Tim O’Brien was born in Minnesota, and graduated from Macalester College in St Paul. He served as an infantryman in Vietnam and after graduate studies at Harvard worked as a national affairs reporter for the Washington Post. He first came to prominence in 1973 with If I Die in a Combat Zone, the compelling, fictionalised account of his time in Vietnam. His highly acclaimed novels include Going After Cacciato, winner of the 1979 National Book Award in Fiction, The Things They Carried, In the Lake of the Woods and Tomcat in Love.‘Tim O'Brien ranks among the best.’ JOSEPH HELLER

‘A great book from one of America’s greatest writers. “July, July” is beautifully written, very moving and very, very funny. It is also packed with some of the best characters I’ve read in a long time.’ Roddy Doyle‘The Class of ’69 revisit their pasts and contemplate the thwarted dreams of the Sixties generation. Savage and funny.’ Sunday Express‘A feast – the rare kind that leaves you satisfied rather than stuffed. A book whose main delight is one of constant surprise in word and deed. Playful and profound…nightmarishly funny.’ Glasgow Herald‘O’Brien’s characters are instantly recognisable. Psychologically acute…he writes piercingly about relationships, particularly the ones that don’t work.’ Irish Times‘A great novel. So much human truth in so few words…the very definition of fine writing.’ Esquire‘A book for all seasons. Funny and poignant, it looks into the nature of our dreams and how fulfilment eludes us.’ Edna O’Brien