2018/11/best-books-of-the-year-2018-new-statesman), *New Statesman*, 14 November 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-31)** ["New York Times: 100 Notable Books of 2018"](https://www.yearendlists.com/2018/11/new-york-times-100-notable-books-of-2018), *The New York Times*, 20 November 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-32)** ["NPR's Book Concierge | Our Guide To 2018's Great Reads"](https://apps.npr.org/best-books-2018/), NPR, 27 November 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-33)** ["Best summer books 2018, as picked by writers – part one"](https://www.theguardian.com/books/2018/jul/07/summer-reading-writers-recommend-part-one-hilary-mantel-yuval-noah-harari-chimamanda-ngozi-adichie), *The Guardian*, 7 July 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-34)** [\[1\]](https://www.newstatesman.com/culture/fiction/2020/10/how-lawrence-osborne-subverts-crime-genre), *New Statesman*, 7 October 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-35)** ["Macau Festival Chief on Making the Casino Capital into a Major Moviegoing Destination (Q&A) | Hollywood Reporter"](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/macau-festival-chief-making-chinas-casino-capital-a-major-moviegoing-destination-q-a-1065644). *www.hollywoodreporter.com*. 8 December 2017. Retrieved 8 September 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-36)** ["John Michael McDonagh's The Forgiven commences filming"](https://cineuropa.org/en/newsdetail/386519/). *Cineuropa - the best of european cinema*. 4 March 2020. Retrieved 8 September 2020.

## External links

- [Official website](http://lawrenceosborne.net)

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