Hugo Hamilton was born and grew up in Dublin. He is the author of five highly acclaimed novels: Surrogate City, The Last Shot, The Love Test, Headbanger and Sad Bastard; and one collection of short stories. He has worked as a writer-in-residence at many leading universities, including most recently at Trinity College, Dublin. His memoir The Speckled People, an account of growing up as a German-Irish child in the Ireland of the '50s and '60s, won the prestigious Prix Feminina Etranger in France, as well as the Berto Prize in Italy, and appeared on the New York Times notable books list. Hamilton subsequently adapted it for the stage, and it was first produced for the stage at the Gate theatre, Dublin, in 2011.
