Irish-born writer Colum McCann's latest novel Let the Great World Spinhas been shortlisted for the fiction prize in this year's National Book Awards in the US.
The Dubliner's novel is one of five in the fiction category in the shortlist announced today.
McCann is the author of the novels Zoli, Dancer, This Side of Brightness, and Songdogs, as well as two story collections. He has also been a finalist for the International Impac Dublin Literary Award and was the inaugural winner of the Ireland Fund of Monaco Literary Award in memory of Princess Grace.
He is a contributor to the New Yorker, the New York Times Magazine, the Atlantic Monthlyand the Paris Review. He lives in New York with his wife and three children.
Fine Gael arts spokeswoman Olivia Mitchell congratulated the Aosdána writer.
She said Let the Great World Spinwas "a cleverly crafted book, as well as being a real page turner, and I have no doubt that Hollywood will soon be knocking on Colum's door".
“Colum is another in the long line of Irish artists achieving international success. He is also helping to counteract the more negative images of Ireland that may be going out from other sectors.
“Despite knowing this nomination was coming, Colum flew to Dublin today to plead the case for emerging artists at the Arts, Sports and Tourism Committee in the Dáil.
“For Colum and for Ireland, this is a huge honour which I hope, by placing him on the international literary stage, will bring him continued success.”
The other shortlisted works of fiction are: American Salvageby Bonnie Jo Campbell, In Other Rooms, Other Wondersby Daniyal Mueenuddin, Lark and Termiteby Jayne Anne Phillips and Far Northby Marcel Theroux.
The prestigious awards celebrate their 60th anniversary this year and the winners will be announced at a ceremony in New York on November 18th
The National Book Foundation, which organises the awards, said the 20 finalists announced today represent “a diverse group of authors of varied background, writing style, setting, and theme”.
Both well-known and lesser-known writers were recognised, including one debut fiction writer, three previous National Book Award finalists, and only the second graphic novel chosen as a finalist in the awards’ history.
Finalists on the fiction list include Daniyal Mueenuddin, who splits his time between the US and Pakistan, McCann, who is Irish, and Marcel Theroux, who was born in Uganda, lives in London, and is the son of 1981 and 1983 National Book Award finalist Paul Theroux.