SEBASTIAN BARRY
THE AWARD WINNING NOVELIST SHARES HIS LATEST CREATION
Sebastian Barry has delivered yet another impressive piece of literature exploring grief, memory and love. Fellow author Douglas Stewart says that there is a “real thrill” to each sentence and describes the novel as “unforgettable and wonderfully alive”. Old God’s Time begins as a cold-case murder investigation before morphing into an eerie romance. Lonely, retired police o cer, detective sergeant Tom Kettle, is settling into his new life, living in the annexe of an old Victorian castle in an a uent part of Dublin. But his plans take an unexpected turn when he is dragged back into the investigation of the murder of a priest. Enter a complex quasi-mystery for him to solve and the reckoning with the damage caused by sexually abusive priests. Through his signature lyrical prose, Barry weaves a tale of resilience, exploring ideas such as what we live with and what will remain when we are gone. The Irish author says the main part of a book can take up to six months to write, but the rst couple of chapters sometimes take over a year. “It takes a while to nd the music. You’re listening out for the music, the whistle tune of the book, and the genuine thing that has nothing to do with you but the character,” he explained in an interview with Tony Clayton-Lea. “Part of the duty of a writer is to say enough prayers, agnostic as they might be, to nd great editors and great agents. That’s so important.” When the author isn’t lost in his writing, he enjoys simple pleasures such as walking his dog, spending time with his family and three children, and weeding his garden. Barry was the Laureate for Irish Fiction between 2018 and 2021, and has also won the Costa Book of the Year twice. With 10 previous novels under his belt, two of which were shortlisted for the Booker Prize, the celebrated author is known as one of our most soulful writers.