John Banville's 'Dublin memoir' coming this autumn

Hachette Books Ireland is publishing Man Booker Prize-winning novelist John Banville's "Dublin memoir", Time Pieces, this autumn.

The book, accompanied by images, will be a "poignant ode to Dublin" as well as a "vivid evocation of childhood and memory" exploring Banville's formative years, when he used to visit Dublin on his birthday as a boy, and returning to it aged 18 as "an aspiring writer on a resolute journey".

The book will alternate between vignette's of Banville's past - for example when he lived in a "grand but now dilapidated" flat on Upper Mount Street, where he "wrote and dreamed and hoped" - and present-day historical explorations of the city.

The prose will be accompanied by images of the city by photographer Paul Joyce, a long-time friend of Banville's.

Commissioning editor Ciara Considine acquired UK and Commonwealth rights through Ed Victor.

She said: "We are delighted to be publishing this unique book. As an evocation of time, place and memory it is unparalleled, giving fascinating insight into the burgeoning young writer, along with the freedom and sense of possibility that Dublin represented to him at a formative time. It is a tender and captivating read, and the accompanying images illustrate its singular perspective beautifully."

Time Pieces: A Dublin Memoir by Banville publishes on 20th October, in hardback and e-book, priced £24.99.