John Banville: ‘I despise this ‘woke’ movement – it’s become a religious cult’

John Banville says he shivers at free speech under threat’. Photo: Gerry Mooney

Ciara O'Loughlin

IRISH author John Banville has said he “despises the woke movement” and likened it to a religious cult.

The former Booker Prize winner was asked at an event at the Hay Festival if he would be at a disadvantage in the awards because of "this current woke suspicion about white, straight men”.