It has always been said that an author should write what they know. Colin Barrett does just that in his debut book, Young Skins. Published by ‘The Stinging Fly’, this collection of short stories draws on Colin’s youth in Mayo as it tells tales from the fictional town of Glanbeigh that sits on Ireland’s west coast. Very much a part of the revival of the Irish short story, Young Skins proves its pedigree as it uncompromisingly looks at the hardships endured by those trying to live in these regions that are often bereft of hope; following the example of Ireland’s rich history of storytelling.

Young Skins is not a book for the faint of heart as it focuses on men in their 20s and early 30s and the afflictions that plague them. Through the intertwining tales he tells Colin highlights the issues of violence, depression, suicide, and substance abuse that all seem to be rising issues amongst the young men of Ireland. He doesn’t shy away from the darker sparks like sexual violence either.

In what seems an almost deliberate act Colin strips away any vestiges of romanticism associated with the young male as his stories takes traditional tropes like the gangster and biker and savagely shows their sadder side. Other tales simply show the sorrow that can breed in people as they fall victim to the woes of small town life; too fearful to leave yet growing ever more resentful of their restrictive surroundings.

The central piece, Calm With Horses, tells the tale of the often ludicrous back-country gangland that exists in so many rural pockets of Ireland. In the wake of an attempted sexual assault Dympna and Arm, the brains and muscle respectively, are forced to confront the other members of their drug dealing gang. As the story unravels so too does Dympna and Arm’s ‘criminal enterprise’. The real tale, however, lies in the relationships that are exposed as the main story is told.

This is a theme that continues throughout Young Skins as Colin fills the background of his stories with meaningful moments that offer insights into the often tough life of small town living. Some tales, however, are entirely engulfed by their protagonists’ lamentable lives and the sorrowful vortexes they are caught in.

Join ‘Talking Books’ as Colin talks with Susan about Young Skins, his experiences as an emerging writer, and why he prefers the medium of short story writing. Hear how his own experience growing up fed into the making of this acclaimed book. And listen as he reads some favourite passages. Be warned though, these are not the stuff of fairytales.

In the second part of the show we travel to Britain during the Romantic Age as Susan speaks with author Lucy Newlyn about her book William and Dorothy Wordsworth ‘All in each other’. This book isn’t at all hesitant as it delves into the controversial tale of this brother and sister pair who helped usher in a new age of writing.

William Wordsworth’s poetry is astounding in its language and lyrical descriptions and its legacy is matched by few others. Today he is regarded as one of the founders of the English Romantic Age, which saw a move away from the ideal of the Enlightenment and a refocus of artistic endeavours on personal emotions and the beauty of nature. What is often debated, however, is Dorothy’s role in William’s artistic awakening, how much of his writing was actually hers, and what the exact nature of their relationship was.     -Handwritten manuscript of I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud First Stanza by William Wordsworth

After the early death of both of their parents the Wordsworth children were sent to live with various relatives. After William and Dorothy later reunited the two became almost inseparable and lived together for most of the rest of their lives. Even marriage wasn’t able to keep the siblings apart. Despite the rumours and stories that were stirred up Dorothy continued to live with William and his wife, Mary Hutchinson, after their marriage, even accompanying them on holidays abroad.

This relationship forms the centre of Lucy’s book and she tries her best to extract the truth from the gossip that has gathered over the centuries. Looking at the writings, both personal and public, of William and Dorothy and their friends and acquaintances this book rebuilds the worlds that surrounded the siblings in the 18^th and 19^th centuries. We are transported into bedrooms, busy streets, and a collage of other settings as the lives of the Wordsworths are laid before us.     -Handwritten manuscript of I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud Second Stanza by William Wordsworth

These lives tell more than just their own tale. As the Wordsworth’s years unfold before us we are given glimpses into the world they inhabited. We are shown a world in which a 31 year old woman feels too old to marry, where an obviously talented sister takes a backseat to her brother’s career,  where community and society boundaries differ so vividly from our own, and where a sister is welcomed, loved, and cared for by a brother’s wife.

The tale of the Wordsworths and the world they lived in is a fascinating one and ‘Talking History’ is lucky enough to be transported there thanks to the wonderful author Lucy Newlyn. Join us as we hear about William and Dorothy’s life together. Was there more between the two than the love of siblings? Was Dorothy the vital force behind the scenes for her brother William and his writings? And where did William’s wife Mary fit in to all of this?      -Handwritten manuscript of I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud Third Stanza by William Wordsworth