A long-time proponent of foreign-language literature, he is the author of The 100 Best Novels in Translation (2018).
In 2020 Tonkin was the recipient of the Benson Medal from the Royal Society of Literature.
[5] He worked as a lecturer in literature, before exchanging academia for journalism, initially as a staff writer and features editor on the magazine Community Care.
[10][5] In addition to his work for The Independent, Tonkin has written for The Observer, Financial Times, The Guardian, The Economist, The Spectator, New Scientist and Newsweek, among other publications, is a contributor to arts and current-affairs programmes on BBC Radio, and has been a commentator on literary issues internationally, as well as an invited participant and speaker at festivals and educational institutions worldwide.
"[13] In November 2020, Tonkin was awarded the Benson Medal[14] and was elected an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature.