James Harpur

James Harpur has had eight poetry collections published mainly by Anvil Press and Carcanet. His latest book, The Examined Life (2021) won the Vincent Buckley Poetry Prize, while other books include Angels and Harvesters (2012), a PBS Recommendation; and The Dark Age (2007), winner of the Michael Hartnett Award. His debut novel, The Pathless Country (2021) won the JG Farrell Prize and was shortlisted for the John McGahern Prize. Winner of the 1995 National Poetry Competition, he has led poetry workshops for the Arvon Foundation and has been Visiting Writer on many MA Creative Writing programmes. He studied Classics and English at university, has taught English on Crete, and worked as lexicographer and freelance writer. He lives in the wilds of West Cork with his partner, teenage daughter and faithful Labrador, and loves to walk, meditate, practise Tai Chi, play the guitar (badly) and write poetry.