Home Before Night

by Hugh Leonard

Playwright Leonard, author of the award-winning Da, reflects upon his Dublin childhood and youth and the foolish father, sharp-tongued mother, assorted relatives, and sad eccentrics who figured in his life

Genres: Memoir, Nonfiction, Irish Literature, Biography, Ireland

paperback

First published January 1, 1979

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Hugh Leonard was an Irish dramatist, television writer and essayist. In a career that spanned 50 years, Leonard wrote more than 18 plays, two volumes of essays and two autobiographies, one novel and numerous screenplays and teleplays, as well as writing a regular newspaper column.

Reviews

[A. Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a richly told story, full of details that show a culture in its fullness. The opening hook, the first sentence, states, "My grandmother made dying her life's work." It's a lesson in how to make a reader read on, and what follows never disappoints. There is so much warmth but also coldness, love and rejection, humour and dejection. I laughed more than once, but laughed hard and aloud at the discussion about breaking all the commandments. The book has a modest length and is full of story, never rushed, never plodding. It's a wonderful read.

[Barry Walsh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Most of the books I've laughed out loud at have been by Irish authors,. but none have made me laugh more than Hugh Leonard's wonderful short novel.

[Molly Kilsby · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book in a converted telephone box library whilst walking home at night time in the new forest. I had been worried about the streetlights going out when I found it and knew I'd get home safely. Rest assured the street lights went out just as I arrived home, I loved this book, the familiarity of the people in his childhood, the cunning post lady, and the stories of the confession lines at the local church, this book brings you into the village and the stories so vividly. I relate to so many of the interactions I read, and it was such an easy read because of that. If you enjoy anecdotal village-feel stories, this one is for you. One of my fave's for sure!

[Jane E · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a lovely little book. The author has such affection for his father and the Ireland of his childhood. Instead of whining about the hard times he recalls the joys of simple play, childhood friends and a few enemies and the time spent with his father. Even the draconian Catholic Church gets off lightly with a bit of fun poked at it. This book brought me more pleasure than any of those read over the last few months. Worth hunting out. (Purchased at Skoob Books, London.)

[Darla Ebert · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a magnificent writer, just superb. I was so disappointed that he is "no longer with us". The author segues between comic to serious drama easily and he writes colorfully and humorously. Leonard's memories are keen and sharp , his observations are deliciously unusual. I loved every single page.

[Siobhan Rogers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely gentle funny and lonesome

[Far · Rating 5 out of 5]

Doomed slaughterhouse eyes, you did not ask her straight out: that cost you the game. You feigned indifference, teasing at the secret as if it were a cord lost in the waistband of a skirt" p 43. Very funny book. I enjoyd reading on p 54 jack and his da walking around dalkey hill around the sea and the ghosts of higgins haunt the place in the mind of the child and when jack asks his da about his mother and his tells him shes at the kish lightship cooking . the description of jack the dog being anti clerical and it being symptomatic of a hidden godlesslessness in the house...and the rosary beads shot through her fingers at the rate you would haul in mackerel p75, Father clarke p 82 it did freeze, and under the december moon, as cold and yellow as a cats eye, i saw yesterday's tyrants go slipping and spilling across the yard, looking in their black robes like witches on an outing p 119... Off beyond the mailboat pier you could make part of dublin, lying like an old dog too hot to move" p 137 even so the mention of mr drumms name never mind the thought of ever seeing him again was enough to make jacks heart lurch like a sick dog p 172 trying not to offend him was like crossing a minefield on crutches p 186 the irish love failure: in their folklore success is inexcusable, but the fumbled ball, the lost promotion, the one drink too many are to them the stuff of romance: they turn the winner's laurels into a salad for the loser to eat, adding cliches for seasoning... Never describe an experience until it is long past. Assimilate it as you would food. Let it turn into calcium and protein, with the waste matter excreted.' this reminded him to take his indigestion tablets. He turned a belch into a small gasp and said: the mind has bowels, too, you know' p 189

[Sunny · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a quiet read, but moving and funny in its own way. One chapter would be all lightness and then the next would pound into you. Wonderful portrayal of childhood, Irish childhood, poor Irish childhood, poor Irish Catholic childhood, etc.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this way more than I expected to. If you like Irish coming-of-age stories, this one is not to be missed. Many references to Irish history and chock full of Irish Catholic aphorisms. Lots of fun and a good story. Also good plane reading. Not too heavy!

[Camille · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful book about growing up in Dalkey, south of Dublin in the forties and fifties. It's a compelling read, funny and sad, and full of vivid portraits of the people of that world.

[Maggie]

This was the first book I gave my husband, for a train journey

[Joan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A solid 3.5 stars, the childhood memories of the author, growing up in Dalkey (just outside Dublin) during the 1930s and 40s.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hugh Leonard was a great writer. And this is the first book of his autobiography.