Acclaimed author Martina Devlin delights Waterford audiences

Author Martina Devlin joined Waterford City and County Librarian Mary Conway, for the first Writers at Waterford Libraries event of 2025, in Central Library recently to discuss her latest book, 'Charlotte', and her life in writing.

Martina Devlin is an author and newspaper columnist who has written nine novels, two non-fiction books, two plays and a collection of short stories.

Her latest novel, 'Charlotte', explores Charlotte Brontë’s Irish connections.

Martina enthralled the audience of almost 80 people in Central Library with the stories of her research into Charlotte Bronte and the background to the book. She gave a very interesting insight into the life of Charlotte and her Irish husband, Arthur Bell Nicols, as well as recounting detail of the second marriage of Arthur to his cousin Mary Bell.

Other novels from Martina include 'Edith', about the Irish RM co-author, Edith Somerville, and 'The House Where It Happened', about a mass witchcraft trial in Co Antrim in 1711, which led to a plaque being erected to commemorate those convicted, following a campaign she initiated.

Her work has won many prizes including the Royal Society of Literature’s VS Pritchett Prize and a Hennessy Literary Award, and she has been shortlisted three times for the Irish Book Awards. Martina writes a weekly national newspaper column and her journalism led to her being named National Newspapers of Ireland commentator of the year, among other journalism prizes. She holds a PhD in literary practice from Trinity College Dublin and is currently a judge on the Dublin Literary Award.

Mary Conway, Waterford City and County Librarian, said after the recent event: “It was an absolute pleasure to engage Martina Devlin in conversation about her work and it was clear to me how interested the audience were by their complete attention throughout the whole event.”