The world is witnessing a new golden era of Irish literature, with contemporary authors from the Emerald Isle dominating international bestseller lists. Meet two of Ireland’s most acclaimed novelists at this event, elevated by live Irish harp music performed by Rebecca Blair. Emma Donoghue’s Room sold more than two million copies and was a global phenomenon; she followed it up with The Wonder, The Pull of the Stars, and now The Paris Express, a brilliant historical thriller that captures the politics, fears, and chaos of fin-de-siècle French society. From Eimear McBride, named one of the ten best British and Irish novelists writing today and “the natural heir to Joyce and Beckett,” The City Changes Its Face is the story of a passionate love affair, told with exquisite and fearless intimacy. Moderated by Robert J. Wiersema.
Presented in partnership with the Consul General of Ireland in Vancouver. Eimear McBride’s attendance made possible thanks to the generous support of Culture Ireland.
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REBECCA BLAIR is an active freelance harpist in the Vancouver music scene, performing as both a soloist and with groups such as Triskellion. Her music career spans thirty years and encompasses a wide variety of styles. Rebecca’s musical studies began in the classical realm with the clarinet, culminating with a Masters degree from the University of Victoria. Since then, she has focused her interest on Celtic music and improvisation on the harp. Her audiences have included the President of Ireland, the Irish Consul General, and the International Bar Association.
EMMA DONOGHUE is an award-winning novelist, screenwriter and playwright. Her novel Room has sold almost three million copies and the film adaptation was nominated for four Academy Awards including Best Picture. Her historical fiction novels The Wonder and The Pull of the Stars were nominated for the Scotiabank Giller Prize.
EIMEAR MCBRIDE grew up in the west of Ireland and trained at Drama Centre London before turning her attention to writing novels. Her books A Girl is a Half-formed Thing, The Lesser Bohemians, and Strange Hotel have won numerous awards.
The author of six books, including the novels Before I Wake, Bedtime Story, and Black Feathers, Robert J. Wiersema is also one of Canada's foremost literary reviewers, and teaches creative writing at Vancouver Island University. He lives in Victoria.
