Neil Gaiman

Neil Gaiman was born on November 10, 1960, in Portchester, Hampshire, England, to Jewish parents of Polish descent. He grew up in Sussex, attending Whitgift School in Croydon, and developed a passion for books early, influenced by authors like C.S. Lewis, Roger Lancelyn Green, Bram Stoker, and G.K. Chesterton. After early rejections as a writer, he worked as a freelance journalist in England, writing book and film reviews for British publications and producing his first books: a Duran Duran biography in 1984 and Don't Panic: The Official Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy Companion about Douglas Adams. In the late 1980s, Gaiman transitioned to comics, collaborating with artist Dave McKean on Violent Cases (1987), followed by the DC Comics miniseries Black Orchid (1988). This led to his landmark series The Sandman (1989–1996), which revolutionized graphic novels by blending horror, fantasy, and mythology, earning nine Will Eisner Awards, three Harvey Awards, and the first World Fantasy Award for a comic in 1991. Influenced by Alan Moore's work, Gaiman established himself as a key figure in modern comics during this period. Gaiman moved into novels with Good Omens (1990, co-written with Terry Pratchett), followed by Neverwhere (1995), Stardust (1999), the Hugo- and Nebula-winning American Gods (2001), Coraline (2002, his children's debut), Anansi Boys (2005), The Graveyard Book (2008), and The Ocean at the End of the Lane (2013). He relocated to the United States in 1992, settling near Minneapolis. Gaiman married musician Amanda Palmer in 2011; they had one child and divorced in 2022. Later works include short story collections like Smoke and Mirrors (1998) and Fragile Things (2006), and he co-edited anthologies such as The Sandman: Book of Dreams (1996). Gaiman has expanded into screenplays, audio theatre, and TV adaptations of his works, including Good Omens and The Sandman. He ended his journalism career in 1987 due to concerns over media accuracy.