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 ]
This excellent cradle-to-grave biography of a much loved novelist who goes in and out of fashion captures her alarming habits and tormented love affairsIn 1971 the author Barbara Pym was at her day job at the International African Institute when she noticed “Mr C” laboriously attacking his... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2021-04-08 06:30:07 UTC ]
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Discover the rich culture and history of Cuba with these stories, from romance to historical fiction and magical realism. Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2021-04-01 10:30:00 UTC ]
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Manifesto will chart the first Black Booker prize winner’s 40-year journey to literary centre-stage and encourage others to pursue creative fulfilmentBernardine Evaristo, the first Black woman to win the Booker prize, is writing a memoir about how she “moved from the margins to centre stage”... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2021-03-27 09:00:08 UTC ]
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Islands of Mercy by Rose Tremain and The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams, both published by Chatto & Windus, are among titles longlisted for this year's £25,000 Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2021-02-22 15:59:07 UTC ]
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Welbeck Publishing Group has acquired an epic historical fiction series by Dr Hilary Jones, the general practitioner and media doctor. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2021-02-12 01:43:04 UTC ]
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Peepal Tree Press is behind the dark, magical realist novel that scooped the £30,000 Costa Book of the Year last week, with The Mermaid of Black Conch by Monique Roffey putting a new spotlight on a small publisher that has consistently supported international Caribbean writing for 35 years. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2021-02-04 21:20:53 UTC ]
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If you enjoyed Maggie O'Farrell's historical fiction about Shakespeare's son, check out these thematically similar books like HAMNET. Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2021-02-03 11:37:00 UTC ]
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The author of best-selling books set in medieval England and Wales, she insisted that historical fiction had an obligation to the facts. Continue reading at The New York Times
[ The New York Times | 2021-01-29 22:25:25 UTC ]
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Tributes have been paid to US author Sharon Penman, a “giant” of historical fiction, who has passed away at the age of 75. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2021-01-28 04:51:02 UTC ]
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Monique Roffey has won the £30,000 Costa Book of the Year award for her “utterly original” sixth novel, The Mermaid of Black Conch: A Love Story, published by independent Peepal Tree Press. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2021-01-26 22:02:30 UTC ]
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Three writers who work in literature and screenwriting are behind the shortlisted trio of works in the Costa honors' 2020 cycle. The post Costa Book Awards Names Its Three Short Story Finalists appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2021-01-13 22:04:22 UTC ]
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In this Read Harder Challenge post, we're recommending books for the task asking you to read a historical fiction with a POC or LGBTQ+ protagonist. Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2021-01-11 11:31:00 UTC ]
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It’s a truism that historical fiction reveals more about its own age it than the one it portrays. We can’t escape or even perceive our own biases, the reasoning goes, so we end up helplessly projecting them onto a past where they don’t belong. But the past is not a museum, and contemporary... Continue reading at Electric Literature
[ Electric Literature | 2021-01-08 12:00:00 UTC ]
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The five category winners of the 2020 Costa Book Awards are announced, with the 'book of the year' honor to come later this month. The post UK: The 49th Costa Book Awards Name Category Winners appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2021-01-05 13:59:16 UTC ]
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Indies dominate the Costa Book Awards 2020 category winners, with two Faber & Faber authors among the victors—Natasha Farrant and Ingrid Persaud—along with Monique Roffey, Lee Lawrence, and the late Eavan Boland. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2021-01-04 11:53:28 UTC ]
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Find the best historical fiction series that both engages and entertains, with lively and diverse characters. Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2020-12-18 11:38:00 UTC ]
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These eight brilliant novels of historical fiction featuring intergenerational family sagas tell sweeping and epic tales, including Disoriental by Négar Djavadi, translated by Tina A. Kover. Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2020-12-16 11:39:00 UTC ]
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The Costa Book Awards, inaugurated in 1971, are a set of annual literary awards, which recognize and honor British and Irish writers of the English language. The Award comes with £5,000, and the winner from each category will be announced on January 4th. This year, Evan Boland’s posthumous... Continue reading at Literrary Hub
[ Literrary Hub | 2020-11-25 16:01:53 UTC ]
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Twenty writers from the United Kingdom and Ireland have been chosen from an initial pool of 708 Costa Book Award entries. The post The Costa Book Awards Program Announces Its 2020 Shortlists appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2020-11-25 14:14:19 UTC ]
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