Biography
Bestselling novelist, playwright, non-fiction writer, radio dramatist and scriptwriter.
Selected Credits:
Film: THE LONG WAY HOME, AILSA
Fiction: STAR OF THE SEA
In Development: DEAD AS DOORNAILS: A feature film about Brendan Behan for Graphite Films Irish Film Board
Full Credits:
Scriptwriting in Development:
2007
DEAD AS DOORNAILS
Feature film about Brendan Behan for Graphite Films Irish Film Board
2006
THE SALESMAN
Feature film adaptation of his third novel for Treasure Films
2002
DEATH AND NIGHTINGALES
Adapted from the novel by Eamon McCabe for Little Bird
2001
DESPERADOES
Adapted from his novel of the same name for Little Bird
1999
COWBOYS AND INDIANS
Feature script adapted from his novel for Treasure Films, Dublin:
Winner: Miramax Best Irish Script Prize
1997
TRUE BELIEVERS
Feature script from his short story THE HILLS ARE ALIVE commissioned by Hart Sharp Entertainment, New York
Produced Scripts:
2003
RED ROSES AND PETROL
A film of the play, starring Malcolm McDowell, produced by Tammy Hoff: Joe did not write this script, but it was adapted from the stage play of the same name
1994
THE LONG WAY HOME
Adapted from his own short story: Produced by Treasure Films, Dublin: Director: Paddy Breathnach
1994
AILSA
Feature length adaptation by Joseph O'Connor from his own short story: Produced by Treasure Films / Temple Films, Dublin 1994: Director: Paddy Breathnach:
Winner of 300,000 ecu Euscal Media Prize: San Sebastian Film Festival 1994
1992
A STONE OF THE HEART
Treasure Films, Dublin, 1992: Director: Paddy Breathnach:
Winner of Special Jury Prize: Cork Film Festival 1992
Film Options:
STAR OF THE SEA
Working Title
THE SALESMAN
Treasure Films
Stage:
1999
TRUE BELIEVERS
Commissioned and staged by Fishamble at Andrew's Lane Theatre, Dublin, then on tour in Ireland, then at the Tricycle Theatre, London
1997
THE WEEPING OF ANGELS
Commissioned and staged by the Gate Theatre, Dublin
1995
RED ROSES AND PETROL
Commissioned by Pigsback Theatre, Dublin. Premiere 8 May 1995: Dublin: and 10 July 1995: Tricycle Theatre London: Further run in August 1995 at Tivoli Theatre, Dublin:
"A wonderful debut from one of our most talented writers." Evening Press
"Engages and entertains at every level... You'd be stupid to miss it." Irish Independent
"Connor's brilliantly outrageous entertainment has a disquieting power to disturb." Irish Times
"A triumph from start to finish.'" Evening Press
Radio:
THE COMEDIAN
THE CROSSING: HANDEL'S MESSIAH
RTE
THE SALESMAN
Icelandic Broadcasting: 196-minute adaptation
Partial Awards List for STAR OF THE SEA:
A New York Times Notable Book of: 2004
An Economist Book of the Year: 2004
Voted as one of 15 Vintage Future Classics: 2005
A Sunday Times No 1 bestseller in paperback
May 2004: Nielsen Booktrack best-selling adult fiction paperback of the year: more than 850,000 copies in print
Runner-up for the Nibbie Best Read Award at the British Book Awards: 2004
Shortlisted for the Sunday Independent Irish Novel of the Year Award
Winner of the Prix Madeleine Zepter Award for European Novel of the Year, France
Nominated for the International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award: 2003
Winner of the Acerbi Foundation Award Prize, Italy: 2003
One of Le Point's 15 Best Books of the Year: 2003
Winner of the Prix Millepages Award: 2003
Hennessy / Sunday Tribune Hall of Fame Award winner: 2003
Winner of the 2004 Irish Post Award for Literature
Voted one the annual 25 Books to Remember 2003 by the New York Public Library service
800,000 copies sold in the UK in one year alone
Straight in to the Irish bestseller lists in the week of publication, and reprinted many times in the first months of publication, finally spending several weeks at no 1 in Britain, STAR OF THE SEA garnered more than 40 rave reviews in the first 3 months after publication: A novel as urgently contemporary in its preoccupations as it is historically revealing, this gripping and compassionate tale builds with the pace of a thriller to an unforgettable conclusion. 406pp
"O'Connor's best book: shocking, hilarious, beautifully written, and very, very clever.": Roddy Doyle, "A modern masterpiece.": Bob Geldof, "A triumphant breakthrough.": The Sunday Times
"This is a brave and artful novel disguised to appear safe and conventional. One can read on for some time as if it were simply a Òterror stalks the high seasÓ thriller, but one would be an uncommon fool to do so for very long É As a London publisher says midway through the book, this is Òa good old thumping yarnÓ, the sort of thing a reader can Òsink his tusks intoÓ. But STAR OF THE SEA is also an agonizing enquiry into the nature of abandonment and the difficulty of finding anyone who will truly care about the fate of others É few modern writers have exposed with so much passion and skill the protective measures, the wadding of stupidity, that we wrap around ourselves." New York Times Book Review
Biog:
Joseph O'Connor was born in Dublin in September 1963. He attended UCD from 1981 to 1986, gaining a first class honours B.A. in English and a first class honours M.A. in Anglo-Irish literature. Thereafter he attended Oxford University for a year. He also holds a Screenwriting M.A. from the Northern School of Film and Television, Leeds University. In 1988 he became a fulltime writer. He has published 5 highly acclaimed novels, and five non-fiction books, and has had 10 no. 1 bestsellers in Ireland. His novel Star Of The Sea became no.1 bestseller in the UK in February 2004, and went on to sell 900,000 copies in the UK. It was one of the top ten bestselling books in Britain in 2004. He has adapted three of his novels and three of his short stories for the screen.
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