The 'unacknowledged historians'

 

“In a certain way, novelists becomeunacknowledged historians, because we talk about small, tiny, little anonymousmoments that won't necessarily make it into the history books."  –Colum McCann
 

Born on this date in 1964, McCann isa native Irishman who now makes his home in New York City where he isDistinguished Professor of Creative Writing in the Master of Fine Arts programat Hunter College.

 

His work has been published in 40languages and has appeared in the New Yorker, Esquire,and the Paris Review.  McCann has written 8 novels,including TransAtlantic and the National Book Award-winning Letthe Great World Spin.  He also has written 3 collections of shortstories, including the multiple-award winning Thirteen Ways of Looking.  His newest book, Twist, is due out inMarch.

 

 “Every first thing is always a miracle,"he said. “The first person you fall in love with. The first letter youreceive. The first stone you throw. And in my conception of the novel, theletter becomes important. But what's more important is the fact that we need tocontinue to tell each other stories.”