Nora

A Love Story of Nora Barnacle and James Joyce

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Nora

By: Nuala O'Connor

Narrated by: Jenn McGuirk

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About this listen

In sensuous, resonant prose, Nuala O’Connor has conjured the definitive portrait of this strong, passionate and loyal Irishwoman. Nora is a tour de force, an earthy and authentic love letter to Irish literature’s greatest muse.

Dublin, 1904. Nora Barnacle is a 20-year-old from Galway, working as a maid at Finn’s Hotel. On June 16th, Bloomsday, her life is changed when she meets Dubliner James Joyce - a fateful encounter that turns into a lifelong love. Despite his hesitation to marry, Nora follows Joyce in pursuit of a life beyond Ireland.

But as their life unfolds, Nora finds herself in conflict between their intense desire for each other and the constant anxiety of living in poverty throughout Europe. She desperately wants literary success for Jim, believing in his singular gift and knowing that he thrives on being the toast of the town. When Jim writes and drinks his way to literary acclaim, Nora provides unflinching support and inspiration but at a cost to her own happiness and that of their children.

Nora is a heartfelt portrayal of love, ambition and the quiet power of an ordinary woman who was, in fact, extraordinary.

Biographical Fiction

Genre Fiction

Fiction

Biography

Heartfelt

Inspiring

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Critic reviews

"The Nora that leaps off these pages is at once muse, temptress, earth mother and warrior queen all rolled into one glorious package." (The Irish Times)

"This fictional Nora is entirely convincing in her raw sensuality, her stubborn determination, her powerful sense of grievance and her inability to stop loving a deeply erratic, wildly manipulative yet enormously talented man." (The New York Times)

"An exceptional novel by one of the most brilliant contemporary Irish writers, this is a story of love in all its many seasons, from ardent sexuality to companionable tenderness, through strength, challenge and courage." (Joseph O’Connor, author of Star of the Sea)

Most relevant

This is such a beautiful written story. I was intrigued in the story after attending Bloomsday and hearing Nuala O’Connor at a book store. I read parts of it and listened to other parts while travelling. The language is so accurate, mesmerizing at times. Very impressed with the reading by Jean McGuirk.