Picture a British storyteller who weaves the uncanny with the everyday, crafting tales that linger like a fog over the moors—meet Daisy Johnson! Born in 1990, this literary prodigy became the youngest author ever shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize with her haunting debut novel, Everything Under. Her work, drenched in myth and emotion, explores the tangled bonds of family and the eerie beauty of the British landscape, captivating readers with every page.
Johnson’s stories aren’t just books—they’re experiences. From her award-winning short story collection Fen to the chilling sibling saga Sisters, her writing blends raw human connection with a touch of the supernatural, making her a standout voice in contemporary fiction.
The Making of Daisy Johnson
Born in Paignton, Devon, in 1990, Daisy Johnson grew up in the quiet corners of Saffron Walden, Essex, where her imagination roamed free. A Quaker school education at Friends’ School Saffron Walden sparked her love for words, and she later studied English and Creative Writing at Lancaster University. Her passion deepened at Oxford’s Somerville College, where she earned a master’s in Creative Writing while working at Blackwell’s bookshop. It was here, amid stacks of books, that Johnson began shaping her unique voice, winning the 2014 AM Heath Prize for fiction and publishing early stories in The Warwick Review and Boston Review.
Influenced by literary giants like Stephen King and Helen Oyeyemi, as well as poets like Sharon Olds, Johnson’s early scribblings evolved into a bold, mythic style. Her determination to chase inspiration rather than wait for it set her on a path to literary stardom.
Daisy Johnson’s Unforgettable Stories
Johnson’s debut short story collection, Fen (2016), is a love letter to the marshy, mysterious landscapes of East Anglia. These interconnected tales pulse with folklore and transformation—think girls turning into eels or houses with memories. The collection won the 2017 Edge Hill Short Story Prize, cementing her reputation as a master of the uncanny.
In 2018, Everything Under took the literary world by storm. A feminist retelling of the Oedipus myth, it follows Gretel, a lexicographer, and her estranged mother, who once lived on a canal boat inventing their own language. The novel’s fragmented narrative and lush prose earned Johnson a spot on the Man Booker Prize shortlist at just 27. She spent four years crafting it, wrestling with its sprawling structure through five drafts, proving her knack for tackling ambitious ideas.
Her 2020 novel, Sisters, dives into the claustrophobic bond between teenage siblings July and September. Set in a remote Yorkshire cottage, it’s a psychological horror story inspired by Shirley Jackson and Johnson’s own months living in a camper van. Her 2024 play, Viola’s Room, produced by Punchdrunk, showcases her versatility, bringing her eerie storytelling to immersive theater. Johnson’s style—lyrical, unsettling, and deeply human—makes every work a journey into the heart of relationships and hidden truths.
Why Daisy Johnson Matters
Daisy Johnson’s impact lies in her ability to make the familiar feel strange, turning everyday settings into stages for myth and memory. Her focus on complex female characters—mothers, daughters, sisters—challenges traditional narratives, earning praise from authors like Evie Wyld and Carmen Maria Machado. By blending folklore with modern struggles, she’s carved a niche in literary fiction that feels both timeless and fresh.
Her Man Booker nomination opened doors for young female authors, proving age and experience aren’t barriers to profound storytelling. Living in Oxford by the river, Johnson continues to write, her upcoming projects promising more chills and thrills. She’s not just a writer—she’s a literary alchemist, transforming the ordinary into the extraordinary.
- Born: October 31, 1990, Paignton, Devon
- Key Works: Fen (2016), Everything Under (2018), Sisters (2020), Viola’s Room (2024)
- Awards: Edge Hill Short Story Prize (2017), Harper’s Bazaar Short Story Prize (2016), AM Heath Prize (2014)
Snag Everything Under or Fen and dive into Daisy Johnson’s haunting, mythic world—your bookshelf will thank you!