The Wainwright Prize announced their 2026 shortlists which includes Irish naturalist, conservationist and activist Dara McAnulty, who was the youngest person to win the prize back in 2020 for his debut book, The Diary of a Young Naturalist, when he was just 16. This year he is shortlisted in the Children’s Non-Fiction category for his book A Wild Child’s Guide to Nature at Night, illustrated by Barry Falls, an eye-opening tour of nocturnal nature in Britain and Ireland and perfect guide for aspiring naturalists.
The Wainwright Prize is the UK’s foremost nature and conservation writing awards, recognising stories and non-fiction that reflect the values of its namesake Alfred Wainwright: the celebration of nature and our environment, nurturing respect for our planet, and informing readers of the threats that the earth currently faces.
Wainwright Prize ambassador Henry Bird said: “With the natural world in crisis, I’d go so far as to say that we need these books, now more than ever.”
Forty-three books in total are shortlisted across six categories spanning Conservation, Nature Writing and Children’s books, and the winners will be announced at a special ceremony held at Elmley Nature Reserve in Kent on September 17th.
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In The Irish Times tomorrow, Donal Ryan talks to Rosita Boland about his new novel, Where Are the Kings. Women’s Prize for Fiction winner Téa Obreht tells Nadine O’Regan about her new novel, Sunrise, and relocating to Ireland with her family from the US. Evie Gaughan, author of The Lost Bookshop and The Violin Maker’s Secret under the name Evie Woods, discusses the pernicious influence of AI on publishing. And there is a Q&A with H Is for Hawk author Helen Macdonald in advance of her appearance at the Shaking Bog Festival in Co Wicklow.
Reviews are Karlin Lillington on Users: What Big Tech Doesn’t Want You to Know and What to Do About It by Beeban Kidron; Sarah O’Connor’s We Are Not Machines: the Fight for the Future of Work; and The Nerd Reich by Gil Duran; Adam Wyeth on Shapechangers: edited by Nessa O’Mahony; NJ McGarrigle on The History of the World in 12 Soccer Matches by Stefano Bizzotto; Declan Burke on the best new crime fiction; Helena Mulkerns on Nightjar by Emily Ruskovich; Julia Kelly on Solace House by Will Maclean; Dean van Nguyen on Fed Up by Daniel Lieberman; Matthew O’Toole on What If Reform Wins by Peter Chappell; Ferdia Roche on The Life Swap by Jeananne Craig; Laure Berger on The Anniversary, by Andrea Bajani, translated by Geoffrey Brock; Greg Londe on The Broken King by Michael Thomas; Dean Fee on White Elephant by Jeyamohan; Sinéad Gibney on Inequality: the View from Manywheres by Séamus Power; and Toner Quinn on Crosbhealach an Cheoil: The Crossroads Conference 1996, edited by Fintan Vallely, Hammy Hamilton, Eithne Vallely and Liz Doherty.
The BIG Type Festival
The BIG Type Festival, a new three-day celebration of print, typography, design and creativity, takes place at the National Print Museum, Dublin, from September 4th to 6th, marking the museum’s 30th anniversary. Bringing together artists, designers, writers and printmakers from Ireland and abroad, the festival explores the enduring influence of print culture through talks, workshops, demonstrations and family-friendly events.
The literary programme is led by Djamel White, whose debut novel All Them Dogs has been longlisted for the 2026 Booker Prize. He will discuss the novel’s portrayal of contemporary Dublin, the craft of fiction and his Booker recognition.
Also appearing is Annie Atkins, the Dublin-based author and designer renowned for creating graphic props for films by directors including Wes Anderson and Steven Spielberg. Atkins will speak about the art of creating paper props for film, while her new children’s picture book, Cackle Crackle: Letters from the Witch, will be published on September 4th.
The festival also features bestselling author and Laureate na nÓg Chris Haughton, who will discuss his latest book, The History of Information, alongside events with graphic artist Anthony Burrill, artist Maser and designer-printmaker Mary Plunkett. Full programme details are available at nationalprintmuseum.ie.
Author events
Dubray presents Donal Ryan discussing his new novel Where Are the Kings with Alex Clark next Thursday, August 13th, in The PepperCanister Church, Dublin. Tickets here.
Robert Harris will be interviewed by broadcaster Ryan Tubridy in Galway’s Black Box Theatre on Friday, September 18th at 8pm about his new historical novel, Agrippa. The in-conversation event is being hosted by Kennys Bookshop. Book at tht.ie or call 091569777.
Naomi Klein and Astra Taylor will be in conversation with Sally Hayden about their new book, End Times Fascism, on Friday, October 2nd in the RDS Concert Hall, RDS, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4 as part of Dublin Book Festival. Book here.
NYT’s 50 best thrillers of the 21st century
While Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn topped the New York Times’ new list of 50 best thrillers of the 21st century, Dublin-based crime writer Tana French achieved a remarkable four places on the list, including in third place In The Woods (2007), alongside Broken Harbour (2012) in 20th, The With Elm (2018) in 33rd and The Likeness (2008) in 34th. Room (2010) by Emma Donoghue was voted 21st, while The Plot (2016) by Jean Hanff Korelitz, whose husband is Irish poet Paul Muldoon, was 29th. Boston Irish author Dennis Lehane came second for Mystic River (2001) and 17th for Shutter Island (2003).
Barnardos fundraiser book
Cherry Jordan, a lecturer in early childhood care and education in TUDublin from Knocklyon, has written a children’s book, Johnny Hedgehog and the Summer Holidays, whose profits will go to Barnardos.
Nine-year-old Johnny Hedgehog makes ordinary life adventurous and magical, creating connections and community wherever he goes.
“I wrote this book initially because I felt guilty as a working mother and this was compounded during Covid,” the author said. “I felt I was missing out on so many day-to-day encounters with my children that I would have had as a child, like going to the post office, bumping into neighbours, walking to school and so on. I wanted to write a book that included day-to-day encounters and an opportunity for working parents to have time with their children to reflect on daily interactions and encounters, especially for parents who may be working. Story time can be a hugely important ritual and opportunity for parents and their children.
“What I have got out of writing the book is a revival of childhood magic, the passionate and present nature of Johnny is contagious, and he inspires me to look at the world in a more playful way. In my case the child has become the teacher, and this book reminds us of the importance of fun, presence, and passion in life.”
The book is being published by Pegasus on August 27th, and launched in the author’s local community in Ballycullen on August 29th.
Kennedy Summer School
The 2026 Kennedy Summer School opens on Thursday, August 27th, in New Ross, Co Wexford, bringing together diplomacy, music and literature on one stage, and organisers are urging early booking as tickets move quickly for the festival’s flagship opening evening.
Geraldine Byrne Nason, Ireland’s Ambassador to the United States, will officially open this year’s school at St Michael’s Theatre at 6.30pm. She will later chat with Prof Mary C. Murphy, Director of the Irish Institute at Boston College, whose research centres on post-Brexit Northern Ireland and EU-US relations.
Finghin Collins will perform a short recital in the theatre as part of the evening, before a drinks reception in the theatre courtyard.
At 8pm, Voices of Irish Writers will be moderated by Prof Bríona Nic Dhiarmada. Neil Tully will discuss his debut novel The Visit, set in New Ross in June 1963, in the days before President John F. Kennedy’s historic visit, giving it a particular resonance. He is joined by Martina Evans, the Cork-born, London-based novelist and poet whose new collection Drunken Driving is a Poetry Book Society Choice for Summer 2026, and Belinda McKeon, whose debut novel Solace won the 2012 Faber Prize and whose second novel Tender has been widely praised.
The Kennedy Summer School runs from August 27th to 29th. Tickets and full programme details are available at kennedysummerschool.ie.
Murder One
Featuring some of the best-known crime-writing stars, Murder One, Ireland’s International Crime Writing Festival, returns to Dublin from October 16th to 18th for its ninth year in Dún Laoghaire’s DLR Lexicon Library & Cultural Centre. Supported by the Arts Council and DLR Libraries, the festival features Ardal O’Hanlon, Andrea Mara, Jane Casey, Jo Spain, T.M. Logan, Harriett Tyce (who featured on series 4 of the Traitors UK), Catherine Ryan Howard and Dave Rudden. murderone.ie
