After graduating from Reading University in 2003, Robert briefly worked as a journalist in India before turning to the world of film editing, where he has been employed ever since.
As well as prose, he has written several screenplays. His directorial debut Sexy Pig was broadcast on the BBC HD channel, and Ham was selected for the 2013 Atlantic Film Festival.
He now lives and works in north-west London, roaming the streets in search of inspiration, drinking too much coffee and not writing as much as he should.
In 2012, he won Apostrophe Books’ Fiction Fast-Track new-writing competition with The King of Spain, which is his first novel.
So this is our future, huh? A grotesque “old” – and I use the word advisedly – people’s home in a dystopian landscape of Home Counties bungalows. By turns funny (mostly) touching (often) and whimsical (quite enough, thank you), like all the best stories of this genre, The King of Spain succeeds because it strikes a persuasive chord of there-but-for-the-grace-of-God-go-we with the reader – it could just happen like this. Throw in a cinematic sense of location (McCarthy & Stone meets Cuckoo’s Nest meets Terry Gilliam), a well-assembled cast of characters (with the King of Spain himself a shoo-in for Best Scenery-eating), and a story-line that picks us up and sweeps us along for the ride, and it should come as no surprise when the notes at the end of the book reveal that the author is a film editor and screenplay writer. Indeed, the ending in particular struck me as something that would work even better in the movie than it does in the book. I bet they’re already falling over themselves in Lalaland to option this baby. But don’t let that stop you clicking on “buy” right now – because it’s a great read!
Considering this is a debut novel, the author seemed in complete control and was able to captivate my interest with aplomb. It's got the lot, strong character definition with a rollercoaster story line – I can’t wait for the next instalment from this talented writer.
A star is born! Robert Ford’s stunning dystopic novel seems to me to sit right up there with Orwell’s 1984, Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale and Huxley’s Brave New World. It’s packed with ingenious wit, derisive logic and beautiful turns of phrase on every page. The King Of Spain is nothing short of a tour de force.