 Charles Bruce Chatwin ( 13 May 1940 – 18 January 1989 ) was an English travel writer , novelist , and journalist . His first book , In Patagonia ( 1977 ) , established Chatwin as a travel writer , although he considered himself instead a storyteller , interested in bringing to light unusual tales . He won the James Tait Black Memorial Prize for his novel On the Black Hill ( 1982 ) and his novel Utz ( 1988 ) was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize . In 2008 The Times named Chatwin # 46 on their list of " 50 Greatest British Writers Since 1945 . " 
