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The Secret Scripture cover art

The Secret Scripture

By: Sebastian Barry
Narrated by: Wanda McCaddon
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Summary

A SUNDAY TIMES TOP 100 NOVEL OF THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY

COSTA BOOK OF THE YEAR 2008

Nearing her one-hundredth birthday, Roseanne McNulty faces an uncertain future, as the Roscommon Regional Mental hospital where she's spent the best part of her adult life prepares for closure. Over the weeks leading up to this upheaval, she talks often with her psychiatrist Dr Grene, and their relationship intensifies and complicates. Told through their respective journals, the story that emerges is at once shocking and deeply beautiful. Refracted through the haze of memory and retelling, Roseanne's story becomes an alternative, secret history of Ireland's changing character and the story of a life blighted by terrible mistreatment and ignorance, and yet marked still by love and passion and hope.

©2023 Sebastian Barry (P)2023 Faber & Faber

What listeners say about The Secret Scripture

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Good story, terribly inadequate, psychologically weak ending

The ending was awful. The whole book led up to a moment of resolution that would have left the central character vindicated after the terrible suffering she experienced but we were never given the satisfaction of seeing her moment of redemption.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

The best of writing about the Irish experience

I loved this book, and the whole of the trilogy but most especially this book. It tells, in part, the story of so many of us Irish / Englishmen. Taken from our mothers and adopted in English families, discovering too late our roots. The reading, for me, became astonishing as it dawns on me that this was my

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

The most beautiful book

I read this book, and loved it. when it was published. And now listening to this recording was an equally moving experience. Although it's a very sad tale, Sebastian Barry's writing is pure poetry. He writes English as only an Irishman can.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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The sadness of this book is quite beautiful

This is a most wonderful beautifully written melancholic story told without bitterness. Quite an extraordinary tale.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Wonderful story telling

Beautiful unfolding of the story of connected lives woven with modern Irish history. Thoroughly enjoyed the production overall.

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Truly wonderful story

Excellent narration befitting such a beautiful story. Loved every moment., and the unexpected reveal at the end. Just brilliant

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So poignant

Such a moving story which was beautifully read. I don’t want it to end. Highly recommend it

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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Let down by the narrator

The “Irish” /West Country/Welsh/Yorkshire accent was a distraction, it detracted from the story overall.

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    5 out of 5 stars

wonderful magical story which I read may years ago and loved. I was really looking forward to listening on Audible.

But the narration sounds terrible to me....like the narrator is talking in a vast empty room, also the Irish accent is very annoying. I might have to give up on this as I'm finding it so difficult to hear properly and getting very irritated.
Would be interested to hear other people's experience.

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