- guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 22 July 2008 15.39 BST
1952-
"I think I'm less and less labelled a 'horror writer'. The books tend not to go on horror shelves any more and when they do I tend to take them off."
Birthplace
Liverpool, England
Education
University of Liverpool, England
Other jobs
Playwright and theatre director
Did you know?
A parachute accident he saw as a child - when a performing 'bird man' fell to earth - informed his vocation for horror and forbidden sights.
Critical verdict
Stephen King has decreed that "I have seen the future of horror and its name is Clive Barker."
Recommended works
Weaveworld is his richest fantasy.
Influences
Barker namechecks Edgar Allen Poe, Ray Bradbury, Herman Melville, William Blake, William Burroughs and the Bible.
Now read on
Try Edward Gorman or Peter Straub.
Adaptations
Hellraiser (1987) and Candyman (1992) are the most authentic Barker adaptations.
Useful links and work online
Work online
· Animal Life: a short story
Background
· Official site
· 'I will loosely term my genre le fantastique...' 1989 interview
· 'I'm not an adept...' 1995 interview
