Seren News
Patrick McGuinness finds his debut novel The Last Hundred Days on the 2011 Costa First Novel Award shortlist.
Seren have published Wales’ Rugby World Cup 2011 in images, Heads Held High. Foreword by Phil Bennett and Afterword by Max Boyce
Congratulations to future Seren poet Rhian Edwards on winning both the audience award and the John Tripp final 2011. Rhian’s debut collection is due out in Spring 2012. No other John Tripp winner has won both awards.
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If you join the online book club you will receive 20% off all purchases.
‘The Last Hundred Days’ shortlisted for the Costa Book Award
Patrick McGuinness finds his debut novel on the Costa Book Awards shortlist. The Last Hundred Days is up against three other titles for the Costa Book Award First Novel.
Set during Ceausescu’s last hundred days in power, Patrick McGuinness’s accomplished debut novel explores a world of danger, repression and corruption. The Last Hundred Days was also long-listed for the Man Booker Prize 2011.
“stunning” The Times “an assured performance” The Literary Review
“…the sardonic crispness and evocative power of its language distinguishes it from the run of contemporary fiction.” Sean O’Brien, TLS
The other titles on the First Novel shortlist category include City of Bohane by Kevin Barry, Tiny Sunbirds Far Away by Christie Watson and Pao by Kerry Young.
Patrick McGuinness’s debut novel shortlisted for the Costa Book Award
Patrick McGuinness finds his debut novel on the Costa Book Awards shortlist. The Last Hundred Days is up against three other titles for the Costa Book Award First Novel.
Set during Ceausescu’s last hundred days in power, Patrick McGuinness’s accomplished debut novel explores a world of danger, repression and corruption. The Last Hundred Days was also lng-liste dfor the Man Booker Prize 2011.
“stunning” The Times “an assured performance” The Literary Review
“…the sardonic crispness and evocative power of its language distinguishes it from the run of contemporary fiction.” Sean O’Brien, TLS
The other titles on the First Novel shortlist catergory include
City of Bohane
by Kevin Barry,
Tiny Sunbirds Far Away
by Christie Watson and
Pao
by Kerry Young.
Seren set to publish Wales’ Rugby World Cup 2011 Book ‘Heads Held High’
Seren will release a book of unique images of Wales’ rugby team at the World Cup 2011, from official tournament photographers, GettyImages. Heads Held High is a must have memento for all Wales rugby fans: fantastic Christmas gift. With the Foreword by Phil Bennett and the Afterword by Max Boyce. Available 24th November 2011
For two weeks in October, Wales held its breath. In the Rugby World Cup, with an influx of young players and probably the most exciting rugby played in the competition, Wales had negotiated a difficult qualifying group to reach a quarter final against an unbeaten Ireland side.
Ireland were despatched 22:10; next up was a France side which had misfired throughout the tournament. In New Zealand and at home, Wales believed: over 60,000 people watched the game at the Millennium Stadium. But injuries to key players, missed kicks, and the sending off of skipper Sam Warburton meant that Wales came up just short in a grippingly tense match they dominated. And defeat against Australia in their last game left Wales fourth. Yet this was still a time for celebration. Wales had lost to three of the world’s top sides by a collective margin of five points. It couldn’t have been closer, and the Wales squad could return home confident for the future and with their heads held high.
Max Boyce is a comedian, singer and cultural icon, closely associated with Wales’ national sport. Phil Bennett is one of Wales’ most famous fly-halves. He played for Llanelli, Wales, the Barbarians and the British Lions. He is now a television commentator and newspaper columnist.
‘Heads Held High’ Wales’ Rugby World Cup 2011 journey in pictures
Heads Held High: Wales’ Rugby World Cup 2011
Foreword by Phill Bennett, Afterword by Max Boyce
For two weeks in October, Wales held its breath. In the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand, the Wales team had negotiated a difficult qualifying group to reach a quarter final against an unbeaten Ireland side which had already disposed of Australia. Wales had done it with an influx of young players and probably the most exciting rugby played in the competition. And if the rugby was at times electrifying, so was the effect at home.
Ireland were despatched 22:10; next up was a France side which had misfired throughout the tournament. In New Zealand and at home, Wales believed: over 60,000 people watched the game at the Millennium Stadium. But injuries to key players, the controversial sending off of skipper Sam Warburton, missed kicks and a France team which now remembered how to defend meant that Wales came up just short in a grippingly tense match they dominated. The final everyone wanted to watch – New Zealand vs Wales – wasn’t to be.
And defeat against Australia in their last game left Wales fourth in the competition. Yet this was still a time for celebration. Wales had lost to three of the world’s top sides by a collective margin of five points. It couldn’t have been closer, and having won new admirers around the world with their style of rugby, the Wales squad could return home confident for the future and with their heads held high.
Max Boyce is a comedian, singer and rugby icon. His career took off during the seventies when Wales dominated northern hemisphere rugby, and his passion for the game and his rugby-related songs seemed to define the Welsh rugby fan. ‘Hymns and Arias’ is sung at Wales international matches today, and rugby (including the 2011 World Cup campaign) is a feature of his songwriting still.
Phil Bennett is one of Wales’ most famous fly-halves. He played for Llanelli, masterminding their famous victory over the All Blacks in 1972, and for Wales between 1969 and 1978, who he also captained in the final years of his career. A regular with the Barbarians, he toured with the British Lions in South Africa in 1974 and captained their 1977 tour to New Zealand. He is now a television commentator and newspaper columnist.
£16.99 available at www.serenbooks.com (join the online book club and get 20% off this book) Date available 24th November 2011