Benjamin Hale (born August 20, 1983 in Hayward, California) is an American novelist based in Brooklyn, New York.Benjamin Hale . Benjamin-hale.com. Retrieved on 2012-02-26. He was raised in Boulder, Colorado, where he attended Fairview High School. In 2006, he received a B.A. from Sarah Lawrence College and earned an M.F.A. in 2008 from the Iowa Writers' Workshop, where he received an Iowa Provost's Fellowship and a Michener-Copernicus Award.DeFiore and Company . Defioreandco.com. Retrieved on 2012-02-26. Since 2013, Hale has taught fiction and literature at Bard College as a Writer in Residence.Bard College Bard.edu. Retrieved on 2014-12-09.

Hale's first novel, The Evolution of Bruno Littlemore, was released by Twelve Books on February 2, 2011. Hachette Book Group (2009-09-18). Retrieved on 2012-02-26. to largely positive reviews.The Evolution of Bruno Littlemore: The Book Club. The New Yorker (2011-08-01). Retrieved on 2012-02-26.Baton Rouge news, sports and entertainment on The Advocate. 2theadvocate.com. Retrieved on 2012-02-26.'Bruno Littlemore': This chimp can talk. Newsday.com. Retrieved on 2012-02-26.Book Review: In “The Evolution of Bruno Littlemore,” Benjamin Hale Monkeys Around | The New York Observer . Observer.com. Retrieved on 2012-02-26. The novel tells the story of an extraordinarily precocious chimpanzee who learns to speak in English and develops a romantic relationship with a human female primatologist. Narrated in the protagonist ape's own voice, the novel depicts Bruno Littlemore's development from a captive zoo animal into a virtually-human aesthete and intellectual, often highlighting his struggle to negotiate the human and animal aspects of his character. The Evolution of Bruno Littlemore garnered Hale the 2012 Bard Fiction Prize,Bard Fiction Prize: Benjamin Hale, 2012 Recipient Bard College. Retrieved on 2012-11-13. as well as nominations for the 2011 Dylan Thomas PrizeDylan Thomas Prize 2011 shortlist is announced BBC (2011-10-20). Retrieved on 2012-11-13. and the 2012 New York Public Library Young Lions Fiction Award.Finalists Chosen for The New York Public Library’s 2012 Young Lions Fiction Award New York Public Library(2012-03-08). Retrieved on 2012-11-13.

Hale's second work of fiction, a collection of short stories titled The Fat Artist and Other Stories, was published by Simon and Schuster in 2016. Critics have described these stories as "excellent," "jarring," "erudite," and "wry."

Hale's non-fiction work has appeared in Harper'sBenjamin Hale Harper's. Retrieved on 2012-11-13. and The Millions.A Passion for Immortality: On the Missing Pulitzer and the Problem with Prizes The Millions (2012-05-29) Retrieved on 2012-11-13.

He is represented by DeFiore and Company, and is currently working on a new novel. Benjamin often loses at chess to his brother in law Sam Millard, but enjoys chess anyway. He currently lives in the Hudson valley.

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External links

Interview on KRUI's The Lit Show Interview on Chuck Palahniuk's official website