A.L. Kennedy

A.L. Kennedy is the author of novels, short stories and nonfiction. Her most recent book is We Are Attempting to Survive Our Time, published in 2020. She was one of Granta’s Best Young British Novelists in 1993 and 2003 and a judge of the same list in 2013.

A.L. Kennedy on Granta.com

Essays & Memoir | The Online Edition

On Judging Granta’s Best of Young British Novelists

A.L. Kennedy

A.L. Kennedy on being chosen for, and judging Granta’s Best of Young British Novelists.

Essays & Memoir | The Online Edition

A.L. Kennedy | First Sentence

A.L. Kennedy

‘I have never seen anyone eat figs in the street and feel I am unsurprised.’

Fiction | Issue 125

Late in Life

A.L. Kennedy

‘Eating figs is different for girls.’

Essays & Memoir | Issue 125

Introducing Tatiana Salem Levy

A.L. Kennedy

Tatiana Salem Levy is introduced by previous double Best of Young British Novelist, A.L. Kennedy.

Essays & Memoir | Issue 125

Home: Reflections for Anthony Shadid

Various Contributors

‘I realize it is my fault: whenever I live in any country, everything turns wrong. I see it as a gift.’

Art & Photography | Issue 120

Ordinary Light

Brad Feuerhelm & A.L. Kennedy

‘Here were humanity’s wilder beauties and our horrors, the physical record of hatreds, lusts and quiet obsessions.’ A.L. Kennedy introduces Brad Feuerhelm’s photographic collection.

Essays & Memoir | Issue 120

That Whole London Thing

A.L. Kennedy

‘But London has always been impossible and yet possible and has always called me.’

Essays & Memoir | Issue 120

The End?: Writers respond to John Barth

Various Contributors

'I suggest he put aside all his writing rituals and that he give away all his money – that way he might find his talent will be rebooted.'

Essays & Memoir | Issue 120

Insomnia

A.L. Kennedy

‘After dinner and schoolwork and dog-walking and the rest, even if I’d put the light out and laid myself down for definite rest, little ideas and scraps and nonsenses would tickle in and start to shake me. They would make the nights too bright to resist.’