Sebastian Barry is an Irish novelist, playwright, and poet renowned for his literary prowess. Having begun his literary journey as a poet, Barry soon ventured into the realm of theatre and novel-writing. His nuanced and dense writing style has established him as one of Ireland's most distinguished contemporary writers.

Barry's work has earned him significant recognition, including being shortlisted twice for the Man Booker Prize for his novels A Long Long Way (2005) and The Secret Scripture (2008). The latter not only garnered the Costa Book of the Year award but also claimed the James Tait Black Memorial Prize. His novel On Canaan's Side (2011) was longlisted for the Booker Prize, further cementing his status in the literary world. In a groundbreaking achievement, Barry won the Costa Book of the Year prize for a second time in 2017 with Days Without End, making him the first novelist to win this prestigious accolade twice.

Barry's extensive body of work includes notable plays such as The Steward of Christendom and significant novels like Annie Dunne and On Canaan's Side. In recognition of his contributions to literature, he was appointed the Laureate for Irish Fiction for the term 2019–2021.