A Long Long Way by Sebastian Barry

I had the distinct pleasure of seeing Barry read from this recent novel on Thursday at Catholic University’s Irish Studies lecture series.  Barry is one of those rare writers who is equally skilled in poetry, drama, and fiction.  More importantly, Barry is one of those rare writers who reads his work exceptionally well.  He left his audience breathless, either with grief or laughter, time and again.  If you have a chance to see him read, don’t miss it.  I’ve seen a couple hundred readings in my life.  I think this was one of the best. 

The Booker-prize finalist of a book chronicles the last few years in the life of Willie Dunne, the child of a Dublin police officer.  Willie, whose father is a Catholic Unionist, volunteers to serve in the British Army in WWI.  While Willie is in the service of the Crown, the Irish Revolution gets underway with the Easter Rising, and the Irish reaction to Irish soldiers in the British Army changes dramatically.  Willie is forced to consider his feelings of Irishness, citizenship, loyalty to his father and ancestors, and the collapse of his engagement all while undergoing the terrors of  one of the bloodiest wars ever. 

Like most of Barry’s work, this book is a piece of family history.  It follows the same Dunne family that serves as the center of Annie Dunne (Willie’s sister) and  The Steward of Christendom (about Willie’s father).

Barry is reading again on Monday at Politics and Prose in DC.  Head there, whether you’ve read the book or not. 

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