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Joseph O'Connor

Ireland (b.1963)

Joseph O'Connor was born in Dublin. He has written thirteen books, including five previous novels: Cowboys and Indians, Desperadoes, The Salesman, Inishowen and most recently Star of the Sea, which became an international bestseller, winning the Irish Post Award for Literature, an American Library Association Award, France's Prix Millepages and the Prix Madeleine Zepter for European Novel of the Year. His work has been published in twenty-nine languages.

Genres: Historical, Literary Fiction, Mystery

New and upcoming books

January 2025

The Ghosts Of Rome
(Rome Escape Line Trilogy, book 2)

Series

Irish Male trilogy
   1. The Secret World of the Irish Male (1995)
   2. The Irish Male at Home and Abroad (1996)
   3. The Last of the Irish Males (2001)
   The Irish Male: His Greatest Hits (2009)
   The Shorter Irish Male (2011)

Rome Escape Line Trilogy
1. My Father's House (2023)
2. The Ghosts Of Rome (2025)

Novels

   Cowboys and Indians (1991)
   Desperadoes (1994)
   The Salesman (1998)
   Inishowen (2000)
   Yeats is Dead! (2001) (with others)
   Star of the Sea (2002)
   Redemption Falls (2007)
   Ghost Light (2010)
   The Thrill of it All (2014)
   Shadowplay (2019)

Collections

   True Believers (1991)
   Red Roses and Petrol (1995)
   Where Have You Been? (2012)

Anthologies edited

New Irish Short Stories (2011)

Series contributed to

Finbar's Hotel
Finbar's Hotel (1997) (with others)

Open Door Series 2
The Comedian (2000)

Open Door
The Shorter Irish Male (2011)

Non fiction show

Books containing stories by Joseph O'Connor

The Granta Book of the Irish Short Story (2010)
edited by
Anne Enright

Synge (2005)
A Celebration
edited by
Colm Tóibín

The Penguin Book of Irish Fiction (1999)
edited by
Colm Tóibín

Award nominations

	2024 Walter Scott Prize for Best Historical Novel (nominee) : My Father's House
	2020 Walter Scott Prize for Best Historical Novel (nominee) : Shadowplay
	2019 Costa Book Award for Best Novel (nominee) : Shadowplay
	2014 Wodehouse Prize (nominee) : The Thrill of it All
	2011 Walter Scott Prize for Best Historical Novel (nominee) : Ghost Light
	2011 Los Angeles Times Book Prize for Fiction (nominee) : Ghost Light

Joseph O'Connor recommends

Service (2023)
Sarah Gilmartin
"A powerful and compelling novel from a very gifted writer."

Falling Animals (2023)
Sheila Armstrong
"An immensively impressive debut from a major literary talent."

Nothing Special (2023)
Nicole Flattery
"A wry, witty and wonderful novel from a brilliantly captivating storyteller."

The Children of Gods and Fighting Men (2022)
(Gael Song, book 1)
Shauna Lawless
"A vividly written story that makes the ancient past feel contemporary."

The Queen of Dirt Island (2022)
Donal Ryan
"I was thunderstruck by this exquisitely beautiful and powerful novel. This is writing of shimmering truthfulness, empathy and authority by the most consistently brilliant Irish writer of his generation."

Hearts and Bones (2022)
Niamh Mulvey
"A brilliant collection, from a remarkable talent. These powerful stories come to us zinging with truth and wit, with pain and insight and joy."

Pandora (2021)
Susan Stokes-Chapman
"A richly evocative and hugely enjoyable read, bubbling with mysteries, secrets and pleasures."

Nora (2021)
Nuala O'Connor
"An exceptional novel by one of the most brilliant contemporary Irish writers."

Pilgrims (2020)
Matthew Kneale
"An enthralling and wonderfully vivid novel from a master storyteller."

Our Little Cruelties (2020)
Liz Nugent
"Evocative, vivid, brilliant storytelling from a novelist of powerful gifts."

The Fire Starters (2019)
Jan Carson
"Blew me away with its power, anger and wit."

Last Ones Left Alive (2019)
Sarah Davis-Goff
"A debut novel of jaw-dropping skill and immense power, a shimmering dystopian vision but also a lucid meditation on tenderness, intimacy and courage. From the get-go it gripped me, and since the last page I've been haunted."

Travelling in a Strange Land (2018)
David Park
"Somehow he writes with both grace and muscularity, and every page resounds with the sort of truthfulness that stirs deep recognitions in the reader."

A Line Made By Walking (2017)
Sara Baume
"After a remarkable and deservedly award-winning debut, here is a novel of uniqueness, wonder, recognition, poignancy, truth-speaking, quiet power, strange beauty and luminous bedazzlement. Once again, I’ve been Baumed."

City of Bohane (2011)
Kevin Barry
"An electrifying masterpiece."

Ilustrado (2010)
Miguel Syjuco
"A dazzling and virtuosic adventure."

Disguise (2008)
Hugo Hamilton
"An exquisitely gifted writer."

Loving Him (2005)
Kate O'Riordan
"A terrific storyteller."

Little Criminals (2005)
Gene Kerrigan
"Gene Kerrigan's writing is magnificent."

Skin of Dreams (2003)
Evelyn Conlon
"This is the kind of Irish novel that is all too rare."

Signal and Noise (2003)
John Griesemer
"Capacious, gutsy and gratifying."

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