I am indebted to Donal Kennedy for passing this link to a review of Sebastien Barry’s latest novel. I’ve read several of Barry’s novel and have indeed been swept away on their tide of lyricism. I’ve even shared a TV screen with him on Channel 4 News, when Jon Snow asked for our respective takes on the visit to Dublin that day of the queen. No need to say that we differed somewhat. (You can find it in the ‘Radio and TV appearances’ section.
Anyway, here’s the link. The reviewer know how to write too…
http://www.spectator.co.uk/2016/10/sebastian-barrys-sensitivity-to-anguished-humanity-is-too-self-regarding/?utm_source=Adestra&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=20161015_Culture_House_39
Like the music of Gustav Mahler – it wallows in tragedy.
The good thing about reading Barry or listening to Mahler – its a great relief to stop!
I agree!