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 Spanish philosopher and poet George Santayana once said, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” As a genre, historical fiction allows us to shuttle back in time to stand in the shoes, clogs, chopines, and go-go boots of people—real and imagined—to consider the... Continue reading at Electric Literature
[ Electric Literature | 2019-07-15 11:00:13 UTC ]
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Historical fiction authors bring textbook events to life. By creating backstories and intricate narratives, authors can turn a few lines ... Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2019-06-28 10:36:47 UTC ]
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Robin Robertson has become the first Scot to win the £25,000 Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction with his book The Long Take (Picador). Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2019-06-17 13:23:17 UTC ]
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They should be seen as communications infrastructure, and be made to serve the public interest. Continue reading at Slate
[ Slate | 2019-06-07 01:34:58 UTC ]
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Crankstart officially takes over as the supporter of the Booker Prize on 1st June, ending 18 years of sponsorship by The Man Group. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2019-05-31 17:35:51 UTC ]
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A “dazzling” six-book shortlist has been announced for the £25,000 Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction, which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2019-04-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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For nearly 20 years, Namwali Serpell has been writing “The Old Drift.” If you don’t find that fact alone to be staggering, consider this: The 576-page book blends English with a multitude of Bantu languages spoken in Zambia. Incorporating elements of historical fiction, sci-fi, magical realism,... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times
[ Los Angeles Times | 2019-03-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction has unveiled its longlist, as the chair of the judges warns choosing a shortlist “from these corkers is going to be a tough task”. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2019-03-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The Booker Prize Foundation has signed an agreement with the Crankstart Foundation to take over sponsorship of the Booker prizes from the Man Group, which has ended its 18 year support off the awards. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-02-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The Booker Prize will be sponsored by Silicon Valley venture capitalist Sir Michael Moritz's charitable foundation Crankstart in a five-year deal, it has been announced. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2019-02-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The Costa Book of the Year prize goes to its biography category winner, a tale of the Dutch Nazi resistance by Bart van Es. The post Bart van Es’ Biography ‘The Cut Out Girl’ Named Costa Book of the Year appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2019-01-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Bart van Es wrote about a Jewish girl who was sheltered by his grandparents during World War Two. Continue reading at BBC News
[ BBC News | 2019-01-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The Booker Prize Foundation said yesterday that it was "confident" of finding a new sponsor following the decision of the hedge fund company the Man Group to end its association with the Booker Prize and the Booker International Prize. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-01-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The acclaimed young Irish author Sally Rooney is the winner of the 2018 Costa Book Prize in the novel category. The overall Costa Book of the Year is to be named January 29. The post Ireland’s Sally Rooney Leads Costa Prize Category Winners appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2019-01-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Lee created or co-created a stable of superhero characters that drove the comics industry for decades and continues to drive Hollywood profits today. To celebrate the life and work of Stan Lee, the Marvel Comics pioneer who passed away at the age of 95 today, we rounded up some classic covers... Continue reading at Fast Company
[ Fast Company | 2018-11-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
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In Germany, Turning Point, the finale of Carmen Korn’s Century Trilogy, a historical series about four women in the 20th century, topped the fiction bestseller list in September, and prolific mystery novelist Charlotte Link was in second with The Search, about a missing teen. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-10-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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This week: inside the golden age of science fiction, plus the epic drama of our atmosphere. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-10-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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BBC4 is to broadcast a 60-minute documentary looking back at the highs and lows of 50 years of the Booker Prize. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2018-09-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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In her first work of historical fiction, bestselling author Patti Callahan explores the life and love of Joy Davidman, the wife of C.S. Lewis. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-08-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Bloomsbury has snapped up an "exquisite" novel and a short story collection about flawed masculinity from Benjamin Myers six weeks after he scooped the Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction for his book published by Bluemoose Books. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2018-08-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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