“To
understand and reconnect with our stories, the stories of the ancestors, is to
build our identities.” – Frank Delaney
Born on this date in 1942, Delaney
was a novelist journalist and broadcaster who authored the New York Times
best seller Ireland. A native of
Ireland, Delaney started his career in broadcasting before turning to
literature, first penning the bestseller James Joyce's Odyssey in1981.
He then combined his writing and broadcast
careers into a 6-part documentary series The Celts for the BBC. Widely
viewed both in the U.K. and abroad, the series cemented his place as one of the
leading historical and historical fiction writers. He subsequently wrote five books of
non-fiction (including the award-winning Simple Courage), ten novels,
one novella, and a number of short stories. He also edited many compilations of
essays and poetry. 
A frequent public speaker, he was a
regular contributor and guest on National Public Radio, especially after coming to live in the
U.S. He resided in Connecticut at the
time of his death earlier this year.
“We all belong to an ancient
identity,” Delaney said, writing about his fascination with history and
accompanying tales. “Stories are the
rivers that take us there.”
No comments:
Post a Comment