Recorded at the Lensic Theater in Santa Fe, New Mexico on March 6, 2015.

This event was part of the Lannan Literary series.

Kevin Barry described his home in his native Ireland by saying, “I myself live in County Sligo in what seem like the perfect conditions for a writer–a room looking out on a swampy lake, all very atmospheric, ethereal mists, yadda yadda, and there’s nothing to f—–g do but write.” Barry’s recent story collection, Dark Lies The Island, includes tales of unreformed criminals, awkward youth in love, and middle aged women on a road trip making plans for a kidnapping. Of his original and fresh writing, The Paris Review writes, “Barry’s language drags you into a strange, darkly lyrical world, enacting his own definition of literature as a mode of transport.”

Barry’s first novel, City of Bohane, appeared in the UK in 2011 and went on to win the International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award and was described by The New Yorker as, “A grizzled piece of futuristic Irish noir with strong ties to the classic gang epics of yore.”

In this episode he is joined in conversation with Ethan Nosowsky. The companion Reading episode may be found here.

You may learn more about this event on the Lannan website; you may also listen to the audio recording of this event there.

Additional photos of this event are available on Flickr.