Page X: Ambassador's pick – the key to Irish literature

With a population of just 5 million, Ireland has produced four Nobel laureates in literature – William Butler Yeats, George Bernard Shaw, Samuel Beckett and Seamus Heaney – alongside literary giants like James Joyce. This remarkable legacy reflects Ireland's deep-rooted storytelling tradition and rich cultural heritage.

Nicholas O'Brien, ambassador of Ireland to China, highlights essential Irish classics – from Joyce's vivid tales of Dublin to Yeats' lyrical poetry and Beckett's groundbreaking dramas. These timeless works capture the spirit of Ireland: lyrical, witty and profoundly human.

Explore the brilliance of Irish literature through the ambassador's curated selection of its greatest masterpieces.

About PAGE X

PAGE X invites guests from diverse fields to share a single excerpt from one of their favorite books. Through their interpretations, the program offers the public online access to some of the world's greatest intellectual works – helping audiences rediscover the enduring charm of reading.

Edited by Zhang Yuying

Cover designed by Yin Yating