Cultural Life: Sebastian Barry, novelist

Books

I wonder what it would take to get everyone to read Harry Clifton's perfect collection of poems, Secular Eden: Paris Notebooks? How he made every poem in these 200 pages as clear as birdsong and deep as you like is anyone's guess.

Film

Every so often I have a dekko at Les Vacances de Monsieur Hulot by Jacques Tati (1953) – even the soundtrack has its own strange magic. The scene where he learns how to serve at tennis from the kiosk owner who hasn't a clue, and then goes on to win the game using the daft serve; or where he goes into the shed full of fireworks with a naked flame, and sets off the fireworks...

Television

I was entranced a couple of years ago by the shining adaptation of Bleak House (BBC), as I am sure everyone was. In particular it was that whole question of true identity and hidden parentage that gripped me, as if I were considering it for the first time.

Theatre

Not so long ago I went to see Conor McPherson's Shining City in New York and was gobsmacked by its truth and ferocity. I walked back the few miles to the apartment where I was picking up my family to get the plane back to Ireland and nearly had us all missing the flight.

Visual arts

I was deeply privileged recently to be in Felim Egan's studio before one of his London exhibitions, because I was to do the programme note. He is like a Renaissance painter, except his iconography is entirely his own. He is the painter I feel is closest to the writers of my generation in a very curious and inspiring way.

Sebastian Barry's 'The Secret Scripture', published by Faber and Faber, is longlisted for the Man Booker Prize. His play 'Dallas Sweetman' will be performed at Canterbury Cathedral from 24-28 September