Sebastian Barry

Introduced by Patrick Lonergan, The Methuen Drama Anthology of Irish Plays brings together five major works from the Irish dramatic canon of the last sixty years in one outstanding collection. Behan's The Hostage, depicting the capture and death of a British soldier by the IRA, was first produced by Joan Littlewood's Theatre Workshop in 1958 and was declared 'a masterpiece' by The Times. Murphy's Bailegangaire (1985) portrays a senile old woman's recitation of an epic tale to her two granddaughters who struggle to free themselves from her and exorcise the past. Reid's The Belle of the Belfast City, winner of the George Devine Award in 1986, examines the tensions present in three generations of women in a Belfast-Protestant family during the week of an anti-Anglo-Irish rally. Sebastian Barry's The Steward of Christendom won the London Critics' Circle Award for Best Play 1995 and was heralded by the Guardian as 'an authentic masterpiece'. McDonagh's 1996 play The Cripple of Inishmaan is a strange comic tale in the great tradition of Irish storytelling. McDonagh was awarded the Evening Standard Award for Most Promising Playwright.

"One of our most beloved contemporary poets", is how former Ireland Professor of Poetry Paula Meehan describes Philip Casey (1950-2018). Cherished by many for his tenderness, fortitude, hope and tenacity, Philip was an award-winning novelist, admired poet and vital presence on the Irish literary scene for four decades. Philip battled repeated health challenges, stood up for causes he believed in, and relished making mischief. He was, in the words of the poet Theo Dorgan, "some man for one man". Philip believed in the idea of a community of writers, and his open-mindedness drew others towards him - whether to his Dublin home, or to his grassroots support base in his earlier home of Hollyfort, Co Wexford. His booming laugh and powerful handshake were legendary. The many contributors, including Sebastian Barry, Eilean Ni Chuilleanain, Dermot Bolger, Moya Cannon and Thomas Lynch, praise Philip Casey's gifts as a writer of poetry and fiction, as well as highlighting their admiration for him as a man.

COSTA BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARD WINNERLONGLISTED FOR THE BOOKER PRIZE "A true leftfield wonder: Days Without End is a violent, superbly lyrical western offering a sweeping vision of America in the making." --Kazuo Ishiguro, Booker Prize-winning author From the two-time Booker Prize finalist Sebastian Barry, "a master storyteller" (Wall Street Journal) and author of Old God's Time, a powerful chronicle of duty and family set against the American Indian and Civil Wars Thomas McNulty, aged barely seventeen and having fled the Great Famine in Ireland, signs up for the U.S. Army in the 1850s. With his brother in arms, John Cole, Thomas goes on to fight in the Indian Wars--against the Sioux and the Yurok--and, ultimately, the Civil War. Orphans of terrible hardships themselves, the men find these days to be vivid and alive, despite the horrors they see and are complicit in. Moving from the plains of Wyoming to Tennessee, Sebastian Barry's latest work is a masterpiece of atmosphere and language. An intensely poignant story of two men and the makeshift family they create with a young Sioux girl, Winona, Days Without End is a fresh and haunting portrait of the most fateful years in American history and is a novel never to be forgotten.

Now a major motion picture starring Rooney Mara An epic story of family, love, and unavoidable tragedy from the two-time Booker Prize finalist and author of Old God's Time Sebastian Barry's novels have been hugely admired by readers and critics, and in 2005 his novel A Long Long Way was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize. In The Secret Scripture, Barry revisits County Sligo, Ireland, the setting for his previous three books, to tell the unforgettable story of Roseanne McNulty. Once one of the most beguiling women in Sligo, she is now a resident of Roscommon Regional Mental Hospital and nearing her hundredth year. Set against an Ireland besieged by conflict, The Secret Scripture is an engrossing tale of one woman's life, and a poignant story of the cruelties of civil war and corrupted power. The Secret Scripture is now a film starring Rooney Mara, Eric Bana, and Vanessa Redgrave.

FROM THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR TWICE WINNER OF THE COSTA BOOK OF THE YEAR 'A masterly work of historical witness and moral reckoning.' OBSERVER, Fiction to look out for in '26 An immersive and unforgettable novel of one man's life in the aftermath of the American Civil War. I knew as I made my way home that there was no home. All the old things . . . were gone forever. Against this rapidly shifting landscape, Tennyson Bouguereau - freed man, devoted brother, nascent singer, conflicted soldier and wanted man - journeys to find meaning and belonging. From the relative safety of home in Tennessee with his sister Rosalee, he is offered the possibility of a whole new life in Nashville, until a surprising trip to Victorian England changes everything. Exquisitely rendered, and with a rich cast of characters, The Newer World is a lyrical, visceral novel about what it is to survive, and what might be lost along the way.

Den pensionerade polisen Tom Kettle håller på att slå sig till ro i sitt nya hem, en tillbyggnad intill ett viktorianskt slott med utsikt över Irländska sjön. I månader har han knappt sett en levande själ, bara någon enstaka skymt av sin excentriske hyresvärd och en nervös ung mamma som har flyttat in i huset bredvid. Ibland kommer kära minnen tillbaka av hans familj: hans älskade fru June och deras två barn, Winnie och Joe. Men en dag får han besök av två tidigare kollegor. De börjar ställa frågor om ett gammalt fall som Tom motvilligt tvingas att återuppleva.Sebastian Barry är en av Europas riktigt stora författare. Han har med sina historiska romaner fångat stora livsöden i en ständigt växande irländsk släktkrönika. Gamla synders skull är en vacker och gripande roman där ingenting är riktigt som det verkar. Stora beslut som får konsekvenser senare i livet, konsekvenser vi bär med oss och beslut som kanske överlever oss, på gott och ont."En helt enkelt storslagen episk skildring." Steve Sem-Sandberg i GP om Dagar utan slut"En förunderlig roman, en våldsam och blodig äventyrsroman genomsyrad av djup och finkänslig människokärlek." Pia Bergström i Aftonbladet om Dagar utan slut"En vacker, grym och poetisk berättelse om en obegripligt hård tillvaro och en kärlek utan gräns." Eva Åström i Expressen om Tusen månar"Det är storslagen, självlysande berättarkonst, som det är en fröjd att läsa." Yukiko Duke i SvD om Tusen månar

Novyj roman avtora, knigi kotorogo dvazhdy stanovilis finalistami premii Booker, - eto tonchajshee kruzhevnoe polotno o ljubvi, pamjati, gore i davno pokhoronennykh sekretakh. Politsejskij Tom Kettl pochti god nazad vyshel na pensiju i obosnovalsja v semnoj kvartirke, raspolozhennoj v pristrojke viktorianskogo zamka, s vidom na Irlandskoe more. Dolgie mesjatsy on ni s kem ne razgovarival, da pochti i ne videl nikogo, razve chto melkom - svoego ekstsentrichnogo domovladeltsa i nervnuju moloduju mat, nedavno vselivshujusja v sosednjuju kvartiru. Zhizn Toma ostalas v proshlom, on zhivet, ne razlichaja realnosti i vospominanij - o ljubimoj zhene Dzhun, docheri Vinni i syne Dzho.Oni prikhodjat k nemu i v snakh, i najavu. Tom nichego ne zhdet, emu dostatochno gljadet v okno na pikirujuschuju chajku, pit chaj i vspominat... vspominat. No odnazhdy na ego poroge objavljaetsja parochka byvshikh kolleg, zhelajuschikh rassprosit o dele desjatiletnej davnosti, tak i ostavshemsja neraskrytym, s chem Tom ne smog smiritsja. I v nastojaschee Toma vryvajutsja temnye zavikhrenija ego proshlogo, kotoroe on postaralsja zabyt.Blestjasche napisannyj, idealno vystroennyj, zavorazhivajuschij roman, v kotorom tajna kroetsja v kazhdom abzatse, gde vse ne to, chem kazhetsja ponachalu. "Vremja starogo Boga" - o tom, chto my perezhili, v chem zhivem sejchas i chto budet zhit posle nas, o fenomene pamjati, kotoraja poroj pytaetsja podmenit soboju realnost.V nazvanie svoej novoj knigi Sebastjan Barri vlozhil srazu neskolko smyslov - tut i ochevidnoe obraschenie k Vetkhomu Zavetu, i prjamoe ukazanie na irlandskoe katolichestvo, a religioznye nameki okutyvaet pelena raspadajuschejsja pamjati, poskolku anglijskoe vyrazhenie "vremja starogo boga" oznachaet "to, chto nakhoditsja za predelami pamjati". I eto idealnoe nazvanie dlja knigi o pamjati, meshajuschee realnoe i voobrazhaemoe.PEREVODCHIK: Marina Izvekova

Sebastian Barry ble langlistet til Bookerprisen for femte gang med med denne vidunderlig utformede romanen som utforsker huskommelse og sorg - og hemmeligheter som har ligget begravet lenge. Den pensjonerte politimannen Tom Kettle nyter stillheten i sitt nye hjem, et tilbygg til et viktoriansk hus ved sjøen i idylliske Dalkey i utkanten av Dublin. I månedvis har han knapt møtt en sjel, men freden blir nå brutt da to tidligere kolleger dukker opp på døra for å stille spørsmål om en sak fra flere tiår tilbake. En traumatisk sak som Tom aldri helt har blitt ferdig med. Tilværelsen blir ytterligere forstyrret av nye naboer: en liten familie som har sine egne problemer de rømmer fra. Og hva med Toms egen familie, kona June og de to barna deres? «Manns minne» er en vakker, uforglemmelig roman der ingenting er helt som man skulle tro. Det handler om det vi må håndtere i livet og leve med, og om hva som kan komme til å være igjen etter oss. «Sebastian Barrys vakre, marerittaktige Manns minne (Faber) graver også bakover i fortiden for å vise hvordan traumer forblir et åpent sår. En pensjonert irsk politimanns tilsynelatende rolige liv blir torpedert av de historiske overgrepene innen den katolske kirken: denne hudløse og enormt rørende romanen er gjennomboret av kraften i kjærlighet og sorg innen familien.» The Guardians kåring av årets beste bøker 2023 https://www.theguardian.com/books/2023/dec/09/the-best-fiction-of-2023 «Denne sublime studien i kjærlighet, traumer, hukommelse og tap utforsker arven etter overgrepene som ble begått mot barn i Irlands katolske instistusjoner ... Avslutningen er en overskridende og kompleks kraftprestasjon av de sjeldne. Jeg regner ikke med å lese noe så rørende igjen på mange år.» The Guardian, anmeldelse ved Melissa Harrison https://www.theguardian.com/books/2023/feb/22/old-gods-time-by-sebastian-barry-review-a-survivors-song

LONGLISTED FOR THE BOOKER PRIZE Named a Best Book of 2023 by the New Yorker, Washington Post, NPR, and Kirkus Reviews "You should be reading Sebastian Barry. He] has a special understanding of the human heart." --The Atlantic "A prose stylist of near-miraculous skill. . . Barry reaches deep into the messenger bag of mystery fiction and turns the whole business inside out . . . marvelous." --The Washington Post "An unforgettable novel from one of our finest writers." --Douglas Stuart, author of Shuggie Bain From the five-time Booker Prize nominee and 2018-2021 Laureate for Irish Fiction, a virtuosic, profound novel exploring love, memory, grief, and long-buried secrets Recently retired policeman Tom Kettle is settling into the quiet of his new home, a lean-to annexed to a Victorian castle overlooking the Irish Sea. For months he has barely seen a soul, catching only glimpses of his eccentric landlord and a nervous young mother who has moved in next door. Occasionally, fond memories return of his family: his beloved wife June and their two children, Winnie and Joe. But when two former colleagues turn up at his door with questions about a decades-old case, one which Tom never quite came to terms with, he finds himself pulled into the darkest currents of his past. A beautiful, haunting novel in which nothing is quite as it seems, Old God's Time is about what we live through, what we live with, and what may survive of us.

SHORTLISTED FOR THE DUBLIN LITERARY AWARD 2024 LONGLISTED FOR THE BOOKER PRIZE 2023THE SUNDAY TIMES TOP TEN BESTSELLERTWICE WINNER OF THE COSTA BOOK OF THE YEARA FINANCIAL TIMES, TIMES, AND IRISH TIMES BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR'A masterpiece' Sunday Times'Stunning' LIZ NUGENT'Extraordinary' Irish TimesTom Kettle, a retired policeman, and widower, is settling into the quiet of his new home in Dalkey, overlooking the sea. His solitude is interrupted when two former colleagues turn up at his door to ask about a traumatic, decades-old case. A case that Tom never quite came to terms with. And his peace is further disturbed when his new neighbour, a mysterious young mother, asks for his help.A beautiful, haunting novel, in which nothing is quite as it seems, Old God's Time is an unforgettable exploration of family, loss and love.'A wonderful, brutal, utterly compelling book . . . Barry is the most miraculous writer.' Russell T Davies 'To borrow a word that recurs in its pages, it is stupendous, in the sense that it shocks and astonishes.' Irish TimesRare indeed are those novels worth cherishing and keeping close. Old God's Time is one of them.' Daily Telegraph'So captivating . . . it will live long in the minds of its readers.' IndependentWHAT READERS ARE SAYING:***** 'A beautiful family love story. It will haunt you and break your heart.'***** 'Deeply felt and so moving. I will be reading this again.'***** 'A tragic tale beautifully told. Sebastian Barry is one of the great contemporary writers.'***** 'Absolute perfection in novel form.'***** 'Deeply tragic. Deeply humorous. Utterly beautiful. I'm in awe.'***** 'A writer in possession of something divine . just exceptional.'***** 'Magically transporting . the balance of extreme grief and joy are perfectly expressed.'Sebastian Barry's book Old God's Time was a Sunday Times bestseller w/c 10-03-2023

'Have you ever been the custodian of a story no one else believed?' 'Oh yes,' he said. 'You have?' 'Yes,' he said. 'Then I can tell you.' Recently retired policeman Tom Kettle is settling into the quiet of his new home, a lean-to annexed to a Victorian Castle overlooking the Irish Sea. For months he has barely seen a soul, catching only glimpses of his eccentric landlord and a nervous young mother who has moved in next door. Occasionally, fond memories of the past return, of his family, his beloved wife June and their two children. But when two former colleagues turn up at his door with questions about a decades-old case, one which Tom never quite came to terms with, he finds himself pulled into the darkest currents of his past. A beautiful, haunting novel, in which nothing is quite what it seems, Old God's Time is about what we live through, what we live with, and what may survive of us.

OLD GOD'S TIME (MARCH 2023), SEBASTIAN BARRY'S STUNNING NEW NOVEL, AVAILABLE TO PRE-ORDER NOWFrom A Long Long Way, his Booker shortlisted novel about the Irish soldiers who fought for Britain during the First World War to his Donal McCann starring hit play, The Steward of Christendom; from his first Costa Book of the Year winning novel The Secret Scripture to his second, Days Without End, a decade later, Sebastian Barry's writing career has been as long and varied as it has extraordinary.Intimate, revealing and generous of heart, these three lectures - written and delivered as part of his three year tenure as the Laureate for Irish fiction - reflect on his life and career so far, and some of the formative moments and people he's met along the way.

"A brave and moving novel that] has a tender empathy with the natural world." --Hermione Lee, The New York Review of Books From the two-time Booker Prize finalist author of Days Without End comes a dazzling companion novel about memory and identity, set in Tennessee in the aftermath of the Civil War Winona Cole, an orphaned child of the Lakota Indians, finds herself growing up in an unconventional household on a farm in west Tennessee. Raised by her adoptive parents John Cole and Thomas McNulty, whose story Barry told in his acclaimed previous novel Days Without End, she forges a life for herself beyond the violence and dispossession of her past. Tennessee is a state still riven by the bitter legacy of the Civil War, and the fragile harmony of her family is soon threatened by a further traumatic event, one which Winona struggles to confront, let alone understand. Exquisitely written, A Thousand Moons is a stirring, poignant story of love and redemption, of one woman's journey and her determination to write her own future.

From the Costa Book of the Year-winning author of Days Without End.