Francis Wheen (born January 1957) is a British writer and journalist, who was educated at Harrow School and Royal Holloway College, University of London. He is the author of several books including a biography of Karl Marx, which won the Isaac Deutscher prize. An award-winning column for The Guardian ran for several years. He writes for Private Eye and is the magazine's deputy editor. His collected journalism - Hoo-hahs and Passing Frenzies won him the George Orwell Prize in 2003.

Wheen broadcasts regularly (mainly on BBC Radio 4) and is a regular panellist on The News Quiz.

Partial bibliography

• How Mumbo-Jumbo Conquered the World (2004) ISBN 0007140967
• Idiot Proof: A Short History of Modern Delusions (2004) ISBN 1586482475
• Shooting Out the Lights (2004) ISBN 0007149433
• The Irresistible Con: The Bizarre Life of a Fraudulent Genius (2004) ISBN 1904095747
• Hoo-hahs and Passing Frenzies: Collected Journalism, 1991-2001 (2002) ISBN 1903809428 (mainly consisting of columns from The Guardian
• Who Was Dr.Charlotte Bach? (2002) ISBN 1904095399
• Karl Marx (1999) ISBN 1857026373
• Lord Gnome's Literary Companion (1994) ISBN 1859849458
• The Chatto Book of Cats (Chatto Anthologies) Francis Wheen, editor, John O'Connor, illustrator (1993) ISBN 0701140054
• Tom Driberg : His Life and Indiscretions (1990) ISBN 0701131438
• Battle for London (1985) ISBN 0745300545
• Television: A History (1984) ISBN 0712609296
• The Sixties (1982) ISBN 0712600183

External links

• Extract from Hoo-Hahs and Passing Frenzies: Collected Journalism
• Interview