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William Trevor

ウィリアム・トレヴァー

William Trevor

Pen Names: William Trevor（Used as his pen name）

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1928-05-24 （Mitchelstown, County Cork, Ireland）
Died
2016-11-20 （Crediton, Devon, England） age 88
Nationality
Irish
Languages
English
Religion
Protestant (Church of Ireland)
Residence History
Mitchelstown, County Cork → Skibbereen → Youghal → Enniscorthy → London (after emigration) → Dunkeswell, Devon (moved 1971) → Shobrooke, Devon

Career

Occupations
novelist, playwright, short story writer
Active Years
1958-2016
Affiliations
Aosdána, Irish Academy of Letters, Royal Society of Literature (Companion of Literature)
Memberships
Aosdána, Irish Academy of Letters
Influenced By
James Joyce, Anton Chekhov (stylistic influence)
Influenced
Contemporary short story writers (wide-ranging influence)
Nominations
Booker Prize (shortlist) - 1970 (Mrs. Eckdorf in O'Neill's Hotel), Booker Prize (shortlist) - 1976 (The Children of Dynmouth), Booker Prize (shortlist) - 1991 (Reading Turgenev), Booker Prize (shortlist) - 2002 (The Story of Lucy Gault), Booker Prize (longlist) - 2009 (Love and Summer), International Dublin Literary Award (shortlist) - 2011 (Love and Summer)

Education

St Columba's College, Dublin
Country: Ireland
Secondary education. Was taught by, among others, Oisín Kelly.
Trinity College Dublin
History
Degree: Bachelor of Arts
Year of Graduation: 1950
Country: Ireland
Received a degree in history

Awards

Hawthornden Prize
1964
Work: The Old Boys
Organization: Hawthornden Prize committee
Result: 受賞
Whitbread Prize (Costa Book Awards)
1976
Work: The Children of Dynmouth
Organization: Whitbread / Costa
Result: 受賞
Whitbread Prize (Costa Book Awards)
1983
Work: Fools of Fortune
Organization: Whitbread / Costa
Result: 受賞
Whitbread Prize (Costa Book Awards)
1994
Work: Felicia's Journey
Organization: Whitbread / Costa
Result: 受賞
David Cohen Prize
1999
Organization: Arts Council England
Result: 受賞
Irish PEN Award
2002
Organization: Irish PEN
Result: 受賞
International Nonino Prize
2008
Organization: Nonino
Result: 受賞
Jacob's Award
1982
Work: The Ballroom of Romance (TV adaptation)
Organization: RTÉ / Jacob's Award
Result: 受賞
Honorary CBE
1977
Organization: UK Government (Culture)
Result: 受章
Honorary KBE
2002
Organization: UK Government (Culture)
Result: 受章
Bob Hughes Lifetime Achievement Award (Irish Book Awards)
2008
Organization: Irish Book Awards
Result: 受賞
Kerry Group Irish Fiction Award
2003
Organization: Listowel Writers' Week
Result: 受賞
O. Henry Award (multiple)
2008
Work: Folie à Deux
Organization: O. Henry Award
Result: 受賞

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

The Old Boys

1964 Novel / Linked stories

A linked set of stories/novel examining school life, friendship and solitude.

lonelinessmemorymarginalization

The Children of Dynmouth

1976 Novel

A novel centered on a troubled youth with elements of dark comedy.

youth alienationsocial anxiety

Fools of Fortune

1983 Novel

A novel woven with Irish history and politics, exploring the decline of the 'Big House'.

historypoliticsfamily disintegration
Adaptations
  • [Film] Fools of Fortune / Pat O'Connor (1990)

Felicia's Journey

1994 Novel

Follows a young woman, Felicia, through danger and loneliness and her fraught relationships.

lonelinessdeceptionmovement and belonging
Adaptations
  • [Film] Felicia's Journey / Atom Egoyan (1999)

The Story of Lucy Gault

2002 Novel

An epic tale of a girl who leaves family and home, exploring growth and tragedy.

lossatonementeffects of history

Love and Summer

2009 Novel

A sensitive story of middle-aged love, regret, and life choices.

loveregretmaturity

Bibliography

  • A Standard of Behaviour (1958)
  • The Old Boys (1964)
  • The Children of Dynmouth (1976)
  • Fools of Fortune (1983)
  • Felicia's Journey (1994)
  • The Story of Lucy Gault (2002)
  • Love and Summer (2009)

Adaptations

  • Fools of Fortune (film adaptation, 1990)
  • Felicia's Journey (film adaptation, 1999)
  • The Ballroom of Romance (TV adaptation)

Translations of Works

  • Many works have been translated into multiple languages (notably French, German, Spanish)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
Chekhovian short-story approachprecise psychological描写black humour and tragicomic perspective
Recurring Motifs
isolated characters (children, elderly, unmarried middle-aged)decline of the 'Big House'faith and atonement

Legacy

William Trevor is regarded as a master of the short story from the late 20th to early 21st century. He is praised for his Chekhovian approach and delicate portrayals of Irish and English society. His many awards and film adaptations secured his international reputation.

Museums

  • William Trevor monument (Mitchelstown) Mitchelstown, County Cork, Ireland Opened in 2004

Academic Societies

  • Aosdána
  • Irish Academy of Letters

Archives

  • Some archival material held at Trinity College and other Irish libraries/archives

In Popular Culture

  • Works such as Fools of Fortune and Felicia's Journey were adapted for film, bringing his stories to cinema and television audiences

Quotes

  • I consider myself Irish in every vein.
    Source: Interview (excerpt) (2009)

Trivia

  • Born William Trevor Cox.
  • Worked as a sculptor under the name Trevor Cox.
  • Disowned his first novel A Standard of Behaviour (1958), though it was later republished.
  • Won the Whitbread Prize three times (1976, 1983, 1994).