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Days Without End cover art

Days Without End

By: Sebastian Barry
Narrated by: Aidan Kelly
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Summary

Having signed up for the US Army in the 1850s, aged barely 17, Thomas McNulty and his brother-in-arms, John Cole, go on to fight in the Indian wars and ultimately the Civil War. Orphans of terrible hardships themselves, despite the horrors they both see and are complicit in, they find these days to be vivid.

Both an intensely poignant story of two men and the lives they are dealt and a fresh look at some of the most fateful years in America's past.

©2016 Sebastian Barry (P)2016 W.F. Howes Ltd

Critic reviews

"[Barry's] words have a stony allure of the Irish poets and the lyrical pull of an epic storyteller." ( The Boston Globe)
"Sebastian Barry's handling of voice and cadence is masterly. His fictional universe is filled with life, quiet truth, and exquisite intimacy." (Colm Tóibín, author of the Costa Novel Award-winning Brooklyn)

What listeners say about Days Without End

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Beautiful

Sebastian Barry has long been a literary hero of mine, ever since the Secret Scripture. In Days Without End he has taken the sack of native America (much of it at the behest of Irish soldiers, who were themselves oppressed by Cromwell; the irony is not left unsaid) and laid upon it the most incredible love stories. Those that transcend blood and 'nature' and are accepted without prejudice by most who witness it. It is lyrical and brutal and majestic in scale and I loved it.

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18 people found this helpful

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Great book, great voice actor!

A beautiful story with a great voice actor reading the book. The book touched me deeply.

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A Masterpiece of story telling

A stunning story and narration. I read the print version in 2017 and found it to be a breathtaking accomplishment. This narrated version brought even more life to these characters. I can't praise it highly enough. I know I will listen to this again.

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I was surprised how much I enjoyed this book

I didn't know this author but the story line looked interesting and I decided to give it a go and I loved it. Barry has such a way with words, describing characters and scenes so succinctly and so beautifully. The relationship between the narrator and John Cole is so tenderly portrayed and I shall never hear the name 'Winona" without thinking of the lovely little girl, trapped between her natural and her adoptive families.

Two poor Irishmen leave Ireland during the famine for the US and miraculously survive the crossing. They join the army and fight during the war of Independence, suffering hardship all along the way. The battle scenes are almost too vividly described but contrast with descriptions of the beautiful landscapes.

Much credit goes to Aidan Kelly's reading of the book and his interpretation of the main character.

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  • Overall
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wow

What an amazing extraordinary enlightening and endarkening journey he takes us on. with what poetry and passion and detachment and love. tour de force of 19th century American Irish native American jumbled American violent melting pot. wonderful

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Exceptional performance of an outstanding novel.

this was an absolute pleasure to listen to. Beautiful words telling the most wonderfully crafted story.

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Very interesting and sometimes brutal

Well this book really is the unexpected and the harsh and brutal truth of what actually happens is at times hard to take.
The narrative was excellent and totally engaging throughout.

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Moving, historically fascinating.

Loved it, the down to earth storytelling, the narration, the word pictures. Beautiful and moving.

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A beautiful book

This book was a delight. The story line was engaging and the use of language truly lyrical. It reminded me of Cormac Macathy in some ways but not as dark as Blood Meridian.
The vocal performance did the script proud.
It was a joy and I am sorry it is finished. .

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Amazing book

This is a wonderful book and it is read superbly. The story unfolds in such a matter of fact way, day by day and hour by hour.

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