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Wednesday 29 November 2023 Dublin: -1°C

# Literature

All time
One third of British children have never heard of Shakespeare - survey
The survey also found that 5 per cent of people aged 18 to 34 believe that the playwright’s most famous work is Cinderella…
Orla Tinsley: Honesty about death and purpose in life
The Seamus Heaney poem ‘Mid-term Break’ always resonated with cystic fibrosis rights campaigner Orla Tinsley – and made her realise that life, though fragile, can be “calculated and powerful”.
Gabriel Byrne to play lead in TV adaptation of John Banville crime series
Banville said Byrne is the “perfect” choice to star in the series – which he penned under the pseudonym Benjamin Black.
Joyce Tower set to reopen thanks to volunteer support
Staffing issues at Fáilte Ireland meant that the James Joyce site closed this summer.
Open thread: What Maeve Binchy book do you recommend?
Readers of the late, great Irish author have been reminiscing on the Binchy novel that touched them – which one would you give to a friend who had never read her work?
No Irish need apply: Man Booker long list revealed
As usual, the talk is more about who’s not in rather than who is.
Column: Why I want to give a book to every child born in Ireland
Children’s Laureate Niamh Sharkey writes for TheJournal.ie about why reading is so important – and the reason she loves Dr Seuss.
Free Shakespeare in Dublin’s Iveagh Gardens this August
Grab a blanket and head down to the Iveagh Gardens this August to see free outdoor production of one of Shakespeare’s best loved plays.
Poll: Have you read Ulysses?
Today Ireland is celebrating James Joyce’s doorstop novel. But have you actually read it?
James Joyce in Paris: 4 things you may not have known
Ahead of Bloomsday, travel writer and broadcaster Manchán Magan went to Paris on the trail of author James Joyce – and was surprised by the things he learned about his time there…
Nobel Prize winning writer to speak at free event in Dublin
Mario Vargas Llosa has been an important figure in world literature since the 1960s – and will speak to students and some lucky members of the public at Spanish institute in Dublin.
Over half of Irish people use public libraries - survey
A study in the UK has found that more than three-quarters of people in Ireland believe libraries are either ‘very important’ or ‘essential’.
Signed copy of The Importance of Being Earnest fetches $362,500 at Sotheby's
A signed first edition of Oscar Wilde’s play was bought for several times the estimate at a Sotheby’s auction in New York.
Seamus Heaney honoured with Lifetime Achievement Award
The Bord Gáis Irish Book Awards have announced this year’s winners…
Seamus Heaney to get lifetime award as Irish Book Awards shortlist released
The Nobel laureate will be honoured at the Bord Gáis Irish Book Awards 2011.
Wasabi, yawning, and needing to pee: the winners of the 2011 Ig Nobel prizes
The alternative annual prizes – honouring science that makes us laugh and think – are as off-the-wall as ever.
Culture Night 2011 set to be the 'biggest ever'
Culture Night kicks off this evening, with free art, music, theatre and dancing events taking place across the country – as well as galleries, churches and museums staying open late for the public. Check out some of tonight’s highlights…
Irish are among Europe's most bookish
Irish people on holidays read an average of 2.4 books during a two week break – making them the most prolific readers in Europe, save the British.
Sebastian Barry makes Man Booker longlist
Irish author makes list of 13 authors vying for prestigious literary prize for his novel On Canaan’s Side.
It's a conspiracy: Dan Brown tops list of most unwanted books
The Da Vinci Code writer is the author most often handed in to charity shops. Here we look at some of the other works nobody seems to want…
Column: 'Writing is a way to fight those who want people silenced'
Libyan author Hisham Matar, whose father was ‘disappeared’ by Gaddafi 21 years ago, says writing is a political act – and that the Irish know that better than anyone.
John Simpson and Jim Sheridan among speakers at Dalkey Book Festival
The weekend’s literature-packed event is aimed at boosting community spirit in the recession, organiser and economist David McWilliams told TheJournal.ie.
Youngest ever winner of the Orange Prize for Fiction
Twenty-five-year-old Serbian-American Téa Obreht beat off competition from the favourite, Irish writer Emma Donoghue.
No woman writer will ever be my equal, says author VS Naipaul
“I read a piece of writing and within a paragraph or two I know whether it is by a woman or not. I think [it is] unequal to me,” said the Booker Prize winner.
Three Irish authors in running for prestigious IMPAC prize
This year has seen the most ever Irish writers make the shortlist for the €100,000 prize, which sees authors nominated by public libraries world-wide.
Kate Bush gets permission for song based on Joyce's Ulysses
The singer first applied to use references to Joyce’s seminal work 22 year ago but has been refused permission to do so – until now.
Joseph O'Connor made member of Aosdána group
Five new additions may be eligible for annual ‘cnuas’ – or grant – for five years from the Arts Council to help them “concentrate fulltime on their art”.
Messing with Miss Marple? Jennifer Garner touted for role
Hot Hollywood star tipped to “reinvent” the Agatha Christie character of elderly lady detective.
Poll: How many books do you read a month?
Our daily poll is dedicated to World Book Day – we want to know how often you read a book.
Attention bookworms: fancy a million free books?
Free tomes are being handed out across Ireland on Friday to celebrate World Book Night.
Colm Tóibín to be awarded Irish Pen award
Tóibín has been awarded the prize for his “outstanding contribution to Irish literature”.
Top designers name most influential books
Some of the world’s leading creatives disclose the works of literature that have influenced them throughout their careers.
Colm Tóibín takes over from Martin Amis as professor of creative writing
Multi-award winning novelist Colm Tóibín will leave his post in Princeton to begin teaching to students in the University of Manchester.
Vargas Llosa beats all others to the Nobel punch
Esteemed author Mario who once had fisticuffs with fellow South American writing star, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, wins Nobel Prize for Literature.
Irish novelist among six Man Booker Prize nominees
Emma Donoghue’s ‘Room’ is one of the six shortlisted entries for one of the world’s leading literary prizes.
Dublin named a UNESCO City of Literature
The land of saints and scholars is recognised on the world stage – and is just the fourth city given the honour.