Conversations with Colum McCann

Colum McCann is a well-known author who has written eighteen interviews that reflect his interests and the evolution of his work. His novel TransAtlantic earned him the National Book Award, and his previous book, Let the Great World Spin, is set to be a major motion picture. McCann discusses his writing process, goals, and the challenge of surpassing his previous successes in interviews. He also shares anecdotes that reveal insights into his character and his belief in the resilience of ordinary people.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 242 pages
Publication date: 30 September 2021
Publisher: University Press of Mississippi

Conversations with Colum McCann is a captivating collection of eighteen interviews with a renowned fiction writer. Spanning from his literary debut, Fishing the Sloe-Black River, in 1994 to a previously unpublished interview conducted in 2016, these interviews showcase the evolution and continuation of Colum McCann's interests. The sheer volume and length of the later conversations attest to his immense popularity and influence.

Let the Great World Spin earned McCann the prestigious National Book Award, and it is poised to become a major motion picture. His most recent novel, TransAtlantic, has captivated readers with its dynamic exploration of historical events. It intertwines the 1845-46 visit of Frederick Douglass to Ireland, the 1919 first nonstop transatlantic flight of Alcock and Brown, and Senator George Mitchell's 1998 efforts to achieve a peace accord in Northern Ireland. An extensive interview by scholar Cécile Maudet is included, as well as an interview by John Cusatis, who authored Understanding Colum McCann, the first comprehensive critical analysis of McCann's work.

McCann, an author who genuinely relishes discussing his craft, provides insightful glimpses into his writing process, his artistic aspirations, and the formidable challenge of crafting each novel to surpass his previous accomplishments. Readers will observe how frequently his responses incorporate humorous anecdotes involving himself, revealing glimpses into his character as a man who possesses a keen appreciation for the gritty realities of urban life while maintaining unwavering faith in the resilience and strength of ordinary individuals.

Through these captivating conversations, McCann offers a profound and intimate understanding of his creative journey, leaving readers with a deeper appreciation for his literary prowess and the profound impact his works have had on readers worldwide.

Weight: 372g
Dimension: 152 x 226 x 18 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781496837912