Xiaolu Guo’s 2016 memoir Once Upon A Time In The East received the National Book Critics Circle Award in 2017 and was shortlisted for the RSL Ondaatje Prize. Her nonfiction Radical was published by Vintage (2023), followed by My Battle of Hastings. Her 2025 novel Call Me Ishmaelle is a retelling of Melville’s Moby Dick.
Her novels include A Concise Chinese-English Dictionary for Lovers (Shortlisted for the Women’s Prize), A Lover’s Discourse, and I Am China. Named as a Granta’s Best of Young British Novelist, she also directed a dozen films including UFO In Her Eyes. Her feature She, A Chinese received the Golden Leopard at the Locarno Film Festival 2009. She is a fellow of the Royal Society of Literature.
Xiaolu Guo’s 2016 memoir Once Upon A Time In The East received the National Book Critics Circle Award in 2017 and was shortlisted for the RSL Ondaatje Prize. Her nonfiction Radical was published by Vintage (2023), followed by My Battle of Hastings. Her 2025 novel Call Me Ishmaelle is a retelling of Melville’s Moby Dick.
Her novels include A Concise Chinese-English Dictionary for Lovers (Shortlisted for the Women’s Prize), A Lover’s Discourse, and I Am China. Named as a Granta’s Best of Young British Novelist, she also directed a dozen films including UFO In Her Eyes. Her feature She, A Chinese received the Golden Leopard at the Locarno Film Festival 2009. She is a fellow of the Royal Society of Literature.
Q&A Session with 2026 Dublin Literary Award shortlisted author Brigitte Giraud, author of Live Fast, exploring the inspirations behind her novel.
VideoMay 12 2026
Laurent Binet – Perspective(s) Q&A
Check out our Q&A with Laurent Binet, author of shortlisted title Perspective(s), as he discusses the inspirations behind his work and reflects on the role libraries have played in shaping his journey
VideoMay 8 2026
Ali Smith – Gliff Q&A
Shortlisted author Ali Smith discusses the creative inspirations behind Gliff and reflects on the significance of libraries throughout her reading and writing life in our latest Q&A.
