Latest news with #JimCrace
The Journal
13 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Journal
Irish author Donal Ryan wins Orwell Prize for Political Fiction
IRISH AUTHOR DONAL Ryan has been awarded the Orwell Prize for Political Fiction for his novel Heart, Be at Peace. Ryan's latest book shares similarities with his 2012 novel, The Spinning Heart. Both are set in his native north Tipperary. Heart, Be at Peace received the prestigious award 'For its clarity. For its perfectly pitched voices. For its humanity and kindness,' said Jim Crace, chair of judges of the Orwell Prize. Ryan told RTÉ Radio this morning that he doesn't consider himself a political writer. 'The things I write about are fairly universal,' he said. Advertisement The winner of the 2025 Orwell Prize for Political Fiction is Donal Ryan, for Heart, Be at Peace. "For its clarity. For its perfectly pitched voices. For its humanity and kindness." - Jim Crace, Chair of Judges Congratulations, Donal! 🎉 @PenguinUKBooks @doubledaybooks — The Orwell Prize (@TheOrwellPrize) June 25, 2025 Ryan said his mother, who works in Tesco in Nenagh, was always being asked about the characters in The Spinning Heart, which led her to push him to write a follow-up novel. He also described how his approach to writing has changed, moving from a less disciplined process to one that's more regimented, which is a result of his work as a creative writing teacher. On the subject matter of the book, which deals with the illegal drug trade, Ryan said: 'What's been shocking to me in the last number of years is that it's so open now.' 'Whereas we all knew there was a drugs trade but it was always kind of occluded, it was in the dark, shadowy corners, but now it's right out on the street, in housing estates and on the road. It's amazing.' One of Ryan's fans is Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe, who told RTÉ Radio his writing was 'masterful' and that Ireland is 'lucky to have him'. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Irish Examiner
15 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Examiner
Donal Ryan 'overjoyed' after winning Orwell Prize with novel Heart, Be At Peace
Donal Ryan has said he is 'overjoyed' to have won the prestigious Orwell Prize for political fiction. The Tipperary native was announced as the winner in London for his latest novel, Heart, Be At Peace. 'It was an amazing honour just to be shortlisted, and very unexpected to receive the award. I was overjoyed, and to be introduced and presented by the great Jim Crace was very special,' he told the Irish Examiner. A sequel to his debut, The Spinning Heart, his latest novel tells the story of a small town in rural Ireland through the voices of 21 characters. Heart, Be At Peace explores a community that has weathered the storms of economic collapse and is now looking towards the future. The panel for this year's Orwell Prize for fiction was chaired by author Jim Crace, who said Ryan's book was chosen as the winner 'for its clarity' and the 'perfectly pitched voices' of its characters. Mr Crace described the novel as 'exceptional.' The author joins a list of former Irish winners, including Anna Burns and Claire Keegan. Ukrainian author Victoria Amelina, who died in July 2023 in the war in Ukraine, is the posthumous winner of the Orwell Prize for Political Writing for her book Looking at Women, Looking at War. Mr Ryan said: 'It was an emotional occasion, with the heroic Victoria Amelina's posthumous award for political writing'. Every year, the Orwell Foundation awards prizes for literary work that mirrors George Orwell's ambition to "make political writing into an art."
Geek Tyrant
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Geek Tyrant
Trailer for the Surreal Folk Horror Film HARVEST Starring Caleb Landry Jones — GeekTyrant
This is the trailer for 'a spellbinding and thrillingly distinctive period piece' titled Harvest , which is a surreal folk horror tale starring Caleb Landry Jones ( Get Out ). It looks like a pretty wild cult movie. In the film, 'Over seven hallucinatory days, a village with no name, in an undefined time and place, disappears. Townsman-turned-farmer Walter Thirsk and befuddled lord of the manor Charles Kent are childhood friends about to face an invasion from the outside world: the trauma of modernity. The movie is directed by Athina Rachel Tsangari ( Attenberg ) from a script she co-wrote with Joslyn Barnes ( Nickel Boys ), based on Jim Crace's 2013 novel of the same name. The movie was shot on 16mm film by Sean Price Williams ( Good Time ), it also stars Harry Melling, Rosy McEwen, Arinzé Kene, Thalissa Teixeira, and Frank Dillane star. The movie still doesn't have US distribution, but it opens in theaters in Germany on May 22 and the UK, Ireland, Mexico, and Chile July 18 before streaming in the UK, Ireland, Latin America, and more on August 8th.
