William Boyd

Born 7 March 1952, Accra, Ghana.

William Boyd is a Glasgow graduate and an internationally acclaimed novelist and screenwriter.

Boyd was born in Accra, Ghana, in 1952. He grew up there and in Nigeria before attending Gordonstoun to complete his schooling. He matriculated at the University of Glasgow in 1971 to study Arts. As a student he honed his literary skills as editor of the Glasgow University Guardian and graduated MA in English and Philosophy in 1975. After graduation he went to Jesus College, Oxford where he studied for a DPhil in English Literature.

He worked as a lecturer in English Literature at St Hilda's College, Oxford, from 1980-1983 and published his first award winning novel, A Good Man in Africa during this period. Since then the list of novels and prizes has lengthened and he has also earned critical acclaim as a screenwriter.

He became a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature in 1983 and he is the holder of several honorary doctorates including a DLitt from the University of Glasgow on 2nd December 2000. He was appointed CBE in 2005.

University Link: Alumnus, Honorary Graduate
GU Degrees: MA, DLitt, 2000;
Honours: CBE;

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