William Trevor: Revaluations

Born in Ireland in 1928, resident in Britain since 1953, an artist whose work embraces, but transcends these cultures, William Trevor is one of the most significant, popular prose writers working today. The event examined Trevor's schooling in the art of fiction, tracing the influence of past masters (Dickens, Turgenev and Joyce), and more recent exemplars (Camus, Beckett, Pinter). In evaluating Trevor's own achievements, speakers highlighted his continuing responsiveness to historical and cultural change, how frequently his characters' choices are constrained not only by 'nationality, language, religion', but also as a consequence of class, education, gender and race.

Speakers:

Dame Hermione Lee DBE, FRSL, FBA
University of Oxford

Professor Lyn Innes
University of Kent

Professor Michael O'Neill
Durham University

Chaired by Professor Michael Parker (University of Central Lancashire) and Dr Paul Delaney (Trinity College Dublin)