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The Secret Scripture: A Novel

The Secret Scripture: A Novel

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The Secret Scripture: A Novel

by Barry, Sebastian

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ISBN 10
0143115693
ISBN 13
9780143115694
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Synopsis

An epic story of family, love, and unavoidable tragedy from the two-time Man Booker Prize finalist Sebastian Barry 's novels have been hugely admired by readers and critics, and in 2005 his novel A Long Long Way was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize. In The Secret Scripture , Barry revisits County Sligo, Ireland, the setting for his previous three books, to tell the unforgettable story of Roseanne McNulty. Once one of the most beguiling women in Sligo, she is now a resident of Roscommon Regional Mental Hospital and nearing her hundredth year. Set against an Ireland besieged by conflict, The Secret Scripture is an engrossing tale of one woman's life, and a vivid reminder of the stranglehold that the Catholic church had on individuals throughout much of the twentieth century.

Reviews

On Oct 7 2022, a reader said:
The Secret Scripture is the seventh stand-alone novel by Irish author, Sebastian Barry. Against the background of the imminent closure of an Irish mental facility, an ageing psychiatrist reviews his remaining patients for suitability to re-enter the community at large. Dr William Grene, Senior Pyschiatrist at Roscommon Regional Mental Hospital, is particularly concerned about hundred-year-old Roseanne McNulty, suspecting that her sectioning some sixty-plus years ago, like many others of that era, may have been based on social convenience rather than psychiatric need.

Barry sets up his story as twin narrations: "Dr Grene's Commonplace Book" is meant to contain a professional account of the last days of the hospital, but Will includes his personal observations about Roseanne McNulty and the results of his investigations into her admission as well as events, past and present, in his own life; "Roseanne's Testimony of Herself" is a secret memoir that Roseanne writes and keeps hidden, detailing events in her life leading up to her sectioning, along with present day happenings. This novel has a marvellous cast of characters, credible dialogue and a brilliant plot.

Astute readers will have twigged to the who and what of the mystery half-way through the novel, but this in no way reduces the enjoyment or the compulsion to continue reading Barry's beautiful prose for the how and why. Barry touches on many topics including the chequered history of mental institutions, the Irish Civil War, the power of the Catholic Church in 20th century Ireland and whether there is such a thing as factual truth (or does it all depend on the accuracy of a person's memory?). This was a great read and I will be looking for the companion works to this one that Barry has written: The Whereabouts of Eneas McNulty, and Our Lady of Sligo.

This unbiased review is from a copy provided by NetGalley and Faber & Faber

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Details

Bookseller
BookCorner COM LLC US (US)
Bookseller's Inventory #
52YZZZ00MQD6_ns
Title
The Secret Scripture: A Novel
Author
Barry, Sebastian
Book Condition
New New
Quantity Available
1
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 10
0143115693
ISBN 13
9780143115694
Publisher
Penguin Books
Place of Publication
New York
This edition first published
2009-04

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Seller rating:
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