About Joan Riley
Born 1958. Joan Riley is a novelist, author and writer.
Joan Riley (born 26 May 1958) is a Jamaican-British writer. Her 1985 debut novel The Unbelonging made her "the first Afro-Caribbean woman author to write about the experiences of Blacks in England".
Biography Joan Riley was born in Hopewell, Richmond, St. Mary, Jamaica, the youngest of eight children (six girls and two boys), and was raised by her father after her mother died in childbirth. She received her early education on that island before migrating in 1976 to the United Kingdom. and Her True-True Name (edited by Pamela Mordecai, 1989).
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Frequently asked questions
Who is Joan Riley?
Jamaican-British novelist
When was Joan Riley born?
Joan Riley was born on 26 May 1958 in Jamaica, Saint Mary Parish.
What is Joan Riley's occupation?
Joan Riley is a novelist, author and writer.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Joan Riley. https://biography.guide/joan-riley/
MLA: "Joan Riley." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/joan-riley/.
Chicago: "Joan Riley." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/joan-riley/.
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