Alice McDermott

Alice McDermott is an American author and educator recognized for her critically acclaimed literary fiction exploring Irish American identity, family life, and Catholic experience in contemporary America. She serves as the Professor for Distinguished Teaching in the Humanities at Johns Hopkins University - private research university, where she is known for both her scholarship and her commitment to literary education.

McDermott is the author of eight novels. Among her most recent works are “The Ninth Hour,” a story examining faith, community, and memory across generations, and “Someone,” a The New York Times - newspaper bestseller that was a finalist for several major literary honors, including the International Dublin Literary Award (often called the Dublin IMPAC Award), the National Book Critics Circle Award - literary award organization, the Dayton Literary Peace Prize - literary award, and the National Book Award - American literary prize longlist.

Earlier in her career, McDermott earned widespread recognition for several of her novels being finalists for the Pulitzer Prize. These include “After This,” “At Weddings and Wakes,” and “That Night.” Her novel “Charming Billy” won the National Book Award - American literary prize for fiction in 1998 and was also a finalist for the Dublin IMPAC Award, the PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction - American literary award, and the Los Angeles Times Book Prize - literary award.

McDermott’s shorter works, including stories, essays, and reviews, have appeared in major publications such as The New Yorker - magazine, The New York Times - newspaper, The Washington Post - newspaper, Harper's Magazine - American publication, and Commonweal - Catholic opinion magazine. She has received several honors for her literary contributions, including the Whiting Writers Award - literary fellowship, the Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Fiction? (if referring to the Carington Award, please verify official title), and the F. Scott Fitzgerald Award for American Literature - literary honor.

In 2013, she was inducted into the New York State Writers Hall of Fame - literary recognition program, honoring her lasting influence on American letters. McDermott’s work is widely praised for its lyrical prose, emotional depth, and exploration of ordinary lives shaped by history, faith, and community.