Debut novel by UCD creative writing alum Colin Barrett makes Booker Prize longlist
Posted 31 July, 2024
The debut novel from a graduate of UCD's creative writing masters has been included in the (opens in a new window)2024 Booker Prize longlist.
Mayo writer Colin Barrett is one of 13 international novelists in the running for the leading literary award and (opens in a new window)is the only Irish author to be included.
His work ‘Wild Houses’ is his first novel following his acclaimed short stories collections ‘Young Skins’ (2013) and ‘Homesickness’ (2022).
The coveted Booker prize is awarded each year to the best original English language novel published in Ireland and the UK.
Its 2024 longlist, known as the Booker Dozen, includes three debut novels alongside six writers previously nominated for the £50,000 prize.
The 2024 Booker Prize longlist:
- Colin Barrett, Wild Houses
- Rita Bullwinkel, Headshot Percival Everett
- James Samantha Harvey, Orbital
- Rachel Kushner, Creation Lake
- Hisham Matar, My Friends
- Claire Messud, This Strange Eventful History
- Anne Michaels, Held
- Tommy Orange, Wandering Stars
- Sarah Perry, Enlightenment
- Richard Powers, Playground
- Yael van der Wouden, The Safekeep
- Charlotte Wood, Stone Yard Devotional
The 2024 Writer in Residence at the UCD School of English Drama Film, Colin was awarded the Guardian First Book Award, the Frank O'Connor International Short Story Award and the Rooney Prize for Irish Literature for his debut short stories collection in 2013.
His second work ‘Homesickness’ made the New York Times ‘100 notable books of the year 2022’ and was a book of the year by the Oprah Daily and The Irish Times.
The UCD alum was named as one of The Observer's best new novelists of 2024.
The Booker shortlist of six books will be revealed 21st September, with the overall winner of the prestigious £50,000 prize announced on 26th November.
Ireland’s first Professor of Fiction and Professor of Creative Writing at the UCD School of English, Drama and Film, novelist Anne Enright won the then Man Booker prize in 2007 for her fourth novel ‘The Gathering’, published by Jonathan Cape.
UCD has a long list of literary alumni, including James Joyce, author of Ulysses and Finnegans Wake, and Maeve Binchy, whose portrayal of small-town life in Ireland led to her becoming one of the world’s most beloved writers.
By: David Kearns, Digital Journalist / Media Officer, UCD University Relations
To contact the UCD News & Content Team, email: newsdesk@ucd.ie
