The Irish novelist and playwright on the positives of ageing, his struggles with depression and a golden age of Irish writingSebastian Barry, 68, is the author of 11 novels and 15 plays. Five of his books have been long- or shortlisted for the Booker prize, and his novels have won numerous awards, including the Costa book of the year (twice) and the Walter Scott prize for historical fiction. He was laureate for Irish fiction from 2018 to 2021. His latest novel, Old God’s Time, is about a retired policeman, Tom Kettle, and his struggles with the legacy of institutional child abuse in Ireland. It has been described as “a tour de force of transcendent power and complexity”. Barry was born in Dublin and lives in a converted rectory in the mountains of County Wicklow, Ireland.Was it good to be back in Ireland with Old God’s Time? Did it feel like coming home?I was in dread of coming home. I had spent two books [Days Without End and A Thousand Moons] in America, quite joyously… a kind of vast holiday. So, yes, it was coming home, but I was a bit… It’s not that I’ve been avoiding the whole strange cosmos of what we have done to children in this country, but I was certainly unable to write this book… until I did. When you get past 60, you do feel a sort of licence finally to write fearlessly about something that essentially is full of fear.Old God’s Time by Sebastian Barry is published in paperback by Faber (£9.99). To support the Guardian and Observer order your copy at... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'
[ The Guardian | 2024-02-10 18:00:48 UTC ]
The Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction has unveiled this year’s longlist after "lively debates" among the judges. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2020-03-09 10:22:42 UTC ]
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The debut middle-grade author answers questions about writing and publishing her folklore-inspired historical fiction set in Communist Romania. The post Breaking In: An Interview with Debut Middle-Grade Author J. Kaspar Kramer by Cassandra Lipp appeared first on Writer's Digest. Continue reading at Writer's Digest
[ Writer's Digest | 2020-03-06 16:37:35 UTC ]
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James Wood writes about the novelist Daniel Kehlmann, who evokes an era of doctrinal fervor—and brings to life a mythical trickster. Continue reading at New Yorker
[ New Yorker | 2020-02-10 11:00:00 UTC ]
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This week, Kevin Wilson reviews Stephen Wright’s new novel, “Processed Cheese.” In 2006, Laura Miller wrote for the Book Review about “The Amalgamation Polka,” Wright’s novel about the descendant of both ardent abolitionists and unwavering slaveholders. Continue reading at The New York Times
[ The New York Times | 2020-01-31 10:00:10 UTC ]
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We're in a new golden age of science fiction, especially science fiction short stories. These are some of the best stories you can read right now online. Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2020-01-09 11:35:44 UTC ]
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Sara Collins has won the Costa First Novel Award for her gothic romance, The Confessions of Frannie Langton (Viking), in a stellar year for début authors after three out of the five award categories were won by first-time writers. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2020-01-06 21:35:49 UTC ]
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With a total purse of £60,000 (US$79,000), the Costa Book Awards' first winners are in the five categories. One of this group will be named the overall winner on January 28. The post Costa Book Awards Names Its 2019 Category Winners appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2020-01-06 19:30:25 UTC ]
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A BookLife Prize finalist discusses her newly published historical fiction novel. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-12-20 05:00:00 UTC ]
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An author and teacher says reading historical fiction is one way for adolescents to see beyond the present. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-12-20 05:00:00 UTC ]
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It can seem like every historical fiction read focuses on one event, but we've got historical fiction novels not set in WWII for the Read Harder challenge. Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2019-12-12 11:32:03 UTC ]
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Next time you or the kids are looking for an informative nonfiction or historical fiction read, pick up one of these comics about history and culture. Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2019-12-10 11:42:18 UTC ]
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Quercus imprint riverrun has acquired a new historical fiction novel by German-Austrian writer Daniel Kehlmann,Tyll, in a translation by Ross Benjamin. The book, which has already sold 600,000 copies in Germany according to Quercus, will be published in hardback 6th Feburary 2020. UK and... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2019-12-09 22:15:28 UTC ]
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Quercus has acquired The Deception of Harriet Fleet, a historical fiction debut set in the landscape of County Durham, described as a "recasting of Jane Eyre" that is "chilling, dark and brimming with suspense". Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2019-11-28 07:05:41 UTC ]
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Candice Carty-Williams, Malorie Blackman and Rowan Hisayo Buchanan are among the 20 authors shortlisted for this year’s Costa Book Awards. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2019-11-26 21:14:59 UTC ]
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While banner ads are past their prime, we wouldn’t be in this golden age of digital content marketing without them. Continue reading at Advertising Age
[ Advertising Age | 2019-11-25 15:00:00 UTC ]
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Gaby Wood, literary director of the Booker Prize Foundation, has said prizes like the Booker are for readers first and foremost, and that they should be treated as an investigation rather than an act of judgement shaping the canon. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2019-11-25 12:59:25 UTC ]
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Look forward to a trip around the world, and back in time, while learning the history of far flung places with these 2020 global historical fiction reads. Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2019-11-14 11:32:10 UTC ]
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Get to know the facts and the legend surrounding Sisi, Empress of Austria, through these historical fiction and nonfiction books. Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2019-11-12 11:40:14 UTC ]
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Katharine Viner congratulates ‘wonderful’ arts writer who is already a vital contributor to the paperArifa Akbar has been appointed as the Guardian’s chief theatre critic. Akbar, who will take up the role in the new year, said she was “honoured, utterly thrilled and immensely excited” by the... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2019-11-08 10:52:21 UTC ]
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The Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction is celebrating its 10th anniversary with a poll to find the nation’s favourite historical novel. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2019-11-08 03:53:44 UTC ]
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