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 ]
Hilary Mantel has won the Costa Book of the Year for her Man Booker-winning novel Bring Up the... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2013-01-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Hilary Mantel in the bookies favourite to win the Costa Book of the Year Prize, announced tonight... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2013-01-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Aurum Press has won a five-way auction for a non-fiction title about the Golden Age of... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2012-09-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
YA promises diversity with historical fiction, paranormal romance, murder mysteries and thrillers.YA promises diversity with historical fiction, paranormal romance, murder mysteries and thrillers. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times
[ Los Angeles Times | 2012-08-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Historical novelist Barry Unsworth, who won the Booker Prize in 1992 for his novel about the 18th... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2012-06-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Mark Coker of Smashwords became the leader of indie ebook writers--including some with dirty minds--in a fight against censorship and PayPal. He also has strong feelings about the DOJ's ebook pricing lawsuit.Mark Coker is the CEO of Smashwords, an ebook publishing and distribution platform.... Continue reading at Fast Company
[ Fast Company | 2012-04-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Andrew Miller's Costa Book of the Year-winning Pure (Sceptre) has been shortlisted for the... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2012-04-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Sales of the Costa Book of the Year category winners have trebled since their victories last week... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2012-01-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Poet laureate Carol Ann Duffy has won the Costa Poetry Award for The Bees (Picador), and debut... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2012-01-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Publication Date: Mon, 26/09/2011 - 14:50 Author Jojo Moyes, Hungerford Bookshop owner Emma Milne-White and Hammicks Sharon Murray are to join the judging panels for this years Costa Book Awards. A total of 568 books have been entered for this years awards, with the category shortlists... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2011-09-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Written By: Graeme Neill Publication Date: Fri, 15/04/2011 - 11:32 Independent publisher Choc Lit has bought a contemporary debut thriller and a modern day version of Jane Austen's Persuasion. Director Lyn Vernham bought world rights to Never Coming Home by Evonne Wareham, directly from the... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2011-04-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Publication Date: Fri, 01/04/2011 - 11:14 Six titles spanning imperial Japan to 19th-century Jamaica have been shortlisted for the second Walter Scott Prize for historical fiction, worth £25,000. Andrea Levy's The Long Song (Headline Review) and Tom McCarthy's C (Jonathan Cape) both shortlisted... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2011-04-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Written By: Katie Allen Publication Date: Fri, 11/03/2011 - 15:47 Transworld/Bantam novelist Manda Scott has formed the Historical Writers Association as a forum for writers and to promote the genre. The internet-based group, which already boasts around 100 members including authors Simon... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2011-03-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Written By: Charlotte Williams Publication Date: Tue, 15/02/2011 - 09:39 Indie publisher Salt has launched a digital imprint, Embrace Books, comprising four series of erotica and romance titles. Red Velvet is billed as "sexy, sophisticated romance", while After Dark is an "intense,... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2011-02-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Costa Book of the Year prize-winner, Jo Shapcott, explains her delight that poetry has been recognised by Costa two years running. Continue reading at BBC News
[ BBC News | 2011-01-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this