Gavin McCrea and Declan Clark

On 20 July 2015, Gavin McCrea, author of Mrs Engels, was in conversation with Declan Clarke, a filmmaker, about their mutual subject Friedrich Engels as part of the fourth event in the Germany@Home series.

Gavin McCrea's first novel, Mrs Engels (2015), was shortlisted for the Desmond Elliot Prize and the Walter Scott Prize, and longlisted for the Guardian First Book Award. His second novel,The Sisters Mao (2021), received high acclaim internationally. His first work of non-fiction, Cells (2022), was chosen as a book of the year by The Observer, The Irish Times and the Irish Independent. His articles have appeared in The Paris Review, The Guardian, The Irish Times, The Dublin Review, Lithub and Catapult.
 
Declan Clarke was born in Dublin in 1974. He studied at the National College of Art and Design, Dublin, and Chelsea College of Arts, London. He works predominately in the medium of film, but has worked frequently with other media. His films reflect on everyday experiences and contrast these with grand narratives and explorations of the historical edifices of political power. Declan was shortlisted to represent Ireland in the 2013 Venice Biennale.