Photo: Michael Fennell / CC BY-SA 3.0 (source: Wikimedia Commons)
William Boyd was born on March 7, 1952 in Accra, Greater Accra Region, Ghana and is credited as a screenwriter, film director and novelist. That puts William Boyd at 74 years old in 2026. Schooling on record includes Jesus College. Recorded honors include Commander of the Order of the British Empire (2005), James Tait Black Memorial Prize (1990), John Llewellyn Rhys Prize and 5 more. Credited works include A Good Man in Africa.
My Take
William Boyd is a writer I hold in high regard, and his Ghanaian roots are central to why. Born in Accra and Oxford-educated, he brought genuine lived texture to A Good Man in Africa, and his range across novels, screenplays and directing is remarkable. A CBE and a James Tait Black winner, he belongs to that breed of versatile literary craftsmen who can map the quiet machinery of the human heart. What I value most is his willingness to roam continents and forms while keeping his prose grounded and humane. In a thin-content age, Boyd is exactly the kind of substantial storyteller worth championing.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- William Boyd
- Name (Japanese)
- ウィリアム・ボイド
- Reading
- うぃりあむ・ぼいど
- Born
- March 7, 1952 (age 74)
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Pisces / Dragon
- Origin
- Accra, Greater Accra Region, Ghana
- Occupation
- screenwriter / film director / novelist / writer / director
2. Background
- University
- Jesus College
Awards & achievements
- 2005 Commander of the Order of the British Empire
- 1990 James Tait Black Memorial Prize
- John Llewellyn Rhys Prize
- 1983 Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature
- 1982 Somerset Maugham Award
- 1983 Best of Young British Novelists
- 2017 Bodley Medal
- 2005 Officer of Arts and Letters
3. Works & records
| Category | Title | Role | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notable work | A Good Man in Africa | — |
4. Links
- Official sitehttps://www.williamboyd.co.uk/
- Wikipedia (English)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William%20Boyd%20(writer)
- Wikipedia (Japanese)https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%82%A6%E3%82%A3%E3%83%AA%E3%82%A2%E3%83%A0%E3%83%BB%E3%83%9C%E3%82%A4%E3%83%89%20(%E4%BD%9C%E5%AE%B6)
- Wikidatahttps://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q722103
5. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-21
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.
Frequently asked questions
When was William Boyd born?
Born March 7, 1952 (age 74).
Where is William Boyd from?
William Boyd is from Accra, Greater Accra Region, Ghana.
What does William Boyd do?
William Boyd works as screenwriter, film director, novelist, writer, director.
What is William Boyd known for?
Notable works include A Good Man in Africa.
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