Colm Tóibín, The Tabernacle

Twice shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize, Colm Tóibín is a serious voice in literary fiction, his prose taking a clear-eyed look at human lives. Hailing from Enniscorthy, a small town in County Wexford, much of his work deals with Irish experience, both at home and abroad.

He’s perhaps best known for Brooklyn. A transatlantic love story, it follows the travails of young Irishwoman named Eilis Lacey as she sets up a new life in New York, only to be forced to return home. Adapted for the silver screen by Nick Hornby, this poignant tale of emigration and heartbreak has understandably become one of 2015’s cinematic sensations.

Tóibín's eighth and most recent novel Nora Webster was published in 2014. Set amidst the political turbulence of late 1960s Ireland, it tells the story of a middle aged woman as she raises a family, all the while coming to terms with the loss of her husband. As a sensitive portrait of both widowhood and the dynamics of a rural community, it has met with considerable praise. Tóibín is an author who only grows in assurance and style.

On February 4, Tóibín comes to The Tabernacle as part of the Guardian Live series. For any bookworms amongst you, this is an unmissable opportunity to hear from one of the most accomplished authors currently writing.