< I read this after reading the Secret Scripture by the same author and the two stories are linked. Barry wrote this about 10 years before the recently published and prize winning Secret Scripture and it contains the back stories of some of the characters in the later book. It tells the story of Eneas McNulty who is forced to leave his home in Sligo during the Irish Civil War as he had previuosly been a member of the Royal Irish Constabulary and is now considered a traitor and on a list to be assassinated by the IRA. It shows how the political turmoil in Ireland during the Civil War and early Free State period divided families and friends. It is also a story of survival and the human spirit. I loved it and I love Barry's writing and use of language which evokes the cadence of the west of Ireland speech.
I then went on to read Annie Dunne by Sebastian Barry which is linked to Long Long Way which I reviewed a couple of weeks ago. Once again beautifully written and this time set in a time of chnage in Ireland in the early 1950s.
I highly recommend Sebastian Barry and I hope he doesn't take too long to write his next novel. I've now read them all!
