Niall Williams gives us a legend of an Irish family, a family he owns as his own ancestors , the Foleys, in the harsh years of the Famine. Father Francis and his 4 sons have left their secure home on the estate of an absent landlord, after an argument between Francis and his wife Emer to seek a new home in the west. Francis is a bitter and arrogant man and his anger leads to the destruction of his family as his sons are scattered to the 4 winds.
The story follows each of the sons, and Francis, over years and continents as they travel and adventure. We see tragedy and love, plenty and starvation, death and birth. And far too much sorrow.
Eventually some of the members of the family are re-united and others learn the fate of those who wandered overseas and who have not returned.
Niall Williams language is beautifully lyrical, as in an ancient Irish fairy tale. One can almost hear the harp behind it, or the faintest of voices singing. The story itself is almost secondary to the lilt and sway of the language, so much so that I was really sorry when I finished this book. Great reading.
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