NOVELIST, PLAYWRIGHT and short-story writer William Trevor is to be honoured at this year's Irish Book Awards with the Bob Hughes Lifetime Achievement Award in Irish Literature.
Trevor has been chosen by his colleagues and peers for his celebrated contribution to Irish literature, and will receive the award from Man Booker Prize-winning author Anne Enright at the awards, which take place on April 24th in the Round Room at the Mansion House in Dublin.
Trevor was born in 1928 in Mitchelstown, Co Cork, and spent his childhood in rural Ireland.
He was educated at St Columba's College, Co Dublin, and Trinity College, where he received a degree in history. He emigrated to England in 1954.
Before becoming a full-time writer in 1965, he was a successful sculptor and has exhibited frequently in Dublin and London.
Trevor has published nearly 40 novels, short story collections, plays and collections of non-fiction.
He has received many accolades throughout his career, including an honorary CBE, given in 1977 for his services to literature; three Whitbread Awards; and an honorary knighthood in recognition of his services to literature which he received in 2002.
He has won three prestigious O Henry Awards, after these were opened to non-American authors after 2002, taking prizes for his stories Sacred Statues(2002), The Dressmaker's Child(2006) and The Room(2007).
William Trevor is also a member of the Irish Academy of Letters and of Aosdána, a group of 250 Irish artists who have produced a distinguished body of work.
Alastair Giles, executive director of the Irish Book Awards, said that he believed Trevor was a truly worthy recipient of the award.