Sailor in the Wardrobe

Hugo Hamilton was born and grew up in Dublin. He is the author of five highly acclaimed novels: 'Surrogate City', 'The Last Shot' and 'The Love Test' (Faber); 'Headbanger' and 'Sad Bastard' (Secker); one collection of short stories; and the internationally acclaimed memoir, 'The Speckled People'. In 1992 he was awarded the Rooney Prize for Irish Literature.

'Hamilton patterns the institutions and structures of family life, with his father's rules, curfews, punishments and terrifying rages, against the larger tyrannies of history. Simultaneously, he handles the conflicts, threats and aggressions of life outside home, much of which has to be kept secret, words of piercing clarity and immediacy convey his sense of guilt, in a world where terrible events continually hang above his head like the clouds drifting in from the sea. Hamilton's Irish-German-English voice remains unique. The question is where he will project it next.' Roy Foster, The Times 'An interestingly astute and poetic book.' Guardian 'It must establish Hugo as a major writer of the very first order.' Sunday Tribune 'Hamilton can interpret his very personal and unique family memories in a way that strikes a universal chord.' Irish Independent 'Hamilton is a stylish novelist.' Evening Herald 'An already complex portrait has become richer, deeper, and sadder.' Irish Times 'A lyrical, moving account of growing up in a family where the only approved languages were Irish and German. An exquisitely written and often moving book.' Image 'As he proved with 'The Speckled People', Hamilton can interpret his very personal and unique family memories in a way that strikes a universal chord.' Irish Independent 'The narrative reverberations encompass enormities of the twentieth century and beyond, though the style of the book stays effectively unpretentious. With its predecessor it adds up to a striking appraisal of a troublesome Irish upbringing.' Times Literary Supplement