Sebastian Barry

Sebastian Barry (born 5 July 1955) is an Irish novelist, playwright and poet. He was named Laureate for Irish Fiction, 2019–2021. He is noted for his dense literary writing style and is considered one of Ireland’s finest writers.

Barry’s literary career began in poetry before he began writing plays and novels.

He has been twice shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize for his novels A Long Long Way (2005) and The Secret Scripture (2008), the latter of which won the 2008 Costa Book of the Year and the James Tait Black Memorial Prize. His 2011 novel, On Canaan’s Side, was longlisted for the Booker. In January 2017, Barry was awarded the Costa Book of the Year prize for Days Without End, becoming the first novelist to win the prestigious prize twice.

Books in order of publication:

Poetry

• The Water Colourist (Dolmen Press, 1983)
• The Rhetorical Town (Dolmen Press, 1985)
• Fanny Hawke Goes to the Mainland Forever (Raven Arts Press, 1989)

Fiction

• Mackers Garden (1982)
• The Engine of Owl-Light (1987)
• The Whereabouts of Eneas McNulty (1998)
• Annie Dunne (2002)
• A Long Long Way (2005)
• The Secret Scripture (2008)
• On Canaan’s Side (2011)
• The Temporary Gentleman (2014)
• Days Without End (2016)
• A Thousand Moons (2020)

Plays

• The Pentagonal Dream (1986)
• Boss Grady’s Boys (1988)
• Prayers of Sherkin (1990)
• White Woman Street (1992)
• The Only True HIstory of Lizzie Finn (1995)
• The Steward of Christendom (1995)
• Our Lady of Sligo (1998)
• Hinterland (2002)
• Whistling Psyche (2004)
• Fred and Jane (2004)
• The Pride of Parnell Street (2008)
• Dallas Sweetman (2008)
• Tales of Ballycumber (2009)
• Andersen’s English (2010)
• On Blueberry Hill (2017)