Colm Tóibín facts for kids
Colm Tóibín (born in 1955) is a famous Irish writer. He writes many different types of books, including novels, short stories, essays, and even plays and poems. He is also a journalist and a critic.
Many of his books have won important awards. For example, his novel The Master won the International Dublin Literary Award, which is one of the biggest literary prizes in the world. Another book, Nora Webster, won the Hawthornden Prize, and The Magician won the Folio Prize. Colm Tóibín has also taught creative writing at universities like the University of Manchester and Columbia University in New York City. He was also the Chancellor of the University of Liverpool from 2017 to 2022.
Quick facts for kids
Colm Tóibín
FRSL
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Tóibín in 2006
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| Chancellor of the University of Liverpool | |
| In office 2 February 2017 – 2022 |
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| Succeeded by | Wendy Beetlestone |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1955 (age 69–70) Enniscorthy, County Wexford, Ireland |
| Alma mater | UCD |
| Occupation |
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| Writing career | |
| Language | English (Hiberno-English) |
| Genre | Essay, Novel, Short Story, Play, Poem |
| Subject | Irish society, living abroad, creativity, personal identity |
| Notable works |
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| Notable awards | Encore Award 1993 Los Angeles Times Book Prize for Fiction 2004 International Dublin Literary Award 2006 Irish PEN Award 2011 Hawthornden Prize 2015 Lifetime Achievement Award in Irish Literature 2019 David Cohen Prize 2021 Folio Prize 2022 |
Contents
Early Life and Education
Colm Tóibín was born in 1955 in Enniscorthy, a town in County Wexford, Ireland. He was the fourth of five children in his family. His parents were Bríd and Michael Tóibín.
His family had a history of involvement in Irish politics. His grandfather, Patrick Tobin, took part in the Easter Rising in 1916, which was an important event in Ireland's fight for independence.
When Colm was young, he found it hard to read until he was nine years old. He also developed a stammer, which made it difficult for him to speak clearly. This stammer often made it hard for him to even say his own name. His father, who was a schoolteacher, passed away when Colm was twelve years old.
Colm went to St Peter's College, Wexford for his secondary education. After that, he studied at University College Dublin (UCD), where he earned a degree in 1975.
Moving to Barcelona
After finishing university, Colm Tóibín decided to leave Ireland. In 1975, he moved to Barcelona, Spain. He lived there for three years. This city later became a setting in some of his early books, like his first novel, The South, and his non-fiction book Homage to Barcelona.
In 1978, he returned to Ireland. He started working as a writer for magazines. He became the editor of Magill, a monthly news magazine, from 1982 to 1985.
Personal Interests
Colm Tóibín enjoys playing tennis in his free time. He has even met famous tennis players like Roger Federer. He also has a strong interest in art and has helped organize art exhibits.
He has family in Enniscorthy, including his two sisters, Barbara and Nuala, and his brother, Brendan. He also has friends in Dublin, where he used to live.
Literary Inspirations
Colm Tóibín has often spoken about the writers who have influenced his own work.
Favorite Authors
He considers Henry James his favorite novelist. Tóibín especially likes James's books such as The Portrait of a Lady and The Golden Bowl. He even wrote a novel called The Master, which is a fictional story about Henry James's life.
Another writer who inspired him is Thomas Mann. Tóibín wrote The Magician, a novel based on Thomas Mann's life. He enjoys Mann's books like Buddenbrooks and Death in Venice.
Early Reading Experiences
When he was 17, Colm Tóibín had a summer job as a barman. During his free time, he read a book called The Essential Hemingway. This book made him fascinated with Spain and inspired him to visit the country. He said it taught him that writing could be "glamorous, smart and shaped."
Writing Style and Themes
Colm Tóibín has a unique approach to writing. He says his writing often comes from a place of "silence." He doesn't see himself as a traditional storyteller. He believes that finishing a novel should be a gradual process, "almost like putting a child to sleep."
He often writes in a way that makes him feel uncomfortable, believing that this helps him "pull things up from within himself." His writing style is known for being careful and thoughtful, focusing on what is not said as much as what is.
Major Works and Stories
Tóibín has written many successful novels:
- The South (1990)
- The Heather Blazing (1992)
- The Story of the Night (1996)
- The Blackwater Lightship (1999)
- The Master (2004), about the writer Henry James.
- Brooklyn (2009), which was later made into a movie in 2015. This book tells the story of Eilis Lacey, a young woman who moves from Ireland to Brooklyn, New York.
- The Testament of Mary (2012)
- Nora Webster (2014), which is about a mother dealing with grief in Wexford.
- The Magician (2021), a fictional story about the life of Thomas Mann.
- Long Island (2024), a sequel to Brooklyn, which continues Eilis Lacey's story as she returns to Enniscorthy.
He has also written two collections of short stories:
- Mothers and Sons (2006), which explores the relationships between mothers and their sons.
- The Empty Family (2010).
Colm Tóibín has written many non-fiction books and articles for various publications. He is also known as a literary critic. He has written essays on different topics, including other writers and their families.
Common Themes in His Work
Tóibín's books often explore several important themes:
- Irish Society: He often writes about life in Ireland.
- Living Away from Home: Many of his characters experience living in other countries.
- Creativity: He explores how artists create their work.
- Personal Identity: His stories often look at how people find and keep their sense of self, especially when facing challenges or loss.
- Family Relationships: He often writes about the bonds between family members, like mothers and sons, and the idea of fatherhood.
His "Wexford" novels, like The Heather Blazing and The Blackwater Lightship, use his hometown of Enniscorthy as a setting. They also touch on Irish history and the impact of losing a parent.
Teaching and Public Speaking
Colm Tóibín has been a visiting professor at several universities, including Stanford University, The University of Texas at Austin, Princeton University, and Columbia University. He has given many lectures at different colleges.
In 2017, he became the Chancellor of the University of Liverpool. This is an important role where he acted as the ceremonial head of the university until 2022.
Awards and Recognition
Colm Tóibín has received many awards and honors for his writing:
- 1993: Encore Award for The Heather Blazing
- 1999: Shortlisted for the Booker Prize for The Blackwater Lightship
- 2004: Shortlisted for the Booker Prize for The Master
- 2004: Los Angeles Times Book Prize for Fiction for The Master
- 2006: International Dublin Literary Award for The Master
- 2007: Elected Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature
- 2009: Costa Novel Award for Brooklyn
- 2011: Irish PEN Award for his contribution to Irish literature
- 2013: Shortlisted for the Booker Prize for The Testament of Mary
- 2015: Hawthornden Prize for Nora Webster
- 2017: The Dayton Literary Peace Prize Richard C. Holbrooke Distinguished Achievement Award
- 2019: Bob Hughes Lifetime Achievement Award
- 2021: David Cohen Prize for Literature
- 2022: Folio Prize for The Magician
- 2025: Longlisted for the International Dublin Literary Award for Long Island
- 2025: Honorary Doctorate from Oxford University
Images for kids
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Tóibín in 2006
See also
In Spanish: Colm Tóibín para niños
