Tag: bbc

March 17, 2020

4 Writers More Irish Than a Pint of Guinness

Lá Fhéile Pádraig libh go léir! (law ay-la paw-drig liv guh lair). For those of you that don’t know, that’s Gaeilge (or, Irish) for Happy St. Patrick’s Day! While this year’s festivities are very unlike those that have come before, the day remains a celebration of all things Irish. Given Ireland’s rich literary history, the country has produced some incredible authors, four of which I’m about to divulge. I’m focusing on contemporary writers today, since I should hope we are all already familiar with the elite Joyce, Yeats, and Beckett gang.

via GIPHY

1. sally rooney

image via elle

Sally Rooney is an Irish powerhouse right now. From Mayo, in the west of Ireland, Rooney has been “hailed as the first great millennial novelist for her stories of love and late capitalism”, according to The New Yorker. Rooney penned Normal People and Conversations With Friends, both of which are currently in the process of adaptation by the BBC. Rooney writes from a perspective that is paradoxically both universal and yet specific to Irish consciousness. You can expect some allusions to the Irish landscape, or maybe to the Dublin University Rooney herself attended, but her writing has proven to be popular worldwide.

2. kevin barry

image via irish times

Kevin Barry is a best selling Irish author from Limerick. He is the writer behind City of Bohane, Beatlebone, and Night Boat to Tangier, for which he was long-listed in the Man Booker Prize. Alongside his successful novels, Barry has also written a number of short story collections, such as Dark Lies The Island. His work is poetic and enthralling, encapsulating the knack for storytelling that many Irish people have at their disposal.

3. Emilie pine

Emilie Pine is Associate Professor of Modern Drama at University College Dublin, and author of Notes to Self. The novel is a non-fiction collection of essays on the struggle of being female, through the varied lenses of addiction, menstruation, rape, and infertility. Pine is an incredibly revered lecturer at UCD, and her book has been topping charts the world over since its release.

4. paul murray

image via culture ireland

Paul Murray is an Irish novelist, and the man behind titles such as Skippy Dies, An Evening of Long Goodbyes, and The Mark and The Void. His works have been nominated for a host of prestigious awards, such as the 2010 Costa Prize, The National Book Critics Circle Award, and the 2010 Booker Prize.

feature image via contiki

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February 18, 2020

First Look: Malorie Blackman’s Noughts and Crosses

It’s FINALLY happening. BBC have released the first trailer for their TV adaption of Malorie Blackman’s dytopian series Noughts and Crosses. I first read these novels (arguably too young but who’s counting) back in 2009 and have been waiting years for an adaptation to finally make it to the screen. The time is now and it looks like the BBC are really hitting the nail on the head with this one. The books are punchy, exciting and emotional and the trailer portrays a show that looks to be shaping up accordingly. Take a look!

Noughts and Crosses is set in an alternate, dystopian city of London, Albion, in a society in which the Crosses are the black ruling class and the Noughts are the white people under this rule. When Sephy and Callum, the novel’s star-crossed lovers and childhood friends, develop their passionate relationship, everything is at risk. Sephy is a Cross and the daughter of a prominent politician, whereas Callum is a Nought. They live in a society that bans inter-racial relationship, as the trailer shows us in an ominous sign aboard a public bus. As tension bubbles between the groups and anti-establishment rebellions occur, the struggles of a normal teenage relationship are replaced by threats to their very lives as a result of their love – and a society that won’t accept it.

The show stars Jack Rowan, who has swapped the mean streets of Peaky Blinders’ Birmingham for Albion, alongside newcomer Masali Baduza, as the ill-fated lovers. They are joined in the cast by Mamma Mia’s Josh Dylan and even rapper Stormzy, who will be starring in a role added for the show.

image via cosmopolitan

Blackman’s original text is exciting and emotional, it tore me to pieces as a teenager and I am ready for the series to do it all over again. The show is set to premiere on March 5th on BBC One.

featured image via Royal television society

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January 17, 2020

BBC Releases Trailer for Adaption of Normal People

The BBC have released the first trailer for their upcoming adaption of Sally Rooney’s acclaimed novel Normal People. The 12-part series is set for release later this year and the script been worked on by Rooney personally.

The book follows Marianne and Connell, two young people from a small town in the west of Ireland, as they move on to university. From two very different backgrounds, their relationship shifts and changes over the years, the dynamics of their social standing constantly playing off against their love for one another.

image via vanity fair

The adaption stars relative newcomers Daisy Edgar-Jones and Paul Mescal.

The trailer, released earlier today, features various clips of the pair throughout the series, with a phone call providing the soundtrack. Take a look below:

Normal People is the second novel from Rooney, who previously penned Conversations with Friends. The novel was a breakout of 2018, so popular that for a while it was difficult to take the subway or the bus without spotting it in somebody’s hand. BBC acquired the rights to a TV adaption in 2019 and filming commenced in May of last year.

Normal People will be released later this year on BBC Three in the UK and Hulu in the US.

Featured image via harper’s bazaar

October 14, 2019

Silly Old Bear: ‘Winnie the Pooh’ Was Published On This Day!

Winnie the Pooh
Winnie the Pooh
Tubby little cubby all stuffed with fluff
He’s Winnie the Pooh
Winnie the Pooh
Willy nilly silly old bear

Sorry, didn’t mean to get that stuck in your head. But its a good introduction to what was doubtlessly a massive childhood memory for us: Winnie the Pooh. The silly old bear has made quite the impact on children across the world, universally beloved by young and old alike. Although Winnie the Pooh’s books have been overshadowed by the Disney adaptations, they’re still lovely and cherished by millions for their warmth and simplistic yet surprisingly complicated philosophical musings.

image via Disney

First published on October 14th, 1926, the children’s book introduced the world to Winnie the Pooh and his colorful cast of companions: Piglet, Eyeore, Kanga and Roo, Owl, and Rabbit. Tigger is the sole exception, not being introduced until the book’s sequel, The House at Pooh Corner. The book was written by A.A. Milne, who drew inspiration for the character from his son, Christopher Robin, who was also put into the books more or less as himself. Winnie the Pooh was named after Christopher’s toy bear, who was named ‘Winnie’ for the Canadian black bear he saw at the London zoo and ‘Pooh’ a swan the family had met while on holiday. On the character’s name, the author was quoted as saying:

But his arms were so stiff … they stayed up straight in the air for more than a week, and whenever a fly came and settled on his nose he had to blow it off. And I think – but I am not sure – that that is why he is always called Pooh.

image via wikipedia

Winnie the Pooh became a bestselling phenomenon upon release, with its sequel following its publication shortly after. It has been translated into dozens of languages, including Latin (the Latin translation made the New York Times bestseller’s list). The rights were licensed by Disney in the 60s, where Winnie the Pooh and his cast were featured in several cartoon features by Disney, before Disney acquired full rights from Milne’s estate in 2001.

In the stories, Pooh is characterized as being a bear of very little brain, being often slow witted but also thoughtful, kind, and steadfast to his friends. Overall, his main motivation is often honey, which he spells as ‘hunny’. Overall, he is kindhearted and very loyal to his friends, even the perpetually grumpy Eyeore.

image via Disney

Happy birthday to our favorite bear, with the publication of his very first book. What fond memories do you have of the bear of little brain and his friends? Tell us in the comments and maybe you can help introduce Pooh to the next generation as well!

Featured Image Via BBC

October 14, 2019

The Game Is Afoot! Celebrate the Publication of A ‘Sherlock Holmes’ Book Today!

You know the name. Sherlock Holmes is a pop culture icon, someone who everyone knows even if they haven’t read his books, seen his movies, or watched his numerous tv shows. He’s a focal point of British history and literature, having influenced dozens of fictional and even real detectives throughout his literary life. On this day (Oct. 14th), one of the seminal Holmes collections was published, entitled The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, a collection of twelve short stories.

image via wikipedia

First featured in The Strand magazine, the stories were very popular and boosted the subscriptions to the magazine, allowing Sherlock Holme’s author, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, to demand increased payment with each story published. Sidney Paget illustrated all twelve of the stories that came to be featured in the Adventures collection, in time coming to best known for his artwork accompanying the series. The collection includes numerous famous Sherlock Holmes tales, such as A Case of Identity, The Red-Headed League, The Adventure with the Speckled Band, and A Scandal in Bohemia. The last one was especially notable for featuring the character of Irene Adler, who although only made on appearance in the Holmes canon nevertheless became a feature of numerous adaptations, such as the BBC show Sherlock starring Benedict Cumberbatch.

Image via Wikipedia

The stories were well received upon their serialization, with critics describing them holding a ‘unique power’ and some even saying Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was the best short story writer since Edgar Allen Poe. The stories themselves had been adapted frequently in other media, with many of the stories being featured in the Granda Television adaptation of the Holmes canon, which ran from 1984 to 1995. They were also adapted on the BBC Radio 4 program, which ran from 1990 to 1991. Elements, such as the previously noted Irene Adler, have of course being taken out and used as an overall influenced over numerous Holmes adaptations as well without specifically adapting a single story.

Image via Wikipedia

Happy birthday to this seminal collection of Sherlock Holmes tales! Crack open your volume if you own one and give these stories another read together. What’s your favorite short story featured here? Tell us in the comments!

Featured Image Via BBC