by Donal McLaughlin (Author)
Liam O'Donnel, an Irish boy growing up in Scotland, is often the focus of Donal McLaughlin's hilarious and harrowing short stories, and in beheading the virgin mary, he continues this loose narrative, interspersed -- every second story -- with unrelated reports. Here, Liam steps in dog dirt on his way to Sunday Mass; Bloody Sunday is experienced as a series of phone calls to the home of a Scottish neighbor; and the title story introduces the next generation of O'Donnells. With his keen ear and inimitable spirit, the always innovative McLaughlin is one of the brightest lights of contemporary European fiction.
Author Biography
Donal McLaughlin was born in Northern Ireland, but moved to Scotland as a child. His debut collection, an allergic reaction to national anthems (2009), was longlisted for the Frank O'Connor Short Story Award, and nominated for the EIBF Readers' Best First Book Award, both in 2010. He is a recipient of the Robert Louis Stevenson Memorial Award, was Scottish PEN's first ?crivain sans fronti?res, and is a former Hawthornden Fellow. McLaughlin is also a literary translator, specializing in contemporary Swiss fiction. He featured in Best European Fiction 2012 both as a writer and a translator.