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The Truth Must Dazzle Gradually

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The Truth Must Dazzle Gradually

By: Helen Cullen
Narrated by: Gerry O'Brien
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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

AN IMMERSIVE AND HEARTFELT EXPLORATION OF FAMILY AND LOVE

'A beautiful bittersweet story of love, loss and families all set in the most irresistible of locations. Tears were shed!'
Graham Norton

'A moving and powerful novel from one of Ireland's finest new writers' John Boyne

****

On an island off the west coast of Ireland, the Moone family are shattered by tragedy.


Murtagh Moone is a potter and devoted husband to Maeve, an actor struggling with her most challenging role yet - being a mother to their four children. Now Murtagh must hold his family close as we bear witness to their story before that tragic night.

We return to the day Maeve and Murtagh meet, outside Trinity College in Dublin, and watch how one love story gives rise to another. And as the Moone children learn who their parents truly are, we journey onwards with them to a future that none of the Moones could predict . . .

Except perhaps Maeve herself.

The Truth Must Dazzle Gradually is a celebration of the complex, flawed and stubbornly optimistic human heart.

Longlisted for the Guardian's 'Not The Booker' prize!

PRAISE FOR THE TRUTH MUST DAZZLE GRADUALLY

'I devoured this, falling in love with the setting and with every character. It is just glorious. A close-up on the everyday beautiful details that make up love' Emma Flint, author of Little Deaths

'Loved it. Beautiful and original'
Sunday Independent

'Cullen is a thoughtful writer and she dissects the stubborn optimism of the human heart with skill and sympathy' Irish Independent

'A perfect combination of deeply-felt tragedy with great hopefulness'
Anne Youngson, author of Meet me at the Museum

'A beautifully observed saga of abandoned dreams, loss and self-discovery. A fabulous creation'
Alan McGonagle, author of Ithaca

'So wonderful on the Irish family and the utter complexity of motherhood, family entanglement and love. I was full on weeping at the end'
Elaine Feeney, author of As You Were

© Helen Cullen 2020 (P) Penguin Audio 2020

20th Century Family Life Fiction Genre Fiction Historical Historical Fiction Literary Fiction Women's Fiction Heartfelt Tear-jerking

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Critic reviews

A beautiful bittersweet story of love, loss and families all set in the most irresistible of locations. Tears were shed! (Graham Norton)
A moving and powerful novel from one of Ireland's finest new writers (John Boyne)
Such a true gift of a novel, with its sumptuous forward momentum, and rare precision, and inspired imagery. The Truth Must Dazzle Gradually generates a very bright light, one that is human, graceful, and healing. It's an absolute pleasure to read (Sebastian Barry)
Just loved it . . . so moving on motherhood, depression, family ties and Ireland (Annie Macmanus)
A beautiful story. I was gripped and held in a state of love for all the characters (Sarah Winman, Sunday Times bestselling author of Tin Man)
I devoured this, falling in love with the setting and with every character - and when I reached the end, I wept. It is just glorious. A sweeping family safe and, at the same time, a close-up on the everyday beautiful details that make up love (Emma Flint, author of Little Deaths)
We are seduced by the story of the star-crossed lovers
Cullen's quietly devastating second novel is both a family saga and a careful exploration of the reality of living with mental health issues
A beautiful meditation on family life in Ireland (Elaine Feeney, Irish Times)
An extremely moving read. Handles the complexities of love, grief, family life and mental illness with sensitivity and depth. A truly gorgeous novel. (Ali Land, author of Good Me, Bad Me)
All stars
Most relevant
Such an addictive listen - a beautiful story and a pleasure to listen to. 🇮🇪
I laughed and cried - my ideal kind of story.

Couldn’t stop listening!

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Well written story of a family living off the coast of Ireland. Small communities, gossip and life. Easy listening but gripping storyline, sad in parts and and very real in others. Glad I listened to it. Narrator was very good

A story of family, sadness & truth

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A book that can help those not so afflicted understand serious mental illness, this is a memorable read with bursts of poetic prose, wry humour and mature understanding illuminating a not-quite-fully-credible story. The narration is warm, beautiful and perfectly paced.

Fathoming deep depression

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I really enjoyed this book. It's going on my recommendations for fiends list for sure.

Such a beautifully narrated book.

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I fell in love with the elegance of the writing! The sentences were beautifully constructed and every feeling deeply rested with me.

Tender hearted and beautiful!

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