James Herbert
James Herbert was a prominent British horror and adventure writer, known for his commercial success and unique contributions to the genre. Born in 1943 in London, he graduated from the Hornsey College of Art in 1959, initially working as an advertising art director before transitioning to full-time writing in 1977. Herbert is often compared to Stephen King, particularly in terms of popularity in the United States, although his works have received mixed critical reception, with some praising his descriptive skills and suspenseful plots, while others critique his character development and reliance on conventional horror tropes.
Herbert's novels frequently explore themes of societal fears and psychological horror, drawing inspiration from both scientific concepts and supernatural elements. His debut novel, "The Rats," illustrates urban decay and nature's terror, while works like "Domain" and "The Survivor" engage with post-apocalyptic fears and personal horror, respectively. Notably, "The Jonah" stands out as one of his most original narratives, delving into deep psychological themes. Herbert was also actively involved in the visual presentation of his works, designing his own book covers and managing marketing efforts from his home in Sussex. His influence extended beyond literature, with several of his books adapted into films and television adaptations.
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James Herbert
Writer
- Born: April 8, 1943
- Birthplace: London, England
- Died: March 20, 2013
Biography
Commercially successful British horror and adventure writer James Herbert was born in 1943 in London, England. He attended the Hornsey College of Art, graduating in 1959, and upon graduation began a career as an advertising art director, rising to the level of associate director at the Ayer, Barker, Hegemann agency before becoming a full-time writer in 1977. He married Eileen O’Donnel in August of 1967, and they have three daughters.
Unlike most British horror writers, Herbert has achieved popularity in the United States, often being compared to Stephen King—although more for the popularity of his books than for their quality. Critics complain about his weak characterization, which frequently features jaded young men in the lead roles, as well as his reliance on his audience’s suspension of disbelief and his use of stock horror imagery. Critics praise him for his descriptive abilities, his suspenseful plots, and his thrilling action scenes.
Herbert bases his horror on both scientific and supernatural causes, contrasting post-apocalyptic novels such as 1980’s Domain, which draws on nuclear fears, with supernaturally driven stories such as 1976’s The Survivor, in which the main character is terrified by disembodied voices. Herbert’s early novels, influenced by the films of George A. Romero and the novels of both John Wyndham and Nigel Kneale, reflect cultural anxieties and social decay. Herbert’s first novel, 1974’s The Rats, explores frightening elements of an out-of-control nature in a setting of urban poverty and neglect. The alternate universe novel ’48 hypothesizes what would have happened had the Nazis developed and unleashed a plague on the city of London at the end of World War II. The Jonah, published in 1981 and considered Herbert’s most original novel, involves a police officer’s fears that he may be committing crimes while unconscious—until he discovers the existence of a deformed twin brother.
Herbert has produced serial novels based on both The Rats and on 1989’s Haunted, both of which have also been adapted for film. Herbert has also contributed to film adaptations of The Survivor and Fluke (1977). Haunted was originally intended as a screenplay, but it became a novel instead and was re-adapated, quite differently from Herbert’s original conception, into a teleplay for the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) after publication. With his artist and advertising background, Herbert is very involved in the look and marketing of his books, producing his own book covers and handling his own publicity out of his home office in Sussex, England.