Colum McCann

Colum McCann is a highly acclaimed Irish-American author of literary fiction. After studying journalism at College of Commerce, Rathmines, McCann began his writing career working for various newspapers in Ireland. This experience provided him with a solid foundation to launch his fiction-writing career. Since then, he has received numerous prestigious honors, including the National Book Award, the International Dublin Impac Prize, a Chevalier des Arts et Lettres from the French government, the 2010 Best Foreign Novel Award in China, and an Oscar nomination.

McCann is known for his unique perspective and diverse experiences, which are reflected in his writing. He was born and raised in Dublin, but has lived in various places throughout his life, including Texas, where he worked as a wilderness guide, and Japan. His travels and experiences have greatly influenced his work, as he often incorporates different settings and cultures into his stories. McCann has written six novels and three collections of short stories, all of which have been published in over 40 languages and have been bestsellers on four continents.

In addition to his writing, McCann is also the co-founder of the global non-profit story exchange organization Narrative 4. He has received numerous awards for his work, including an Oscar nomination for his short film "Everything in this Country Must," and has been named Esquire magazine's "Writer of the Year." He is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters, as well as the Irish association of artists, Aosdana. He currently lives in New York with his wife and their three children.

McCann's latest novel, Apeirogon, was released in 2020 and has already been praised as a "transformative novel" by Raja Shehadeh. The novel tells the story of Bassam Aramin and Rami Elhanan, one Israeli and one Palestinian, who both have lost their daughters to the conflict and use their grief as a weapon for peace. McCann's novel crosses centuries and continents, weaving together time, art, history, nature, and politics in a tale that is both heartbreaking and hopeful.