John McGahern

John McGahern (b. 1934) is an Irish writer (in English). Born in Dublin he now lives in County Leitrim where, as well as writing, he farms. He began his career as a school-teacher before turning to writing full-time. His resignation from teaching may have been influenced by the controversy over his novel, The Dark, which was banned in Ireland. His best known book is Amongst Women, the story of Michael Moran, an IRA veteran of the Irish War of Independence and the Irish Civil War, who now cruelly dominates his family in the unforgiving farmlands of Monaghan. The book is remarkable for its detailed and understanding portrayal of a very unsympathetic protagonist. McGahern is also considered a master of the Irish tradition of the short story.

Related Topics:
1934 - Irish - English - Dublin - County Leitrim - Banned in Ireland - IRA - Irish War of Independence - Irish Civil War - Monaghan - Short story

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McGahern is a member of the Irish Arts honorary organization, Aosdána, and has won many other awards (including the Irish-American Foundation Award, the Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres, and the Prix Etranger Ecureuil). He has taught at universities in the United States, Canada, England, and Ireland.

Related Topics:
Aosdána - Irish-American Foundation Award - Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres - Prix Etranger Ecureuil - United States - Canada - England

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His work has influenced a younger generation of writers, such as Colm Tóibín.

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McGahern's work includes:

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Novels

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• The Barracks (1963) AE Memorial Award, McCauley Fellowship.
• The Dark (1965)
• The Leavetaking (1975)
• The Pornographer (1980)
• Amongst Women (1990), Irish Times/Aer Lingus Literary Award (1991), GPA Award (1992), nominated for the Booker Prize (1990).
• That They May Face the Rising Sun (2001), nominated for the IMPAC Award.

Short Story Collections

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• Nightlines (1970)
• Getting Through (1978)
• High Ground (1985)
• Collected Stories (1992), the three previous volumes collected.

Plays etc

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• Sinclair (1971) (radio)
• Swallows (1975) (television)
• The Rockingham Shoot (1987) (television)
• The Power of Darkness (1991) (theatre)

Films etc

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Amongst Women was filmed as a television mini-series in 1998, directed by Tom Cairns, and starring Tony Doyle as Moran.

Related Topics:
Mini-series - 1998

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One of McGahern's best-known short-stories, Korea, was made into a feature film of the same name directed by Cathal Black and produced by Darryl Collins in 1995. In 1996 Korea won the Asta Nielsen Best Film Award at the Copenhagen Film Festival and was runner-up for the Audience Prize at the Seattle Film Festival.

Related Topics:
1995 - 1996 - Copenhagen Film Festival - Seattle Film Festival

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