The News from Dublin: Stories

by Colm Tóibín

From Colm Tóibín, “one of the world’s best living literary writers” (The Boston Globe), comes a brilliant collection of eleven short stories, many never-before-published, set across Ireland, Spain, and America—about the complexities of family, longing, loss, and love.

Celebrated as “his generation’s most gifted writer of love’s complicated, contradictory power” (Los Angeles Times), Colm Tóibín is a master of short fiction as well as the novel, able to summon an extraordinary intensity of emotion in a brief tale. The eleven stories transport readers across continents and eras.

In “The Journey to Galway,” a mother who has learned of the death of her son, a fighter pilot in WWII, travels to Galway to inform his wife and their three now fatherless children. “Sleep,” originally published in The New Yorker, explores the rift between two lovers as one of them cannot reckon with his grief and fear after the death of his brother. Death, again, is a central character in the title story, “The News from Dublin,” as Maurice Webster travels to Dublin to try to save his younger brother who is dying of tuberculosis. Maurice must petition the health minister for access to a new experimental drug, and this is the only hope.

Tóibín’s stories are rich with the complexities of family dynamics, the haunting pull of the past, and the quiet revelations that define our lives. His characters, whether navigating the aftermath of war, or forbidden love, or the desires of a girl in Catalan, or the quiet struggles mundane life, are rendered with illuminating, unforgettable empathy and insight.

The News from Dublin is an exquisite introduction to Tóibín’s short fiction for new readers who may have discovered Tóibín with the publication of Long Island, and a glorious new collection for longtime fans of this “achingly beautiful writer…with infinite compassion” (The Miami Herald).

Genres: Short Stories, Fiction, Ireland

304 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication March 31, 2026

About the author

Colm Tóibín FRSL, is an Irish novelist, short story writer, essayist, playwright, journalist, critic, and poet. Tóibín is currently Irene and Sidney B. Silverman Professor of the Humanities at Columbia University in Manhattan and succeeded Martin Amis as professor of creative writing at the University of Manchester.

Reviews

[Nina · Rating 4 out of 5]

The News from Dublin is a gentle and thoughtful collection of stories. Colm Tóibín writes about everyday people dealing with love, loss, and change, using clear and calm language. The stories are quiet but full of feeling, and they leave you thinking about the characters long after you finish reading.

[Angelie Cleaver · Rating 2 out of 5]

The News from Dublin is a collection of short stories. This is my first book by Colm Tóibín and will likely be it for me. Some of the short stories were interesting, some were rather unpleasant. This was not for me.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The News From Dublin" by Colm Toibin is a collection of short stories. I would actually consider the last story the size of a book. He writes of characters I either root for or not so good people. But they are about families and the difficulties and good involved in relatives. LIked some stories more than others. but a pretty good read. I would give this book a 3.5.

[Stephanie Nichols · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought that these were beautiful sometimes incredible emotional, stories, about relatable characters. I personally really enjoy short story format books, so this was a great fit. This was my first read by Colm Toibin, and I really enjoyed it. I'm looking forward to reading more from this author!

[Ali · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this collection of stories. Writing a short story that captures your interest is an art, Colm Tóibín manages it so well here. He has an ability to combine plot and character, together with deep emotion. I’ll definitely be seeking out more of his short stories.