Award-winning author Rachel Joyce receives honorary doctorate from Kingston University

Posted Thursday 18 July 2024

Author Rachel Joyce

Kingston University has awarded an honorary doctorate to author Rachel Joyce, who penned Man Booker Prize-nominated novel The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry.

Ms Joyce, who was named the National Book Award's New Writer of the Year for the novel in 2012, saw the book selected for Kingston University's award-winning shared reading initiative the Big Read in 2019. She has now been awarded an honorary doctorate for her outstanding contribution to literature and reading enjoyment at the graduation ceremony of Kingston's economics and management studies students at The Rose Theatre.

"It is a wonderful privilege to be awarded an honorary doctorate by Kingston University - just as it was when The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry was selected for the Big Read," the author said.

"At the time I remember thinking, what will be interesting for new students about a retired man who sets off to walk the length of England for a friend? But in meeting students as I did at that time, I began to realise that of course it is a story about new beginnings, about stepping into the unknown, and valuing those people you meet, even when you do not at first see what you have in common," she said. "Graduating from university is the same. It is about stepping into the world, willing and eager to play your part. Now more than ever the world needs you."

Born in London, Rachel studied English at Bristol University and worked as an actor for 20 years before turning to her childhood passion of writing. Her professional writing career began in radio drama and she has written many afternoon plays for BBC Radio 4, as well as major adaptations of all the Bronte novels and Henry James.

Her other work includes Sunday Times and international bestsellers Perfect, The Love Song of Miss Queenie Hennessy, The Music Shop and Miss Benson's Beetle. The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry was adapted into a feature film starring Jim Broadbent in 2023.

The Big Read, now in its tenth year, is an award-winning initiative that aims to foster a strong sense of belonging through shared reading among students and staff, providing a common talking point during the first term at university. The project has since been introduced to several other UK universities since being pioneered at Kingston including the University of Sussex and Royal Holloway.

The scheme was set up by Professor of Publishing at Kingston University Alison Baverstock, who nominated Rachel and noted the contributions that Big Read authors make to Kingston University. "Each year we build a special relationship with our Big Read author and get to know them – from the moment when they accept the invitation to be part of our shortlist, to the day on which we welcome them to Kingston for the live event," she said.

"In the case of those being honoured now, we have been thrilled to see Rachel's subsequent success and felt a significant pride in having had the wisdom to also make her one of our authors. It's a delight to welcome her to graduation to have this confirmed," Professor Baverstock added.

Rachel Joyce is one of eight industry experts being recognised for their achievements during two week of graduation ceremonies, which will see around 3,000 Kingston University students graduate.