In his beautiful, haunting novel, in which nothing is quite what it seems, Sebastian Barry explores what we live through, what we live with, and what may survive of us
The Secret Scripture
Written by Sebastian Barry
- Shortlisted
- The Man Booker Prize 2008
- Published by Faber & Faber
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Sebastian Barry’s haunting story of a life blighted by terrible mistreatment and ignorance, yet still marked by love, passion and hope
Nearing her 100th birthday, Roseanne McNulty faces an uncertain future. The psychiatric hospital where she’s spent most of her adult life is preparing to close. In the weeks leading up to this upheaval, she talks for hours to her psychiatrist. The story that emerges - of Roseanne’s family in 1930s Sligo - is at once shocking and deeply beautiful. Refracted through the haze of memory and retelling, her story becomes an alternative, secret history of Ireland’s changing character.
Sebastian Barry
Sebastian Barry is one of a small group of authors to have been nominated for the Booker Prize five times
More about Sebastian Barry Watch Sebastian Barry read from The Secret Scripture
Sebastian Barry was named Laureate for Irish Fiction for 2018 to 2021. As part of his work, he ran a series called #LaureateReads on YouTube in 2020, where he chose four of his novels to read from.
Watch his reading from The Secret Scripture below.
Other nominated books by Sebastian Barry
Sebastian Barry’s atmospheric portrayal of America in the making is also an intensely poignant story of two men and the hands that were dealt to them by life
Spanning nearly seven decades, this novel of memory, war, family ties and love showcases Sebastian Barry’s exquisite prose and gift for storytelling
Sebastian Barry’s powerful novel about the harsh realities of war examines the Great War from the perspective of Irish soldiers fighting for Britain
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