A horrible, poetic and beautiful account of one man’s war. WExquisitely written, wonderfully narrated.

Wonderful writing again from Sebastian Barry. My favourite to date. Visited Ypres and battlefields last year and this brought it to life painfully and poignantly. Bravo.

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An Irish story

I was some what relived it was over,no more would I listen to my heroes plight.
A real story of Ireland's once forgotten heroes, who gave there lives for the common man, may once more see the roses of Picardy.
And here am I a hundred years after Little Wilily and can honestly say that my balls! will never hang as low as Wilily's and his Brothers!!

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2 people found this helpful

No. Words can express the haunting tragic pain of this story

Sebastian is a true poet novelist and master of his art. Beautifully written and gut wrenchingly expressive of the horrors and futility of war. My grandfather was there and emerged a broken man and this tells me why. I liked the narration because it was always in the background of the words and the story. The reader did not intrude. I thought it was perfectly read with the humility of the narrator to the story.

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Tragic tale in the finest Irish literary tradition

Emotional tale of Irish soldier in the First World War, though the main character accepts all setbacks stoically.

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A terrible beauty

The beauty of the writing and the wonderful narration, bring home all the horrors of the Great War, and of all wars. it's difficult to listen to at times, but so powerful that you just keep going. I read this as a book, a number of years ago. The story is still as fresh and compelling. Everyone should read or listen to this book, but it is not a Beach Read.

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One of the best.....

This book was a seminal read for me and being an ex squaddie with a family member who was gassed in 1915 made it all the more so.
Probably the most visceral and graphic novel I’ve read on WW1, and with it being woven around the Irish Troubles of the time brought a a different perspective on young lads and their loyalties.
Rarely has a book moved me as much. Kudos to the author.

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5 people found this helpful

A moving and beautiful book

Beautifully written in Barry's inimitable Irish voice. A story of the Irish in WW1 and their lives at home and at war, that gave this Englishman a better understanding and respect.

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Visceral and moving

Sebastian Barry’s story centres on a a handful of individuals and their experiences in the First World War. I loved the narration which is well paced and sympathetic, even when events are distressing.

I think the descriptions of real life in the trenches, including conscientious objectors, assaults by Allied troops on civilian women, the horror of shelling and much more, are some of the most harrowing and moving I’ve ever read. It’s often uncomfortable, but Barry has a knack of drawing on humour and common sense to make this a lively and compelling read. It comes across Asan honest reflection of how ordinary young men went into and dealt with the abominations of war, beyond their control. Memorable and enduring.

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Such a vivid, gutting book

The language is evocative and we feel what they feel- this will stay with me as an account of war always.
For students of history and english- a landmark lesson.
And for the Irish... and those who might interestedly explore their contribution to the Great War... walk in their steps with John Cormack- whose selection as narrator is spot on!

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One of the best novels about 1914-18 war I’ve read.

These islands may not have experienced the same devastation of countries on the European mainland but life would be fundamentally changed by it (plus “Spanish” flu, which doesn’t feature in this book.) While Irish soldiers fought in the trenches, their country was in turmoil, which adds an extra tragic dimension to the story of Willie Dunne. Though I know a lot about Irish history and about the Great War I hadn’t really connected these into a coherent story.

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2 people found this helpful