MacLaverty, Bernard (1942– )

Irish writer. Born in Belfast, MacLaverty worked there as a medical technician before studying English and eventually settling in Glasgow. His prose is often dedicated to vexed relationships between lovers, families, and communities. Starting his career with short stories, he is best known for his novel of tragic love Cal (1983) and his masterful portrait of a female composer in Grace Notes (1997). His style is marked by a delicacy that bespeaks an intense respect for human emotions and frailties. Other works include Lamb (1980), The Anatomy School (2001), and the short story collection Walking the Dog, and Other Stories (1994).