Kevin Maher (writer)
{{Short description|Irish writer and film critic (born 1972)}}
{{Use British English|date=October 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2021}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Kevin Maher
| image =
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{birth year and age|1972}}
| birth_place = Dublin, Ireland
| education = University College Dublin
| occupation = {{hlist|Writer|film critic}}
| employer =The Times
| years_active = 1994–present
| children = 3
| website = {{URL|thetimes.co.uk/profile/kevin-maher}}
}}
Kevin Maher (born 1972) is an Irish writer. He is currently employed as a film critic at The Times.{{Cite web|title=Kevin Maher {{!}} The Times & The Sunday Times|url=https://www.thetimes.com/profile/kevin-maher?page=1|access-date=2021-10-13|website=The Times}} His work has appeared in The Guardian, The Independent, and The Observer. His debut novel, The Fields, was published by Reagan Arthur Books in 2013.{{Cite web|last=O'Malley|first=J. P.|title=Interview with a writer: Kevin Maher {{!}} The Spectator|url=https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/interview-with-a-writer-kevin-maher|access-date=2021-11-02|website=The Spectator|language=en|archive-date=2 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211102021222/https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/interview-with-a-writer-kevin-maher|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/entertainment/articles/2013-04/24/kevin-maher-the-fields-interview |title=A life well read: Kevin Maher talks similarities between fact and fiction |last1=Burton |first1=Charlie |date=24 April 2013 |publisher=GQ |accessdate=July 20, 2013 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130522011131/http://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/entertainment/articles/2013-04/24/kevin-maher-the-fields-interview |archivedate=22 May 2013 }} It was listed in the 2013 Waterstones 11, a literary book prize aimed at promoting debut authors.
Early life
Maher was born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1972.{{Cite web|title=Kevin Maher {{!}} United Agents|url=https://www.unitedagents.co.uk/kevin-maher|access-date=2021-10-13|website=www.unitedagents.co.uk}} His family was lower middle class Catholics. His grandfather was a fighter in the Irish War of Independence in Tipperary. He graduated from University College Dublin in 1994, with an MA degree in film. During his graduation, he wrote for university magazines.{{Cite web|date=2019-10-04|title=Kevin Maher on how his university magazine made his career|url=https://dev.epigram.org.uk/kevin-maher-university-magazine/|access-date=2021-10-13|website=Epigram|archive-date=24 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211024173115/https://dev.epigram.org.uk/kevin-maher-university-magazine/|url-status=live}}
Career
After graduating, Maher moved to London, England, in 1994, to focus on journalism. Before starting his career as a film critic, he worked as a waiter for several years.{{Cite web|title="The Fields," by Kevin Maher|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/the-fields-by-kevin-maher/|access-date=2021-10-13|website=www.cbsnews.com|language=en-US|archive-date=28 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211028170446/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/the-fields-by-kevin-maher/|url-status=live}} He wrote for The Face{{Cite web|title=Kevin Maher Books|url=https://www.hachette.com.au/kevin-maher/|access-date=2021-10-13|website=www.hachette.com.au}} and Time Out before joining The Times. He took a year off in 2001 after having his first child and in 2002, he first approached The Times to write for it. He joined the newspaper in 2004.{{Cite web|last=www.clock.co.uk|first=Clock Limited-|title=Understanding cinema: how to think like a film critic|url=https://www.mytimesplus.co.uk/courses/understanding-cinema-how-to-think-like-a-film-critic|access-date=2021-10-13|website=Times+|language=en}} Since then, he has been writing reviews and weekly columns for it. He has interviewed directors including Spike Lee,{{Cite news|last=Maher|first=Kevin|title=Interview: Spike Lee on Da 5 Bloods, his new Vietnam war film|newspaper=The Times |language=en|url=https://www.thetimes.com/culture/film/article/interview-spike-lee-on-da-5-bloods-his-new-vietnam-war-film-x3q7pmplr|access-date=2021-11-01|issn=0140-0460}} Martin Scorsese, and Dennis Hopper.
Maher worked as a researcher on the Channel 4 show Film Night. He also conducted an online course in film criticism for The Times.
Writing style
Maher believes that being true to oneself is an important trait for all young writers. In interviews, he has stated that he avoids writing reviews based on discussions with his peer critics, believing they should be written exclusively from one's own perspective. His reviews are often contrary to critical consensus.
Personal life
Maher lives in Hertfordshire, England, along with his three children and wife.
Bibliography
References
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