Desmond Hogan facts for kids

Desmond Hogan, born on December 10, 1950, is a well-known Irish writer. He has won important awards like the Rooney Prize for Irish Literature in 1977 and the John Llewellyn Rhys Prize in 1980. Desmond Hogan writes many different types of stories. These include novels, plays, short stories, and even books about his travels.

About Desmond Hogan's Life

Early Life and Education

Desmond Hogan grew up in a town called Ballinasloe in County Galway, Ireland. His father worked as a draper, selling fabrics. Desmond went to local schools, including St. Grellan's Boys' National School and St. Joseph's College. Some of his very first writings were printed in The Fountain. This was the yearly magazine for his college.

After finishing school, Hogan traveled to France. He arrived in Paris shortly after the student protests of 1968. Later, he studied at University College Dublin (UCD). He earned his first degree there in 1972. He then completed a master's degree in 1973.

Starting His Writing Career

In 1971, Desmond Hogan won the Hennessy Award for his writing. A group of Irish writers started the Irish Writers' Co-operative. This group published Hogan's book, The Ikon Maker. It was the very first book they released. While living in Dublin, he also worked as a street actor. Several of his plays were performed in famous theaters. These included the Abbey Theatre and the Project Arts Centre. Radio stations like RTÉ and BBC Radio also broadcast some of his plays. He also published short stories in small magazines.

Later, he moved to London, England. He lived in different parts of the city. He became friends with other writers and publishers. He also took part in poetry and literature readings. These events were held at a bookshop in Covent Garden.

Published Works and Awards

Desmond Hogan's first novel, The Ikon-Maker, was written in 1974. It was published two years later, in 1976. This book explores a mother's journey to understand her son.

In 1977, he received the Rooney Prize for Irish Literature. This was a big honor for him. In 1980, he won the John Llewellyn Rhys Prize. He won this award for his collection of short stories called Diamonds at the Bottom of the Sea. He also appeared in the well-known literary magazine Granta in 1981.

Travels and Later Years

In 1989, Hogan left London and went to the University of Alabama in the United States. In 1991, he received a special fellowship. This allowed him to live in Berlin, Germany. While in Berlin, he traveled a lot. These journeys inspired a collection of travel writings. It was called The Edge of the City: A Scrapbook 1976-1991. After this, Hogan moved to Prague. There, he wrote another book called Farewell to Prague (1995).

Hogan returned to Ireland in 1995. He lived in Clifden, County Galway. For a while, he lived in a caravan in County Limerick. In 1997, he taught short fiction at the University of California, San Diego.

In 2005, he was a judge for the Frank O'Connor International Short Story Award. This is a very important prize for short stories. Desmond Hogan is interested in history and painting. He has used a typewriter since he was a child. He finds it hard to use modern computers. He also prefers to send postcards instead of using the telephone.

Desmond Hogan's Legacy

Desmond Hogan's stories are included in many important collections of modern Irish literature.

Famous writer William Trevor chose his work for The Oxford Book of Irish Stories. Another well-known author, Colm Tóibín, picked Hogan's story "Winter Swimmers" for The Penguin Book of Irish Writing.

He is also featured in The Anchor Book of New Irish Writing. His work appears in Best European Fiction 2012. This book was edited by Aleksandar Hemon.

Irish writer Colum McCann has said that Desmond Hogan has greatly influenced his own writing.

Joyce Carol Oates, an American writer, really admires his story "Winter Swimmers."

According to Robert McCrum, a former literary editor, Hogan is "one of Ireland's finest writers."

Awards and Honours

• 1971 Hennessy Award
• 1977 Rooney Prize for Irish Literature
• 1980 John Llewellyn Rhys Prize

List of Works

Novels

• The Ikon Maker (1976)
• The Leaves on Grey (1980)
• A Curious Street (1984)
• A New Shirt (1986)
• A Farewell to Prague (1995)

Short Story Collections

• Diamonds at the Bottom of the Sea and Other Stories (1979)
• Children of Lir: Stories from Ireland (1981)
• Stories: the Diamonds at the Bottom of the Sea, Children of Lir (1982)
• The Mourning Thief and Other Stories (1987)
• Lebanon Lodge (1988)
• A Link With the River. Stories (1989)
• Elysium: Stories (1995)
• Lark's Eggs: New and Selected Stories (2005)
• Old Swords and other stories (2009)
• The House of Mourning and Other Stories (2013)
• The History of Magpies (2017)

Travel Writing

• The Edge of the City: A Scrapbook 1976–91 (1993)

Plays

• A Short Walk to the Sea (1976)
• Sanctified Distances (1976)
• The Squat (1976)
• The Mourning Thief (TV play)
• The Ikon Maker (1980)