Selected Shorts: part 2

The latest DCLA podcast is the second part of "Selected Shorts", a discussion with authors Eilís Ní Dhuibhne, Lia Mills, Christine Dwyer Hickey and Anne Devlin, chaired by Catherine Dunne.

The conversation explores whether the short story is a naturally introspective and self-reflective genre, and questions whether the form, described by Mary Lavin's as an "owl in flight", or "a slide under the microscope", has opened up or altered under the influence of television, poetry and film. If you haven’t already, we suggest listening to part one first, where you will hear actors Rose Henderson, Susie Lamb, Katie O'Kelly and Geraldine Plunkett perform readings by these four authors.

Recorded at the New Theatre on Saturday 7 April 2018.

This interesting discussion examines whether the short story is a naturally introspective and self-reflective genre, and questions whether the form, described by Mary Lavin's as an "owl in flight", or "a slide under the microscope", has opened up or altered under the influence of television, poetry and film. 

Éilís Ní Dhuibhne is a novelist, critic and folklore scholar. Among her novels are Cailíni Beaga Ghleann na mBlath, The Dancers Dancing, and Fox, Swallow Scarecrow.

Lia Mills writes novels (Another Alice, Nothing Simple, and Fallen, which was the Dublin: One City One Book title for 2016) short stories and essays. 

Christine Dwyer Hickey is a novelist, playwright and short story writer. Her works include the novels Tatty, Last Train from Liguria, The Cold Eye of Heaven and The Narrow Land and the short story collection Parkgate Street and other Dublin Stories

Anne Devlin is a playwright and short story writer. Her works include The Waypaver Ourselves Alone (Royal Court, 1985) and After Easter (Royal Shakespeare Company, 1993) and the radio play The Forgotten (2009).

You can subscribe to the Dublin City Libraries and Archives podcast on Soundcloud, iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. This season is based on recordings from the 2018 Dublin: One City, One Book events. Dublin: One City, One Book is an award-winning Dublin City Council initiative, led by Dublin City Libraries and Dublin UNESCO City of Literature, that encourages everyone to read a particular book during the month of April every year. 2018's choice was 'The Long Gaze Back' which you can read on Borrowbox and of course you can order it from your favourite bookshop.

The Dublin: One City, One Book for 2020 is Tatty by Christine Dwyer Hickey, available electronically on our BorrowBox app and from your favourite bookseller.

Finally if you’re interested in podcasts why not check out the Dublin Festival of History podcast which features recordings from the free annual event and the new City of Books podcast with Martina Devlin, the podcast for people who believe stories matter. And that you can never have too many books.