Born and raised in Eastern Canada, John moved to the UK to study the poetry of Keats, and in 2009 received a PhD from the University of St. Andrews. He recently completed a novel reimagining the life and death of Canadian painter, Tom Thomson. John lives in London, England.
Influences
My favourite novel is The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov. Other contenders include The Gormenghast Trilogy and The Once and Future King. Robert MacFarlane’s books make me want to go back outside, and The Game of Thrones shackles me to my chair.
More recently, Jonathan Littell’s The Kindly Ones bowled me over – as does everything by Jeanette Winterson, particularly The Passion. Chagall’s illustrated Old Testament gets my vote for the most beautiful book in the world.
If I could write like anyone, it would be a fusion of Iris Murdoch and John Fowles.
I studied poetry in school, and I harbour a particular fascination with Keats and the Romantics, as well as Anna Akhmatova, Wilfred Owen, and Ted Hughes.
Contributor
John writes the monthly blog “The Literature of War” for the Laurier Centre for Military Strategic and Disarmament Studies at Wilfrid Laurier University, Canada.
Keats House Museum
John is a tour guide at the Keats House Museum, Hampstead – a beautifully preserved home of one of the greatest Romantic poets, now occupied by some of the friendliest people in London.
Photography
John has worked as a photographer for museum exhibitions, film shoots, concerts, sporting events, weddings, theatre, and tourism in 22 countries. You can see his photography on Flickr.
London Marathon 2012
John ran the London Marathon 2012 in support of the Born Free Foundation. Thanks for all your support!
Representation
John Owen Theobald is represented by John Richard Parker at Zeno Literary Agency.
Inquiries
Email: hello@johnowentheobald.com