Join internationally acclaimed Irish novelist Colum McCann for a special In Conversation event focused on his new novel ‘Twist’ at the National Library of Australia.
Known as a writer who believes in the “democracy of storytelling”, McCann has won numerous awards, including the International Dublin Literary Award and the US National Book Award.
McCann’s electrifying new novel is as taut and propulsive as a thriller, and a timeless exploration of narrative and truth, the work of a master storyteller at the height of his powers.
Colum McCann will appear in conversation with Nicole Adbadee.
Tickets cost $20 for Friends of the National Library members and $22 for non-members.
This event is in partnership with Canberra Writers Festival.
About Twist
Anthony Fennell, a journalist, is in pursuit of a story buried at the bottom of the sea: the network of tiny fibre-optic tubes that carry the world’s information across the ocean floor – and what happens when they break. So he has travelled to Cape Town to board the George Lecointe, a cable repair vessel captained by Chief of Mission John Conway. Conway is a talented engineer and fearless freediver – and Fennell is quickly captivated by this mysterious, unnerving man and his beautiful partner, Zanele. As the boat embarks along the west coast of Africa, Fennell learns the rhythms of life at sea and finds his place among the band of drifters who make up the crew. But as the mission falters, tensions simmer – and Conway is thrown into crisis. A terrible, violent tragedy is unfolding in the life he has left behind on land; and, trapped out at sea, it seems as if the vast expanse of the ocean is closing in. Then Conway disappears; and Fennell must set out to find him.
About Colum McCann
Colum McCann is the author of seven novels, three collections of stories and two works of non-fiction. Born and raised in Dublin, Ireland, he has been the recipient of many international honours, including the U.S National Book Award, the International Dublin Literary Prize, a Chevalier des Arts et Lettres from the French government, election to the Irish arts academy, several European awards, the 2010 Best Foreign Novel Award in China, and an Oscar nomination. In 2017 he was elected to the American Academy of Arts. His work has been published in over 40 languages. He is the President and co-founder of the non-profit global story exchange organisation, Narrative 4. His 2009 novel Let the Great World Spin has sold a million copies in the United States alone, and was voted on the New York Times Readers List, ‘100 Best Books of the 21st Century’. Apeirogon, published in 2020, became an immediate New York Times bestseller and won several major international awards. American Mother, published in 2024, was shortlisted for Biography of the Year by the An Post Irish Book Awards.
About Nicole Abadee
Nicole Abadee has worked in the book industry for many years after her previous career as a barrister. She writes about books for Good Weekend, and appears regularly as a facilitator at writers’ festivals and literary events. She also has a popular podcast, Books, Books, Books in which she interviews top Australian and international writers about their latest books. Nicole is also a director of the Indigenous Literacy Foundation.
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