Peter Cunningham (born 1947) is an Irish novelist who is known for his
historical novels
Historical fiction is a literary genre in which a fictional plot takes place in the Setting (narrative), setting of particular real past events, historical events. Although the term is commonly used as a synonym for historical fiction literatur ...
about Ireland.
[Irish Writers Online: ] His works have received several literary awards in Ireland and Europe. Cunningham's fiction is said to be distinguished by its fusion of political material with
psychological realism and a lyrical sensitivity to place and people.
Career
Cunningham's first novel, ''Noble Lord'', was a thriller, written under the pseudonym Peter Lauder.
[Fantastic fiction: http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/c/peter-cunningham/] He is best known for the historical novels ''The Sea and the Silence'', ''Tapes of the River Delta'', ''Consequences of the Heart,'' and ''Love in One Edition'', which chronicle the lives of local families during the twentieth century in Monument, Cunningham's fictional version of
Waterford
Waterford ( ) is a City status in Ireland, city in County Waterford in the South-East Region, Ireland, south-east of Ireland. It is located within the Provinces of Ireland, province of Munster. The city is situated at the head of Waterford H ...
, Ireland.
Cunningham's novel ''The Taoiseach'', based on the life of
Charles J. Haughey, was a controversial bestseller. ''Capital Sins'', a satirical novel, dealt with the collapse of the Irish economy during the
Great Recession
The Great Recession was a period of market decline in economies around the world that occurred from late 2007 to mid-2009. .
Critical reception
''The Sea and the Silence'' (translated into French as ''La Mer et le silence'')
''La Mer et le silence''
/ref> was awarded the Prix de l’Europe in 2013. This novel also won the Prix Caillou in France and was short-listed for the Prix des Lecteurs du Telégramme.
''Consequences of the Heart'' was short-listed for the Kerry Listowel Writers' Prize. ''Acts of Allegiance'' was long-listed for the 2019 Dublin International Literary Award. In 2011, Cunningham won the Cecil Day-Lewis Bursary Award.
Personal life
Cunningham grew up in Waterford, where his family had lived since the mid-19th century.[Dictionary of Literary Biography: http://www.bookrags.com/biography/peter-cunningham-dlb/3.html]
Cunningham is a member of Aosdána. He has judged the Glen Dimplex Literary Awards and the Bantry Festival Writer's Prize. In 2017 he was one of the nominees for the new post of Irish Fiction Laureate, created by the Arts Council of Ireland
The Arts Council (sometimes called the Arts Council of Ireland; legally ) is the independent "Irish government agency for developing the arts".
About
It was established in 1951 by the government of Ireland, to encourage interest in Irish art ( ...
.
Cunningham is married to Carol, a Jungian
Analytical psychology (, sometimes translated as analytic psychology; also Jungian analysis) is a term referring to the psychological practices of Carl Jung. It was designed to distinguish it from Freud's psychoanalytic theories as their s ...
analyst, with whom he has six children. They live in County Kildare
County Kildare () is a Counties of Ireland, county in Ireland. It is in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Leinster and is part of the Eastern and Midland Region. It is named after the town of Kildare. Kildare County Council is the Local gove ...
, Ireland.
References
External links
Peter Cunningham website
Peter Cunningham - Goodreads
Peter Cunningham - Twitter
Peter Wilben website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cunningham, Peter
1947 births
Irish novelists
Living people
People educated at Glenstal Abbey School
Alumni of University College Dublin
Writers from Dublin (city)
Irish columnists
Irish male novelists
Irish satirical novelists