Michael O'Donnell

Michael O'Donnell is the author of the novels Above the Fire and Concert Black. His writing appears in The New York Times, The Atlantic, The Wall Street Journal, and The Economist.

Canonical Contempt

Even in the 18th century, Edward Gibbon’s misogyny set him apart

By Michael O'Donnell | Monday June 1, 2026

Conjurer of Worlds

The writer who made fantasy history

By Michael O'Donnell | Monday December 1, 2025

The Egoist

When a Zen master loses his way

By Michael O'Donnell | Tuesday September 2, 2025

A Portrait of the Scholar

The life of Ireland’s towering literary figure became a work of art in its own right

By Michael O'Donnell | Thursday June 19, 2025

Canonical Contempt

By Michael O'Donnell | Monday June 1, 2026

Conjurer of Worlds

By Michael O'Donnell | Monday December 1, 2025

The Egoist

By Michael O'Donnell | Tuesday September 2, 2025

A Portrait of the Scholar

By Michael O'Donnell | Thursday June 19, 2025

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