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Justin Hill

Goodreads Author

Born

in Freeport, Grand Bahama Island, The United Kingdom

Website

http://www.justinhillauthor.com/

Twitter

JHillAuthor

Genre

Historical Fiction, Literature & Fiction, Nonfiction

Influences

JRR Tolkien
Thomas Hardy
Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Haruki Murakami

Member Since

July 2013

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Justin Hill is an English novelist whose work has three times been nominated for the Booker Prize. In 2001, The Independent on Sunday named him one of the UK's Top Twenty Young British Writers.

Born in Freeport, Grand Bahama Island, he grew up in York and studied Old English and Medieval Literature at Durham University. After graduating, he spent seven years working with Voluntary Service Overseas in rural China and Eritrea.

He travelled overland from China to Europe twice, once on the Trans-Siberian Railway and once back packing through Xinjiang, Kashkar, and down through the Hindu Kush. His time in Eritrea ended dramatically in June 1998, when he was airlifted out through a recently bombed airport, with Ethiopian fighter jets circling overh Justin Hill is an English novelist whose work has three times been nominated for the Booker Prize. In 2001, The Independent on Sunday named him one of the UK's Top Twenty Young British Writers.

Born in Freeport, Grand Bahama Island, he grew up in York and studied Old English and Medieval Literature at Durham University. After graduating, he spent seven years working with Voluntary Service Overseas in rural China and Eritrea.

He travelled overland from China to Europe twice, once on the Trans-Siberian Railway and once back packing through Xinjiang, Kashkar, and down through the Hindu Kush. His time in Eritrea ended dramatically in June 1998, when he was airlifted out through a recently bombed airport, with Ethiopian fighter jets circling overhead.

His experiences in China inspired his early writing, including A Bend in the Yellow River and his internationally acclaimed first novel, The Drink and Dream Teahouse. The latter won the Geoffrey Faber Memorial Prize and a Betty Trask Award, was chosen by The Washington Post as one of the top novels of 2001, and was banned in China.

His second novel, Passing Under Heaven, an imagining of the life of the ninth-century Chinese poet Yu Xuanji, won the Somerset Maugham Award and was shortlisted for the Encore Award. Ciao Asmara, his account of his years in Eritrea, was shortlisted for the Thomas Cook Travel Book Award.

His fascination with the early medieval world brought him back to the history of his native Yorkshire and the events leading to the Norman Conquest. His Conquest Series began with Shieldwall, set in Anglo-Saxon England, which was chosen by The Sunday Times as a Book of the Year. Viking Fire, which follows the extraordinary life of Harald Hardrada, the last great Viking king, was a Times Book of the Year.

He was also selected to write Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny, the novelisation of the sequel to the Oscar-winning film, returning him to the history and landscapes of China.

His books have been translated into seventeen languages and have received recognition from The Times, The Sunday Times, The Independent and The Washington Post.

He lives in the foothills of the North Yorkshire Moors.

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Average rating: 3.83 · 1,467 ratings · 241 reviews · 10 distinct works • Similar authors

	Shieldwall 3.99 avg rating — 484 ratings — published 2011 — 10 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Viking Fire (Conquest Trilogy #2) 4.26 avg rating — 292 ratings — published 2016 — 10 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Drink and Dream Teahouse 3.32 avg rating — 281 ratings — published 2001 — 22 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Passing Under Heaven 3.54 avg rating — 158 ratings — published 2004 — 7 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny by Justin Hill (Goodreads Author), Wang Dulu 3.76 avg rating — 127 ratings — published 2015 — 7 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Ciao Asmara 3.74 avg rating — 90 ratings — published 2002 — 5 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	A Bend in the Yellow River 3.61 avg rating — 28 ratings — published 1997 — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Still: Short Stories Inspired by Photographs of Vacated Spaces by Roelof Bakker (Editor), Richard Beard, Ava Homa 4.50 avg rating — 10 ratings — published 2012	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Things Too Far Away (China Short Stories Book 1) it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 2 ratings — published 2013	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Asia Literary Review: No. 26, Winter 2014 by Asia Literary Review, Martin Alexander, Anis Shivani (Goodreads Author) it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 2 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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Series by Justin Hill

Conquest Trilogy (2 books)
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Justin Hill (Goodreads Author)

4.09 avg rating — 776 ratings

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Justin’s Recent Updates

Justin Hill and 3 other people liked John's review of Bjorn: The Fell-Handed (Warhammer 40,000): "I was lucky to get the advanced collectors edition and it was worth it! I’ve just spent the past few days in the cold fenrisian air, getting to know what makes the venerable Bjorn tick (as well as walk, laugh and even sing no less!). The book is writt" Read more of this review »
Sep 18, 2026 07:03AM · see review
Justin Hill and 2 other people liked Jordan's review of Bjorn: The Fell-Handed (Warhammer 40,000): "[as always with new 40k novel, this will be spoiler free] what a beautiful saga for bjorn! i know there can be a little apprehension when a different author takes on a new character, chapter, etc. but justin absolutely honoured the beautiful tragedy t" Read more of this review »
Sep 18, 2026 07:03AM · see review
Justin Hill and 1 other person liked Rutger Gerrits's review of Bjorn: The Fell-Handed (Warhammer 40,000): "My favorite warhammer 40k book of 2026. Easily. What a ride the old wolf takes us on. It was horrifying and thrilling at the same time. The space wolves taking on the death guard was an excellent stage for the oldest space marine to shine on."
Sep 18, 2026 07:02AM · see review
Justin Hill and 3 other people liked Sam's review of Bjorn: The Fell-Handed (Warhammer 40,000): "This book has captured the heart of soul of who the Vlka Fenryka are and portrays them in ways most other books have failed. It focuses on Bjorn, the titular character, an entombed Space Marine of legends and lore who is only awoken when the Rout nee" Read more of this review »
Aug 24, 2026 01:40PM · see review
Justin Hill made a comment on Richard Sjoquist’s review of The Drink and Dream Teahouse " Richard - thank you so much for this review. That people - like yourself - who know/knew China, have enjoyed this book is the best complement. When I ...more "
Sep 23, 2025 01:28AM · see review
Justin Hill rated a book it was amazing Advent 2014: eBook Collection (Warhammer 40,000) by Guy Haley (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Apr 02, 2025 01:28PM · 1 like · like
Justin Hill rated a book it was amazing Serpents of Ardemis and Other Stories by Mike Brooks (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Apr 02, 2025 01:28PM · 1 like · like
Justin Hill rated a book it was amazing The Hammer and the Eagle: Icons of Warhammer by Dan Abnett (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Apr 02, 2025 01:28PM · 1 like · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Hammer and the Eagle by Dan Abnett. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Hammer and the Eagle by Dan Abnett <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Justin Hill rated a book it was amazing Unholy: Tales of Horror and Woe from the Imperium (Warhammer Horror) by J C Stearns	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
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Justin Hill rated a book it was amazing Only War: Stories from the 41st Millennium (Warhammer 40,000) by Guy Haley (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Apr 02, 2025 01:28PM · like

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Quotes by Justin Hill (?)

“And he became more and more miserable, until he felt he would explode like a New Year firecracker, where powder is packed into a paper cylinder, and remains quiet until the fuse is lit and it tears itself apart in the explosion.”
― Justin Hill, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny

2 likes

“Hunger is a reliable feeling; it had a simplicity love or grief did not.”
― Justin Hill, The Drink and Dream Teahouse

2 likes

“Common folk suffer when kingdoms rise,
Common folk suffer when kingdoms fall.”
― Justin Hill, The Drink and Dream Teahouse

2 likes

See all Justin Hill's quotes »

Topics Mentioning This Author

topics	posts	views	last activity
Ancient & Medieva...: The Norman Conquest	69	595	Jun 06, 2013 03:16AM
Historical Fictio...: Early Middle Ages/Dark Ages HF?	24	303	Dec 07, 2016 10:31AM
Aussie Readers: An additional Annual Challenge for 2017 - A-Z	958	426	Jan 03, 2018 08:06PM
The Book Vipers: Award Winner Challenge Book Lists	46	100	Oct 16, 2019 12:18PM
Need To find a replacement untill his next release in 2019.	5	7	Dec 12, 2024 12:49PM
Ancient & Medieva...: * High Middle Ages (1000-1300)	224	792	Dec 11, 2025 06:30AM
Around the World ...: Eritrea	10	488	Dec 15, 2025 12:12PM

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Justin’s Quotes

“Common folk suffer when kingdoms rise,
Common folk suffer when kingdoms fall.”
― Justin Hill, The Drink and Dream Teahouse

2 likes

“What were words, when all I’d had were mountains for company?”
― Justin Hill, Viking Fire

1 likes

“was wolf country, wild and bleak and empty; treacherous as a rabid dog.”
― Justin Hill, Viking Fire

1 likes

2 likes

“Hunger is a reliable feeling; it had a simplicity love or grief did not.”
― Justin Hill, The Drink and Dream Teahouse

2 likes

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