City of Books
City of Books
City of Books is a podcast in which host, author and journalist Martina Devlin, talks books to all sorts of people who believe books matter – and that you can never have too many books. It’s sponsored by Dublin UNESCO City of Literature and produced in association with MoLI.
Jan Carson
City of Books
In this episode of City of Books, writer Jan Carson speaks to host Martina Devlin about her book The Raptures and how her childhood in Northern Ireland informed it.
John Boyne
City of Books
In this episode of City of Books, writer John Boyne speaks to host Martina Devlin about his latest book All…
Andrew Meehan
City of Books
In this episode of City of Books, writer Andrew Meehan speaks to host Martina Devlin about how it took him three books to realise he was writing love stories.
A Royal Affair
City of Books
In this episode of City of Books, host Martina Devlin speaks to Emily Hourican about her latest book The Other Guinness Girl, the third novel in her series about the Guinness family.
Sense of a Beginning
City of Books
In this episode of City of Books, host Martina Devlin speaks to Cristín Leach about her life, her relationship to art and writing, and her debut novel Negative Space.
Hidden truths in reissued classics
City of Books
In this episode of City of Books, host Martina Devlin speaks to Catherine Dunne and Lia Mills.
Love and Loss
City of Books
In this episode of City of Books, Martina Devlin talks about her novel Edith. She is interviewed by fellow novelist Nuala O'Connor.
Catherine Prasifka
City of Books
In this episode of City of Books, host Martina Devlin talks to debut novelist Catherine Prasifka.
Marching To Her Own Beat
City of Books
In this episode of City of Books, host Martina Devlin talks to Belfast playwright and short story writer Rosemary Jenkinson about the various themes she tackles in her work, cancel culture and much more.
Breaking point: burned out and bottoming out
City of Books
Martina Devlin talks to Edel Coffey about her debut novel.
Making music with birds and bugs
City of Books
In this episode of City of Books, host Martina Devlin speaks to Professor David Rothenberg.
Learwife – Hatching and Hoping
City of Books
In this episode of City of Books, author JR Thorp talks to host Martina Devlin about her debut novel Learwife and the inspiration behind writing about a character who is only referenced twice in Shakespeare’s tragedy.
Carlo Gébler on the Power of Greek Myths
City of Books
In this episode of City of Books Carlo Gébler speaks to host Martina Devlin about his latest novel I Antigone and his reasoning for choosing Antigone as the narrator.
Big top, big dreams – Sarah Webb
City of Books
In this episode of City of Books Sarah Webb speaks to host Martina Devlin about how a chance meeting inspired her to blend tenement life in 1911 Dublin with circus life in her new book The Little Bee Charmer of Henrietta Street.
Myth-Making Michael Collins
City of Books
Michael Collins is the the Irish Civil War's most famous casualty but there is a lot of “what-if-ery”about him, says Ireland’s best-known historian Diarmaid Ferriter, in conversation with host Martina Devlin.
The Road Less Travelled
City of Books
In this episode, host Martina Devlin speaks to Rosaleen McDonagh, whose extraordinary life story shows not only that almost any obstacle can be overcome, but also that it is no barrier to great achievements.
Paul Perry’s Eden Gone Wrong
City of Books
In this episode of City of Books, host Martina Devlin speaks to Paul Perry about his new book The Garden and how it was informed by his own experiences working on an orchid farm in Florida for three years in the 1990s.
In Praise of Difficult Women
City of Books
In this episode of City of Books, host Martina Devlin speaks to Evelyn Conlon about her new short story collection Moving About The Place and the various characters in it.
Lisa McInerney’s Riotous Revelations
City of Books
In this episode of City of Books, host Martina Devlin talks to Lisa McInerney about The Glorious Heresies trilogy, including the exciting third novel, The Rules Of Revelation, which was recently released.
Look! It’s A Woman Writer!
City of Books
In this episode of City of Books, host Martina Devlin speaks to Éilís Ní Dhuibhne and Lia Mills about Look! It's A Woman Writer! – a new collection of essays.
Nora Barnacle – Joyce’s Muse
City of Books
Nuala O’Connor talks to Martina Devlin of City of Books about her new book 'Nora'.
Rónán Hession on why kindness is king
City of Books
'Kindness is king' Rónán Hession, author of Leonard and Hungry Paul, tells Martina Devlin in the latest City of Books podcast.
John Banville fades to black
City of Books
John Banville tells City of Books presenter Martina Devlin why he's killed off Benjamin Black.
Neil Jordan and the Runaway Slave
City of Books
Oscar-winning filmmaker Neil Jordan talks to Martina Devlin in City of Books about his historical novel, The Ballad of Lord Edward and Citizen Small: the true-life friendship between aristocrat turned 1798 revolutionary Lord Edward Fitzgerald and the runaway American slave who saved his life.
Danielle McLaughlin on finding herself.
City of Books
Danielle McLaughlin talks to Martina Devlin of City of Books about how reading and writing offer great comfort at a time of confusion.
Instances of the number 63
City of Books
Louise O'Neill talks about feminism, kindness, isolation and writing across multiple genres to Martina Devlin, host of City of Books.
A Poetic Licence Earned
City of Books
Eiléan Ní Chuilleanáin talks to Martina Devlin about a time when books were banned as well as how her mother, children's writer Eilís Dillon, had a cupboard of them.
Anne Enright on an altered Ireland
City of Books
In this episode Anne Enright speaks to Martina Devlin about how Ireland has changed in recent years and how this has contributed to her writing.
More than one string to his mandolin
City of Books
In the latest episode of City of Books Martina Devlin talks to Louis de Bernières about his life and career, from the success of Captain Corelli’s Mandolin to the release of the final book in his trilogy which was created from his interpretation of what happened to his grandparents’ lives.
Haunted By The Ghost
City of Books
Doireann Ní Ghríofa, in her first podcast interview since being named winner of the An Post Irish Book of the Year award for 2020, talks to Martina Devlin.
The Truth About Secrets and Lies
City of Books
In this episode writer Eoin McNamee talks to Martina Devlin about how his tendency to blend fact and fiction has received both criticism and acclaim.
How my film won an Oscar
City of Books
Writer Emma Donoghue talks to Martina Devlin about working with director Lenny Abrahamson on 'Room' as well as discussing her latest novel 'The Pull of the Stars'.
The Diplomatic Arts
City of Books
In this episode Ambassador Daniel Mulhall talks to Martina Devlin about how literature can act as a cultural bridge.
Lemn Sissay and the Story of Why
City of Books
In this candid interview for the City of Books podcast for Dublin UNESCO City of Literature, Lemn Sissay speaks to Martina Devlin about mother and baby homes, the Black Lives Matter campaign and his experience in the British care system.
Flouncing and failing
City of Books
Richard Ford wanted to be a lawyer in the US Marines, but that didn’t work out. The author talks to Martina Devlin.
An infinite number of sides
City of Books
Colum McCann tells Martina Devlin how he hopes that his book Apeirogon may contribute to peace.
The shambles of Maamtrasna
City of Books
The Maamtrasna murders, "one of the gravest miscarriages of justice in Irish history", are discussed by Professor Margaret Kelleher and Justice Peter Kelly. Presented by Martina Devlin.
A modern dilemma
City of Books
Joanna Trollope talks to Martina Devlin about the pressures on the 'sandwich generation' and the importance of equality of opportunity. Plus Colum McCann remembers Eavan Boland.
Christine Dwyer Hickey and the Minister for Finance
City of Books
Presented by Martina Devlin, episode three of City of Books snoops along Paschal Donohoe’s bookshelves, as well as hearing from the author of acclaimed novel Tatty.
Life lessons with Marian Keyes
City of Books
The writer talks to Martina Devlin about everything from why she believes in supporting other women, to why bulimia is possibly the cruellest addiction.
The fine art of reading
City of Books
Artist Robert Ballagh talks to Martina Devlin about why Samuel Beckett thought he kept him waiting for breakfast, and Mary Costello takes a tour of the Joyce Tower.