International Journal Of Literature And Languages
51
https://theusajournals.com/index.php/ijll
VOLUME
Vol.05 Issue02 2025
PAGE NO.
51-53
10.37547/ijll/Volume05Issue02-15
A brief overview of Colum M
ccann’s works and prose
style
Khajieva Feruza
Doctor of Science in Philological Sciences, Professor, Department of English Literary and Translation Studies, Foreign Languages
Faculty, Bukhara State University, Uzbekistan
Rakhimova Shakhnoza
MA student of Bukhara State University, Department of English Literary and Translation Studies, Foreign Languages Faculty, Bukhara
State University, Uzbekistan
Received:
21 December 2024;
Accepted:
23 January 2025;
Published:
25 February 2025
Abstract:
Colum McCann is a renowned Irish writer and the author of Let the Great World Spin, TransAtlantic, and
Apeirogon. His works explore important themes such as migration, historical memory, social inequality, and
human solidarity. McCann masterfully blends reality and fiction, creating poignant and profound stories that
resonate with readers worldwide. This article examines his style, key themes, and influence on contemporary
literature.
Keywords:
Colum McCann, contemporary literature, historical memory, migration, social inequality, Let the Great
World Spin, Apeirogon, TransAtlantic.
Introduction:
Colum McСann
was born on February 28,
1965 in Dublin, Ireland. He is the author of seven
novels, three short story collections, and two non-
fiction books. McCann was raised and educated in
Dublin before moving to the United States to pursue a
career as a writer. McCann began his career as a
journalist for The Irish Press. In the early 1980s, he
crossed North America by bicycle and worked as a
guide in a youth offender program in Texas. He later
spent a year and a half in Japan before moving to New
York City with his wife, Alison.
Colum McCann is the author of such acclaimed works
as: Let the Great World Spin, published in 2009. This
novel brought McCann worldwide recognition and
numerous awards, including the National Book Award
in the United States and the Best Foreign Novel Award
in China. In 2013, TransAtlantic was published, a novel
that became an international sensation and won
several international awards, including the Mondello
Citta de Palermo Prize in Italy.
Another famous novel by the writer, Apeirogon,
became an instant bestseller and won many
international awards, including the Prix Montluc, the
Elle Prize and the Jewish National Book Award in the
United States. The film rights to the book were acquired
by Steven Spielberg’s Amblin Company. His works have
been published in more than 40 languages and have
appeared in publications such as The New Yorker,
Esquire, Paris Review, Granta, The Atlantic Monthly and
many others.
Colum McCann is also the president and co-founder of
Narrative 4, a non-profit organization dedicated to the
global exchange of stories. Narrative 4 connects young
people from all over the world, helping them to “stand
in someone else’s shoes.” The organization operates in
21 countries and has facilitated almost a million story
exchanges between young people. Colum McCann
currently lives in New York City with his wife Alison and
their children. He teaches at Hunter College, where he
is the Thomas Hunter Writer in Residence. McCann is
also active in organizations such as the Irish Arts Centre,
The Irish Repertory Theatre, Origin Theatre, PEN, the
New York Public Library, Art for Amnesty and others.
METHOD
International Journal Of Literature And Languages
52
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International Journal Of Literature And Languages (ISSN: 2771-2834)
Colum McCann’s work is marked by a unique ability to
explore deep and multi-layered themes that span
diverse geographical and cultural contexts. His works
range from descriptions of homeless people in the New
York subways to complex stories related to the conflicts
in Northern Ireland and the aftermath of the tragic
events of September 11. McCann masterfully combines
poetic sophistication with a realistic depiction of
reality, which led to the emergence of the term “poetic
realism” to describe his style.
Through his novels and short stories, McCann
masterfully intertwines reality and fiction, creating
works that not only captivate, but also encourage
reflection on questions of existence. His creativity and
boldness in choosing his subjects make him one of the
most significant and influential writers of our time.
In his novel Apeirogon, these aspects are revealed
through the stories of Israeli Rami Elhanan and
Palestinian Bassam Aramin, who lost their daughters in
the conflict. Instead of seeking revenge, they seek
peace and justice, share their stories in public
speeches, dream of a safe and happy future for their
children, and find common ground, becoming symbols
of solidarity and reconciliation between the Israeli and
Palestinian communities.
Flannery also notes that “McCann’s concern for ideas
such as migration, displacement, the durable currency
of private stories, and racial politics resonate in much
of the more recent fictions, though based in radically
diverse geographies.” [1, 2] (Colum McCann and the
Aesthetics of Redemption) (McCann focuses on ideas
such as migration, displacement, the enduring
significance of personal stories, and racial politics,
which resonate in much of his recent work, albeit based
in radically diverse geographic contexts.)
These themes also feature prominently in Colum
McCann’s novel Let the Great World Spin, which
explores migration and displacement through the lives
of various characters trying to find their place in 1970s
New York City. McCann emphasizes the enduring
significance of personal stories, linking them to larger
historical events and social changes through multiple
plot lines in the novel. The central event of the novel is
French tightrope walker Philippe Petit’s legendary walk
between the World Trade Center towers. This daring
act becomes a symbol of hope and excitement for the
city’s inhabitants, linking their destinies against the
backdrop of one of the most significant events of the
time. In a new storyline centered on the brother of the
late priest Coramba, the character decides to care for
the homeless and drug addicted in the New York City
subways. His mission symbolizes the desire for
redemption and change despite personal loss and
suffering.
A storyline centered on Tilly, an African-American
heroine of origin, and her daughter Jazmine, shows
their struggle with systemic racial discrimination and
social inequality. McCann describes their lives with
deep empathy, showing the difficulties and injustices
they face, but also their strength and resilience. In the
story of Clara and Solomon, a couple who lost their son
in the Vietnam War, their personal tragedy is
intertwined with the social and political changes of the
time, showing how historical events affect individual
destinies. In the storyline dedicated to artists and
former drug addicts Lara and Blaine, they experience a
crisis in their relationship and search for new meaning
in life. Their stories reflect themes of redemption and
personal change against the backdrop of turbulent
times. As such, Let the Great World Spin serves as a
wonderful example of how McCann explores themes of
migration, change, personal histories, and racial
politics, connecting the destinies of various characters
to major historical events and social changes.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, it is worth noting that Colum McCann is
one of the most important contemporary writers who
explores complex and profound themes in his works.
His novels and short stories intertwine historical events
and personal stories, allowing readers to take a fresh
look at important issues of our time. McCann skillfully
combines poetic sophistication with a realistic
depiction of reality, which led to the coining of the term
“poetic realism” to describe his style. His works are not
only fascinating, but also make you think about
important questions of life. McCann is also actively
involved in public life, supporting various charities and
projects. His unique creative approach makes his works
meaningful and relevant to readers around the world,
while maintaining a deep connection with Irish culture
and history. McCann continues to contribute to world
literature by exploring themes that have global
significance and showing how history and personal
stories can intertwine to create multi-layered and
profound narratives.
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