Phil McDaragh is a charismatic and egotistical Irish poet, whose fame depends on his portrayal of women and his image as a man of the people. The novel follows his daughter Nell, a writer who is trying to find her own voice, and her daughter Carmel, a young woman struggling to cope with her mother's pain. Anne Enright uses the story to look at the legacy of a cruel father, the pull of poetry, and the passing of damage between generations. The prose is sharp and rhythmic.
It suits readers who like Irish fiction about families and the cost of art. It rewards careful, slow reading.
Deep, inward-looking, contemplative and thought-provoking; a moderate read.
Best for readers like The Wisdom Collector. Which reader are you?
- Published
- 2023
- Language
- EN
