The Lilliput Press, in collaboration with Photo Museum Ireland, has published "Scribendi – Irish Writers: 1985-2025" by acclaimed photographer Steve Pyke, featuring more than 100 portraits and interviews with Ireland's most prominent contemporary writers. The comprehensive collection showcases literary luminaries ranging from Nobel Prize winner Seamus Heaney to rising star Louise Kennedy, and from Booker Prize winner Anne Enright to legendary author Edna O'Brien.

Pyke, who received an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) in 2003, explains his deep connection to Irish literature and his motivation for the project. "I come from the English Midlands, but I became a photographer in Ireland. I took my first portraits in Dublin in the early 1980s. It immediately became clear to me how important Irish writers are to their country," Pyke writes in the book. His journey began with one of his earliest portrait sessions in 1985, photographing writer Neil Jordan in his first London studio.

Over the following four decades, Pyke systematically documented Irish writers whose works captivated him personally. "I have photographed the Irish writers whose books have thrilled me," he explains. His early subjects included literary giants Seamus Heaney, Edna O'Brien, and John McGahern, establishing a foundation for what would become a remarkable chronicle of Irish literary talent. More recent journeys led him to capture the next generation of authors, including Anne Enright, Kevin Barry, and Louise Kennedy.

The photographer's approach to his subjects reflects both personal passion and historical consciousness. "I photographed these people because I had read their books, because I admired them and wanted to meet them, but also to keep a record for posterity," Pyke states. He believes that the visual representation of these writers serves a deeper purpose, explaining that "their faces can convey to others something of the feeling and way of thinking behind their words."

Steve Pyke MBE brings impressive credentials to this ambitious project, having authored nine books including "I Could Read The Sky" (Harvill), "Philosophers" (Oxford University Press), and "Poguetry" (Faber). His photography has earned numerous distinctions, and his work has been exhibited at prestigious institutions including the National Portrait Galleries in both London and Washington, D.C., among other major museums. From 2004 to 2014, he served as a staff portraitist for The New Yorker magazine.

An exhibition curated by Trish Lambe was presented earlier this month at Photo Museum Ireland, showcasing selections from the collection. The hardcover book "Steve Pyke: Scribendi – Irish Writers: 1985-2025" is now available through The Lilliput Press for $47.00 USD (ISBN: 9781843519485), offering readers an intimate look at four decades of Irish literary excellence through Pyke's distinctive photographic lens.