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John Boyne

Ireland (b.1971)

John Boyne was born in Ireland in 1971. He has won 2 Irish Book Awards, the Bisto Book of the Year Award and has been shortlisted for many international literary prizes. His novels are published in over 40 languages. He lives in Dublin.

Genres: Literary Fiction, Young Adult Fiction, Horror, Historical, Young Adult Fantasy

New and upcoming books

May 2025

Air
(Water, Earth, Fire, Air, book 4)

September 2025

The Elements

Series

Boy in the Striped Pyjamas
1. The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas (2006)
2. All The Broken Places (2022)

Water, Earth, Fire, Air
   1. Water (2023)
   2. Earth (2024)
   3. Fire (2024)
   4. Air (2025)

Novels

   The Thief of Time (2000)
   The Congress of Rough Riders (2001)
   Crippen (2004)
   Next of Kin (2006)
   Mutiny on the Bounty (2008)
   The House of Special Purpose (2009)
   Noah Barleywater Runs Away (2010)
   The Absolutist (2011)
   The Terrible Thing That Happened to Barnaby Brocket (2012)
   This House is Haunted (2013)
   Stay Where You Are And Then Leave (2013)
   A History of Loneliness (2014)
   The Boy at the Top of the Mountain (2015)
   The Heart's Invisible Furies (2017)
   A Ladder to the Sky (2018)
   My Brother's Name is Jessica (2019)
   A Traveller at the Gates of Wisdom (2020)
   The Echo Chamber (2021)
   The Elements (2025)

Collections

From the Republic of Conscience (2009) (with others)
Beneath the Earth (2015)

Series contributed to

Open Door Series 6
The Second Child (2008)

Quick Reads 2009
The Dare (2009)

Beyond the Stars
The Brockets Get a Dog (2014)

Picture Books show

Books containing stories by John Boyne

The Great War (2016)
Stories Inspired by Objects from the First World War

Here I Stand (2016)
Stories That Speak for Freedom

The Great War (2015)
Stories Inspired by Items from the First World War

More books

Awards

2018 Goldsboro Books Glass Bell Award : The Heart's Invisible Furies

Award nominations

	2025 Dublin Literary Award (longlist) : Water
	2022 Wodehouse Prize (nominee) : The Echo Chamber

John Boyne recommends

The Wardrobe Department (2025)
Elaine Garvey
"Refreshing . . . Garvey excels is placing her heroine in the heart of a busy home, surrounded by people she's known since childhood, but among whom she feels utterly alone . . . Timely . . . Witty."

The In-Between (2024)
Christos Tsiolkas
"A love story par excellence...written with wisdom, humour, and a lot of raw sexuality that is never titillating but always powerful...He's simply one of the great writers of our time and The In-Between is a formidable addition to his list of works."

Notes on a Murder (2023)
B P Walter
"B P Walter blends the thrill of first love with man's darkest impulses."

Soldier Sailor (2023)
Claire Kilroy
"The most uncompromising, provocative novel I've read in quite some time."

Breaking Point (2022)
Edel Coffey
"A rare treat, an emotional thriller steeped in humanity. I read it in a single sitting!"

Dinner Party (2021)
Sarah Gilmartin
"Sarah Gilmartin's depiction of an Irish family across the decades leaves the reader in no doubt how complicated love can be. A brilliant debut."

True Crime Story (2021)
Joseph Knox
"Highly original and mischievous novel - a complete triumph."

Diving for Pearls (2021)
Jamie O'Connell
"A hugely engaging novel from a talented new writer."

Snowflake (2021)
Louise Nealon
"A novel for anyone who’s ever felt lost in the world. Louise Nealon balances humor and tragedy in a sharp debut."

Home Stretch (2020)
Graham Norton
"Graham Norton's examination of small-town Irish lives continues in his deeply moving third novel. He is a magnificent writer."

Snow (2020)
(Strafford and Quirke Mystery, book 1)
John Banville
"John Banville is simply the finest writer at work today, a prolific prose stylist whose work has only deepened in quality throughout his career."

Here is the Beehive (2020)
Sarah Crossan
"One of our most original writers. Sarah has almost created an entirely new form of writing in her novels that is hers and hers alone."

Love (2020)
Roddy Doyle
"A profound examination of friendship, romantic confusion and mortality."

Dear Edward (2020)
Ann Napolitano
"Ann Napolitano’s new novel is the best book about a young person I’ve read since Emma Donoghue’s Room, and if there’s any justice in the world, it’s going to be a phenomenon: outstanding storytelling, great writing, absolutely The Real Deal."

The Other Americans (2019)
Laila Lalami
"A provocative and gripping novel by a gifted writer."

When All Is Said (2019)
Anne Griffin
"An extraordinary novel, a poetic writer, and a story that moved me to tears."

Roar (2018)
Cecelia Ahern
"These provocative and witty stories prove it’s time to recognise Cecelia Ahern as one of our finest writers."

The Importance of Being Aisling (2018)
(Aisling, book 2)
Sarah Breen and Emer McLysaght
"Hilariously funny, but often very moving too. Aisling is the real Voice of Ireland."

Meet Me At the Museum (2018)
Anne Youngson
"Tender, wise, and moving, Meet Me at the Museum is a novel to cherish."

Last Stories (2018)
William Trevor
"Writers often get asked which authors they return to again and again, their comfort books if you will, the ones that make them remember why fiction matters. William Trevor, I have answered on countless occasions. His stories. Any of them."

Dear Mrs. Bird (2018)
(Emmy Lake Chronicles, book 1)
AJ Pearce
"A joy from start to finish. Dear Mrs. Bird is as funny as it is heartwarming."

Travelling in a Strange Land (2018)
David Park
"A writer's writer. Park is to be commended for his great skill with language and emotion."

The Travelling Cat Chronicles (2017)
Hiro Arikawa
"Arikawa has a lightness of touch that elevates her story to a tale about loyalty and friendship ... while speaking to our basic human need for companionship."

Kick (2017)
Mitch Johnson
"A brilliant debut."

The Rosie Project (2013)
(Don Tillman, book 1)
Graeme Simsion
"Although there are many laughs to be found in this marvelous novel, The Rosie Project is a serious reflection on our need for companionship and identity. Don Tillman is as awkward and confusing a narrator as he is lovable and charming."

The Violin of Auschwitz (2010)
Maria Angels Anglada
"Anglada writes with elegance and subtlety, the brevity of the story only adding to its emotional power."

New Town Soul (2010)
Dermot Bolger
"A terrific read."

Room (2010)
Emma Donoghue
"Room is one of the most profoundly affecting books I've read in a long time. I read the book over two days, desperate to know how their story would end."

The Golden Mean (2009)
Annabel Lyon
"Extraordinary... Fascinating... Brings the ancient world back to life with a splendour I haven't seen since I, Claudius. A triumph."

The Solitude of Prime Numbers (2009)
Paolo Giordano
"This is everything a debut novel should be."

The Very Thought of You (2009)
Rosie Alison
"Without question one of the best debuts I've read in recent years."

Mac Slater Hunts the Cool (2008)
(Mac Slater Coolhunter, book 1)
Tristan Bancks
"Where were the books like this when I was a kid?"

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