Julianne Pachico
Julianne Pachico | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1985 (age 39–40) Cambridge, England |
| Occupation | Writer, Professor |
| Nationality | British, American |
| Genre | Contemporary literature |
| Notable works | The Lucky Ones, The Anthill, Jungle House |
Julianne Pachico (born 1985 in Cambridge, England) is a British-American writer[1][2] whose work explores memory, violence and cultural identity, particularly within the Colombian context.
She grew up in Cali, Colombia, until the age of 18. Pachico earned a bachelor's degree in Comparative Literature from Reed College in Portland, Oregon, and later a master's degree in Prose Fiction at the University of East Anglia (UEA) in Norwich, England, where she also completed a PhD in creative and critical writing. She was a recipient of the UEA International Scholarship in Creative Writing.
Literary career
Pachico's debut book, The Tourists (2014), tells the story of a local dignitary who hosts a lavish party near Cali, Colombia, but unease arises as his daughter goes missing, a spider monkey threatens chaos, and unseen intruders observe the event.
The Lucky Ones (2017) spans two decades, following the intertwined lives of high school girls and those around them amid Colombia’s violent drug conflict and New York’s nightlife. It portrays a world where loyalties blur, danger is ever-present, and loved ones can disappear without warning.[3][4]
In her second novel, The Anthill (2020), Lina, a young woman returning to Colombia after twenty years in England, confronts the unresolved mysteries of her past. While volunteering at a daycare for street children, she encounters disturbing events and hidden truths that test her grasp on reality, exploring themes of memory, belonging, and the enduring effects of trauma.[5][6]
In 2023, she published Jungle House, which follows Lena, who has grown up in the jungle with her mother, isolated from the outside world. As unrest spreads beyond their home, mysteries about Lena’s past, her missing friends, and her mother’s secretive actions start to surface.[7][8]
Bibliography
Novels
- The Tourists, Daunt Books Publishing, 2014. ISBN 978-1907970672
- The Lucky Ones, Faber & Faber, 2017. ISBN 978-0571329809
- The Anthill, Faber & Faber, 2020. ISBN 978-0571331468
- Jungle House, Faber & Faber, 2023. ISBN 978-1800817616
Short stories
- Honey Bunny, The New Yorker, 2015
Awards
- Longlisted for the Sunday Times Short Story Award, 2015
- Two stories included in Best British Short Stories 2015
References
- ^ "Julianne Pachico". The Royal Literary Fund. Retrieved 24 September 2025.
- ^ "Julianne Pachico Bio". Retrieved 24 September 2025.
- ^ "THE LUCKY ONES". Kirkus Reviews. March 7, 2017.
- ^ Jaramillo, Camilo (May 1, 2020). "Colombia from Afar and in English". Latin American Literature Today.
- ^ "THE ANTHILL". Kirkus Reviews. March 1, 2020.
- ^ "The Anthill by Julianne Pachico". Peak Reads. June 17, 2021.
- ^ Hildyard, Daisy (November 15, 2023). "Jungle House by Julianne Pachico review – a fresh take on AI". The Guardian.
- ^ Ravasi, Mattia (2024). "Jungle House by Julianne Pachico". Mythaxis.