William Wall
Encyclopedia
William "Bill" Wall is an Irish
novelist, poet
and short story
writer. He was born in Cork City in 1955, but grew up in the coastal village of Whitegate
. He received his secondary education at the Christian Brothers School in Midleton
. He progressed to University College Cork where he graduated in Philosophy
and English
. He taught as an English and drama teacher at Presentation Brothers College, Cork
, where he inspired Cillian Murphy
to enter acting.
. He published his first collection of poetry in that year. His first novel, Alice Falling, a dark study of power and abuse in modern day Ireland, appeared in 2000. He is the author of four novels, two collections of poetry and one of short stories.
In 2005, This Is The Country appeared. A broad attack on politics in "Celtic Tiger
" Ireland, as well as a rite of passage novel, it was longlisted for the Man Booker Prize, and shortlisted for the Irish Book Awards. It can be read as a satirical allegory on corruption, the link between capitalism
and liberal democracy
exemplified in the ‘entrepreneurial’ activities of minor drug dealers and gangsters, and reflected in the architecture of business-parks and sink-estates. This political writing takes the form of "an insightful and robust social conscience", in the words of academic John Kenny. Dr Kenny also focused on what he saw as Wall's "baneful take on the Irish family, his fundamentally anti-idyllic mood" which has "not entirely endeared Wall to the more misty-eyed among his readers at home or abroad". The political is also in evidence in his second collection of poetry Fahrenheit Says Nothing To Me. He is not a member of Aosdána
, the Irish organization for writers and artists. In 2006, his first collection of short fiction, No Paradiso, appeared.
His provocative political blog, The Ice Moon, has increasingly featured harsh criticism of the Irish government over their handling of the economy, as well as reviews of mainly left-wing books and movies. A lot of his posts are satirical such as "Wall Supports Brand Ireland" or "A New Proclamation" which is a satire response to Ireland's economic crash and the EU/IMF bail-out, using the language and structure of the 1916 Proclamation of the Irish Republic, a founding document of the state.
He writes for Irish Left Review, and reviews for The Irish Times
and occasionally for literary journals. His work has been translated into several languages. He has also appeared on the Irish-language channel TG4
, such as in the programme Cogar. He is a longtime sufferer from Still's disease
and described his efforts to circumvent the disabling effects of the disease using speech-to-text applications as "a battle between me and the software".
He was one of the Irish delegates at the European Writers Conference in Istanbul
in 2010.
, in a review of his first novel, wrote that "Wall, who is also a poet, writes prose so charged—at once lyrical and syncopated—that it’s as if Cavafy had decided to write about a violent Irish household". In a recent review, his long poem Job In Heathrow, anthologised in The Forward Book of Poetry 2010 but originally published in The SHOp, was described as "a chilling airport dystopia". Poet Fred Johnston suggests that Wall's poetry sets out to "list the shelves of disillusion under which a thinking man can be buried" "His apocalyptic vision of the ecological demise of our planet is suffused with humility and resignation where the global catastrophe is transformed “into a universal truth / the days are shorter / today than yesterday”, according to Borbála Faragó.
This Is The Country was on the Man Booker Prize
2005 longlist.
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
novelist, poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
and short story
Short story
A short story is a work of fiction that is usually written in prose, often in narrative format. This format tends to be more pointed than longer works of fiction, such as novellas and novels. Short story definitions based on length differ somewhat, even among professional writers, in part because...
writer. He was born in Cork City in 1955, but grew up in the coastal village of Whitegate
Whitegate, County Cork
Whitegate is a small village on the eastern shore of Cork Harbour in County Cork, Ireland. It is within the townland of Ballincarroonig or Ballincarroony. It was once a busy fishing port and well known for its lace-making. In the 20th century Ireland's only Oil Refinery was built on Corkbeg...
. He received his secondary education at the Christian Brothers School in Midleton
Midleton
Midleton, historically Middleton , is a town in south-eastern County Cork, Ireland. It lies some 22 km east of Cork City on the Owenacurra River and the N25 road, which connects Cork to the port of Rosslare...
. He progressed to University College Cork where he graduated in Philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
and English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
. He taught as an English and drama teacher at Presentation Brothers College, Cork
Presentation Brothers College, Cork
Presentation Brothers College is a Catholic, boys-only, fee-paying college based in Cork, Ireland.- History :The college was founded by the Presentation Brothers in 1878, in the South Mall. Soon afterwards it moved to the Grand Parade and, in 1887, to the Western Road...
, where he inspired Cillian Murphy
Cillian Murphy
Cillian Murphy is an Irish film and theatre actor. He is often noted by critics for his chameleonic performances in diverse roles and distinctive blue eyes and general sex appeal....
to enter acting.
Career
In 1997, he won the Patrick Kavanagh Poetry AwardPatrick Kavanagh Poetry Award
The Patrick Kavanagh Poetry Award is an Irish poetry award for a collection of poems by an author who has not previously been published in collected form. It is confined to poets born on the island of Ireland, or of Irish nationality, or a long-term resident of Ireland. It is based on an open...
. He published his first collection of poetry in that year. His first novel, Alice Falling, a dark study of power and abuse in modern day Ireland, appeared in 2000. He is the author of four novels, two collections of poetry and one of short stories.
In 2005, This Is The Country appeared. A broad attack on politics in "Celtic Tiger
Celtic Tiger
Celtic Tiger is a term used to describe the economy of Ireland during a period of rapid economic growth between 1995 and 2007. The expansion underwent a dramatic reversal from 2008, with GDP contracting by 14% and unemployment levels rising to 14% by 2010...
" Ireland, as well as a rite of passage novel, it was longlisted for the Man Booker Prize, and shortlisted for the Irish Book Awards. It can be read as a satirical allegory on corruption, the link between capitalism
Capitalism
Capitalism is an economic system that became dominant in the Western world following the demise of feudalism. There is no consensus on the precise definition nor on how the term should be used as a historical category...
and liberal democracy
Liberal democracy
Liberal democracy, also known as constitutional democracy, is a common form of representative democracy. According to the principles of liberal democracy, elections should be free and fair, and the political process should be competitive...
exemplified in the ‘entrepreneurial’ activities of minor drug dealers and gangsters, and reflected in the architecture of business-parks and sink-estates. This political writing takes the form of "an insightful and robust social conscience", in the words of academic John Kenny. Dr Kenny also focused on what he saw as Wall's "baneful take on the Irish family, his fundamentally anti-idyllic mood" which has "not entirely endeared Wall to the more misty-eyed among his readers at home or abroad". The political is also in evidence in his second collection of poetry Fahrenheit Says Nothing To Me. He is not a member of Aosdána
Aosdána
Aosdána is an Irish association of Artists. It was created in 1981 on the initiative of a group of writers and with support from the Arts Council of Ireland. Membership, which is by invitation from current members, is limited to 250 individuals; before 2005 it was limited to 200...
, the Irish organization for writers and artists. In 2006, his first collection of short fiction, No Paradiso, appeared.
His provocative political blog, The Ice Moon, has increasingly featured harsh criticism of the Irish government over their handling of the economy, as well as reviews of mainly left-wing books and movies. A lot of his posts are satirical such as "Wall Supports Brand Ireland" or "A New Proclamation" which is a satire response to Ireland's economic crash and the EU/IMF bail-out, using the language and structure of the 1916 Proclamation of the Irish Republic, a founding document of the state.
He writes for Irish Left Review, and reviews for The Irish Times
The Irish Times
The Irish Times is an Irish daily broadsheet newspaper launched on 29 March 1859. The editor is Kevin O'Sullivan who succeeded Geraldine Kennedy in 2011; the deputy editor is Paul O'Neill. The Irish Times is considered to be Ireland's newspaper of record, and is published every day except Sundays...
and occasionally for literary journals. His work has been translated into several languages. He has also appeared on the Irish-language channel TG4
TG4
TG4 is a public service broadcaster for Irish language speakers. The channel has been on-air since 31 October 1996 in the Republic of Ireland and since April 2005 in Northern Ireland....
, such as in the programme Cogar. He is a longtime sufferer from Still's disease
Still's disease
Still's disease can refer to:* Juvenile idiopathic arthritis* Adult-onset Still's disease...
and described his efforts to circumvent the disabling effects of the disease using speech-to-text applications as "a battle between me and the software".
He was one of the Irish delegates at the European Writers Conference in Istanbul
Istanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
in 2010.
Critical response to his work
Described by writer Kate Atkinson as "lyrical and cruel and bold and with metaphors to die for", critics have focused on Wall's mastery of language, his gift for "linguistic compression" his "poet's gift for apposite, wry observation, dialogue and character", his "unflinching frankness" and his "laser-like ... dissection of human frailties", which is counterbalanced by "the depth of feeling that Wall invests in his work". The New YorkerThe New Yorker
The New Yorker is an American magazine of reportage, commentary, criticism, essays, fiction, satire, cartoons and poetry published by Condé Nast...
, in a review of his first novel, wrote that "Wall, who is also a poet, writes prose so charged—at once lyrical and syncopated—that it’s as if Cavafy had decided to write about a violent Irish household". In a recent review, his long poem Job In Heathrow, anthologised in The Forward Book of Poetry 2010 but originally published in The SHOp, was described as "a chilling airport dystopia". Poet Fred Johnston suggests that Wall's poetry sets out to "list the shelves of disillusion under which a thinking man can be buried" "His apocalyptic vision of the ecological demise of our planet is suffused with humility and resignation where the global catastrophe is transformed “into a universal truth / the days are shorter / today than yesterday”, according to Borbála Faragó.
Novels
- This Is The Country (Sceptre, London - 2005, TBD) ISBN 0-340-82215-5
- The Map of Tenderness (Sceptre, London - 2003) ISBN 0-340-82214-7
- Minding Children (Sceptre, London - 2001) ISBN 0-340-75188-6
- Alice Falling (Sceptre, London, and WW Norton, New York - 2000) ISBN 0-340-75187-8
This Is The Country was on the Man Booker Prize
Man Booker Prize
The Man Booker Prize for Fiction is a literary prize awarded each year for the best original full-length novel, written in the English language, by a citizen of the Commonwealth of Nations, Ireland, or Zimbabwe. The winner of the Man Booker Prize is generally assured of international renown and...
2005 longlist.
Poetry
- Ghost Estate (Salmon Poetry, Cliffs of Moher, Ireland - 2011) ISBN 978-1-907056-70-3
- Fahrenheit Says Nothing To Me (Dedalus Press, Dublin, Ireland - 2004) ISBN 1-904556-21-3
- Mathematics And Other Poems (Collins Press, Cork, Ireland - 1997) ISBN 1-898256-26-8
Podcasts
- You can hear an exclusive interview with William Wall recorded in March 2010 and hear him reading from his novels at http://www.podcasts.ie/featured-writers/featured-prose-writers/william-wall/
External links
- Author site: William Wall's Homepage
- William Wall at The Other Voice International Project
- William Wall at The Munster Literature Centre
- Download a free copy of Mathematics & Other Poems or here at Irish Literary Revival
- Interview with William Wall
- William Stabile intervista William Wall
- Read one of William Wall's stories
- William Wall at Three Monkeys Online
- http://www.podcasts.ie/featured-writers/featured-prose-writers/william-wall/