Crime and the City: Crime and History
Published on 15th November 2013
Crime is serious business in Dublin and we love to read about it. From novels about detectives to accounts of serial killers, from gangster biographies to analysis of social issues, we have an appetite for all of it. During October the Central Library hosted 'Crime in the City: Crime and History', a series of talks and readings looking at the broad issue of crime in Dublin through the ages. This series of events brought together writers of fiction, historians, researchers and bloggers to inform, entertain and promote discussion.
So if you are a lover of crime fiction, historical fiction or just interested in the history of Dublin, you are sure to enjoy listening back to these fascinating talks and readings.
Joe Joyce reads from Echoland
Joe Joyce read from his brand new thriller Echoland in the Central Library on 3rd October. The book is set in Dublin in June 1940. Young lieutenant Paul Duggan, part of G2, the army's intelligence division is ordered to investigate a suspected German spy. His politician uncle is also making demands of Paul. His daughter Nuala has gone missing and he is desperate to keep the fact from the papers and the Blueshirts.
Joe also spoke of how the rich history of Dublin during 'the Emergency'- the period of the Second World War - a time full of uncertainty and turbulence inspired the writing of this great new read.
Joe Joyce is author of The Boss, The Trigger Man, The Guinnesses: the untold story of Ireland's most successful family and The Tower. His most recent book is Echoland was published in August.
Donal Fallon takes a fresh look at Dublin's notorious Animal Gangs
Dublin gangs have been locking horns with the IRA long before Nidge and the boys came up against Dano and Git Loughman in RTÉ's Love/Hate. In this fascinating talk, Donal seeks to separate fact from folklore regarding the notorious 'Animal gangs' of the 1930s and 1940s.
Donal Fallon is co-author of Come Here To Me: Dublin's Other History and a regular contributor to www.comeheretome.com. He also lectures with the UCD Adult Education Department. Donal's talk was recorded at the Central Library on 10th October 2013.
Michael Russell reading from his novels
Michael Russell visited the Central Library on 17th October and read from his two novels, The City of Shadows and City of Strangers. The books form part of a series that take protagonist Garda Detective Stefan Gillespie through the early 1930s to the Second World War, 'the Emergency'. Along the way Gillespie encounters many real life historical figures as he visits locations such as Danzig, New York, London and Berlin.
Kevin McCarthy reading from his novels
Kevin McCarthy visited the Central Library on 31st October and read from his new book Irregulars. The book is set in Dublin in 1922 during the Civil War. Through his main characters Sean O'Keefe, a demobbed RIC man and Nora Flynn who works for the ruthless CID, Kevin explores this traumatic epoch of Irish history. Kevin also discusses the process of researching and writing historical novels. While researching the book he discovers CID files were burnt by order of the Minister of Home Affairs in the aftermath of the Civil War in an attempt to sanitise the records of vicious acts and move on with the founding of the Free State.
Kevin is author of the historical crime novels Peeler and Irregulars. Irregulars has recently been shortlisted for the Ireland AM Crime Fiction Book of the Year in the Bord Gáis Energy Irish Book Awards 2013. The winner will be announced on Saturday 30th November. Good luck Kevin!
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