The Lonely Voice

Frank O’Connor was one of the twentieth century’s greatest short story writers, and one of Ireland’s greatest authors. The Lonely Voice offers a masterclass on the short story by a true master of the form. A definitive work on the art of close reading and literary practice, O’Connor’s work has long been held up as one of the greatest works in global literature on the short form.

Here O’Connor discusses the techniques and challenges of a literary form where ‘a whole lifetime must be crowded into a few minutes’ while also delving into a passionate consideration of his favourite authors and their greatest works, from Chekov and Hemingway, to Joyce and Lavin.

With a new introduction by Kevin Barry.