Independent Arts News Reporting Princeton Irish Studies Event: Niall Williams & Fintan O’Toole Headline Free Literary Talks this Month
Reported Monday, March 17, 2024.
Pictured Above: Niall Williams. Photo Credit: John Kelly.
NEWSROOM POST: PRINCETON, NEW JERSEY
Niall Williams and Fintan O’Toole to Present at Princeton University in March
Princeton, NJ – The Fund for Irish Studies at Princeton University is set to conclude its 2024-2025 series with two distinguished literary events featuring celebrated Irish authors Niall Williams and Fintan O’Toole. These events, which are free and open to the public, will take place on March 20 and March 21 in Princeton, New Jersey.
Event 1: Niall Williams – Reading & Discussion
When: March 20, 2025, at 5:00 p.m.
Where: Labyrinth Books, 122 Nassau St., Princeton, NJ
Admission: Free; no tickets required
Irish novelist and playwright Niall Williams will read from his body of work, including his latest novel, Time of the Child. This event is cosponsored by Princeton’s Humanities Council, Department of English, and Labyrinth Books. Williams, best known for his novels This Is Happiness and History of the Rain, has gained international acclaim for his evocative storytelling and lyrical prose. His novel Four Letters of Love, recently adapted into a major motion picture starring Pierce Brosnan and Helena Bonham Carter, has further cemented his status as one of Ireland’s most revered contemporary writers.
Pictured Above: Fintan O’Toole. Photo Credit: Nick Bradshaw / The Irish Times.
Event 2: Fintan O’Toole – The Robert Fagles Memorial Lecture
When: March 21, 2025, at 4:30 p.m.
Where: James Stewart Film Theater, 185 Nassau St., Princeton, NJ
Admission: Free; tickets required (available via University Ticketing and at the door)
Renowned Irish journalist and author Fintan O’Toole will deliver the annual Robert Fagles Memorial Lecture, titled Unmasking Conspiracy: Philip Graves and The Protocols of the Elders of Zion. In this timely and thought-provoking talk, O’Toole explores the historical significance of The Protocols of the Elders of Zion, a widely debunked antisemitic forgery, and the pioneering work of Irish journalist Philip Graves in exposing its falsehoods in 1921. O’Toole will examine how Graves’ legacy remains crucial in today’s world, where misinformation and conspiracy theories continue to influence global discourse.
About the Speakers
Niall Williams
Born in Dublin, Williams is an internationally acclaimed novelist and playwright. His novel History of the Rain was longlisted for the 2014 Booker Prize, and his 2019 work This Is Happiness was shortlisted for the An Post Irish Book Awards Novel of the Year. His storytelling is renowned for its depth, poetic beauty, and introspective narratives, capturing the heart of Irish culture and identity. Williams resides in Kiltumper, County Clare, Ireland.
Fintan O’Toole
A leading public intellectual in Ireland, O’Toole has been a columnist for The Irish Times since 1988 and is a frequent contributor to The New York Times, The New Yorker, and The Guardian. His acclaimed books include We Don’t Know Ourselves: A Personal History of Modern Ireland and Heroic Failure: Brexit and the Politics of Pain. O’Toole has received numerous awards, including the Orwell Prize and the Robert Silvers Prize for Journalism. In 2024, he was elected to the American Philosophical Society.
Event Accessibility & Additional Information
Both event venues are accessible. Guests requiring accommodations are encouraged to contact the Lewis Center at LewisCenter@princeton.edu at least one week prior to the event date.
For more details on the Fund for Irish Studies series and upcoming events, visit Fund for Irish Studies.
These events are generously sponsored by the Durkin Family Trust and the James J. Kerrigan Jr. ’45 and Margaret M. Kerrigan Fund for Irish Studies.
