Sally Rooney shares details about her latest book, Intermezzo, in an interview published in The Irish Times this Saturday. In the same issue, Richard Osman and Henrietta McKervey discuss their upcoming crime fiction. Alan Gilsenan talks about his journey retracing the steps of Samuel Beckett and his own father through the Dublin and Wicklow mountains, a prelude to the walk he will lead this coming Sunday as part of the Shaking Bog Festival. An interview with Carlo Gébler uncovers his past works and his most recent book, A Cold Eye.
Several book reviews feature in this edition, including Val Nolan’s take on The Women Behind the Door by Roddy Doyle, Ian Hughes’ review of Money: A Story of Humanity by David McWilliams, and Paschal Donohoe’s insights on Atlas of Finance: Mapping the Global Story of Money Dariusz Wojcik. Other notable reviews include Robert Gerwarth’s analysis of Crimean Quagmire: Tolstoy, Russell and the Birth of Modern Warfare by Gregory Carleton and Pat Carty’s review of Nexus by Yuval Noah Harari.
Lucy Caldwell, a Belfast-born author, has been named as a finalist for the BBC National Short Story Award 2024 with Cambridge University for a record fourth time, an announcement made on BBC Radio 4’s Front Row. Caldwell, the 2021 award winner, is nominated for her work, Hamlet, a love story.
Other finalists include Ross Raisin, the 2005 Sunday Times Young Writer of the Year and a 2013 pick for the Granta Best of Young British Novelists; accomplished memoirist, novelist and short story writer Will Boast; as well as newcomers Manish Chauhan, a finance lawyer, and Vee Walker, a previous museums and heritage specialist.
Taking place in various locations around the world; from Nice to Sicily, as well as the Midlands to New York, the narratives revolve around ’empathy and perception’, involving a ‘cultural clash’, different age groups, and diverse communities that represent the realism and universal realities of life in this 21st century. Such narratives are sparked by various inspirations such as the ‘obscure kitchens’ linked to the gig economy, Shakespeare’s Hamlet, the ‘Select Your Ending’ novels, an accidental meeting with a chihuahua in Nice, a refugee camp in Sicily, and an aspiration to delve into the concepts of love and acceptance amidst rigid faith.
The prize is one of the most honourable for an individual short story, with the victorious writer gaining £15,000, and the remaining shortlisted authors acquiring £600 each. The winner for 2024 will be made known live on BBC Radio 4’s Front Row on the date of October 1st.
The five narratives will be aired consecutively at 3.30 pm next week from Monday to Friday, dated September 16th to 20th, on Radio 4 and will also be available for listening on BBC Sounds. These shortlisted stories will also be compiled in an anthology by Comma Press.
The panel of judges this year is headed by radio and television host Paddy O’Connell, novelist and critic, Michael Donkor; writer of memoirs, novelist and filmmaker Xiaolu Guo; author and professor of writing at Lancaster University, Jenn Ashworth; and recurring judge, Di Speirs, Book Editor at BBC Audio.
The Wainwright Prize is given out yearly to books that most effectively encourage readers to appreciate nature and the outdoors and cultivate an admiration for the environment. The acclaimed books this year highlight the profound ties between mankind and nature through compelling storytelling. The award for Nature Writing was bestowed upon Late Light: The Secret Wonders of a Shrinking World (Manilla Press) by environmental humanities professor Michael Malay, which integrates natural history with memoir in the tale of his journey as an Indonesian Australian settling down in England.
The Writing on Conservation Prize has been secured by physicist and oceanographer Helen Czerski for Blue Machine: How the Ocean Impacts Our World (Torva), a study into how oceans are crucial in various ways to life on other parts of the planet, taking insights from her years of involvement in marine science.
Katya Balen, a novelist, has claimed the Children’s Writing on Nature and Conservation Prize for her book, Foxlight, published by Bloomsbury Children’s. This narrative is a tribute to nature as it follows twins on a quest into the wild to find their mother. Meanwhile, renowned Irish writers Eoin Colfer and Andrew Donkin earned high commendations for their book, Global—a graphic novel shortlisted for the Wainwright Prize award. Illustrator Giovanni Rigano brought the tale to life.
In other news, applications are now open for the Heaney-Miłosz Residency. This writer-in-residence programme, celebrating the bond between Nobel Laureates Seamus Heaney and Czesław Miłosz, is an opportunity for developing or mid-profession writers living in Ireland. Successful applicants can spend up to six weeks in Krakow, Poland next year. The chosen writer will reside in the previous home of the lauded Polish poet and writer, Czesław Miłosz.
Introduced in 2022, the residency is organised jointly by the Estate of Seamus Heaney, the Krakow Festival Office (KBF), and the Irish Embassy in Poland. The application deadline is set for October 21st.
Micheál Martin TD, acting as Tánaiste, Minister for Foreign Affairs, and Minister for Defence, noted that the Heaney-Miłosz Residency pays homage to the legacy of two Nobel laureates. It is a testament to Irish and Polish literary, poetic, and cultural ties. Following poet Alice Lyons’ successful residency in 2023, they anticipate an equally rewarding and enriching experience for the chosen Irish writer for the 2025 Residency.
Catherine Heaney from the Estate of Seamus Heaney spoke affectionately about Krakow, Poland—a city that held significant meaning in her father’s heart as the dwelling of his dear friend and poetry mentor, Czesław Miłosz. Celebrating their bond whilst affording a writer a space to hone their craft is something she says her father would have been immensely proud of.
The residency beginning in October 2025 will afford a selected author the tranquility and time to refine their craft enveloped in the charming atmosphere of Krakow city. During their stay, the author will be able to join various events and discussions with Krakow’s creative and literary circles. The residency will culminate in the author delivering a written testament of their Krakow experience.
Richard Curran, renowned author and broadcaster, will deliver the Keynote Speech on the potential benefits and dangers of Artificial Intelligence at the Allingham Festival of 2024, happening on Wednesday, the 6th of November. Richard Curran is a decorated journalist, presenter of The Business Show on RTÉ Radio 1, and regularly contributes to the Irish Independent and the Sunday Independent. His accomplishments include hosting eight Dragon’s Den series on RTÉ, co-authoring two books, and producing television documentaries, all while serving as a qualified mediator.
Taking place from the 6th to 10th of November in Ballyshannon, Co Donegal, the Allingham Festival of 2024 will feature In the Shadow of Beirut, a captivating documentary by Garry Keane, author interviews; a book unveiling by acclaimed journalist Sinéad Crowley and a performance by delta-blues wunderkind Muireann Bradley. Further details about the festival can be found at allinghamfestival.com.
The Dingle Literary Festival proceeds from Friday, November 15th, to Sunday, November 17th, and comprehensive details are obtainable on the website dinglelit.ie, where you can also secure tickets to author events and exclusive literary workshops.
The 2024 festival will host a roster of revered Irish authors such as Oliver Jeffers, Roddy Doyle, Donal Ryan, Diarmad Ferriter, Róise Ní Bhaoill, Muireann Ní Chíobháin, Oein deBairduin and Natalie Ní Chasaide, Peadar Ó Riada, Cecelia Ahern, Barbara Scully, Ann Marie Flanagan, and Felicity Hayes McCoy.
Sheila O’Reilly, the Festival Director, made remarks on how happy they are about the progress of the Dingle Lit Festival since it started. Each festival keeps growing and evolving yearly, and they are thrilled to continue their tradition of celebrating the finest Irish literature in such a beautiful and lively environment. They eagerly await to provide everyone with a rewarding and enriching experience in November.
Books Ireland is collaborating with bookshops across the country for Irish Book Week. During this week, the enhanced and newly updated Irish Writers Handbook 2025 will be available. The Irish Book Week pays tribute to bookshops, writers, illustrators, publishers, and poets, and takes place between 19–26 October. Ruth McKee, the editor of the handbook, commented that the guide fits perfectly with Irish Book Week as it unites all aspects of the publishing world in a single publication, giving advice and encouragement to writers. She echoed Donal Ryan’s sentiment that the world benefits from The Irish Writers Handbook, and they share the same sentiment for the excellent booksellers and bookshops across the country. They are delighted to be the selected book for this year’s Irish Book Week.
The Red Line Book Festival, taking place from October 14th – 20th 2024, has unveiled an intriguing new schedule with over 40 literature events showcasing both established authors and newcomers. The highlights feature a session with Marian Keyes, a renowned international author, and the always well-attended True Crime Night with ex-detective Pat Marry and investigative journalist Mick Clifford in a conversation led by Muireann O’Connell; and Donal Ryan, and comic Emma Doran discussing her first book, Mad Isn’t It? Sean Murray, Nicky Ryan, and Christine Bohan bring light to the devastating Stardust Tragedy in their discussion of The Last Disco. For the travel enthusiasts, Rory King, Pól Ó Conghaile, and Fionn Davenport will engage in a conversation with travel blogger Nadia El Ferdaoussi. All events will be hosted at locations across South Dublin County, such as The Civic, Rathfarnham Castle, Brú Chrónáin – Clondalkin Round Tower Visitor Centre, and the Pearse Museum emphasising the county’s architectural richness. New vibrant venues like Work IQ in Tallaght Innovation Quarter will also be introduced.
As part of the Dublin Book Festival on Saturday, November 9th, at 1pm, Máiría Cahill will engage in a discussion with journalist and writer Olivia O’Leary on her poignant memoir Rough Beast (Apollo). Her narrative is one of unimaginable trauma and political scandal, championing the resilience of a single woman against those who misuse their power to instill fear and silence. They commandeer the influence over elected representatives.
Hesse Phillips, the author of Lightborne, and three other laureates from the 2022 Novel Fair will convene for an event at the Irish Writers Centre in Dublin on September 25th, offering open admittance. Reservation, nonetheless, is a prerequisite.
The 2024 accolade for poetry translation, the Sarah Maguire Prize, was awarded to On the Contrary by Lia Sturua, translated by Natalia Bukia-Peters and Victoria Field. Fal published the work with the backing of Writers’ House Georgia. The announcement was made at an event at the Brunei Gallery, SOAS, University of London, on Monday, September 9th. This year’s shortlist encompassed works written by two Palestinian poets, as well as other poets hailing from Georgia, Mexico, South Korea, Iran, Lebanon, and China.
The Writers’ House in Tbilisi inaugurated the Museum of Repressed Writers, an enduring exhibition devoted to Georgian writers whose life and career were obliterated by Stalinism, in Spring 2024. Within six months, the incumbent director was superseded by an individual with political loyalties towards the Georgian Dream party. The House has since been boycotted by approximately 100 luminaries from Georgia’s literary sphere due to the “ominous authoritarian inclinations” manifested by the Ministry of Culture.