The Engine of Owl-Light

by Sebastian Barry

Interweaves the stories of a petty chief and his storyteller a neurotic young man, a boy and his father, a journey across America, and dealings in Key West

Genres: Ireland, Irish Literature

390 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 1987

About the author

Sebastian Barry is an Irish playwright, novelist and poet. He is noted for his dense literary writing style and is considered one of Ireland's finest writers

Barry's literary career began in poetry before he began writing plays and novels. In recent years his fiction writing has surpassed his work in the theatre in terms of success, having once been considered a playwright who wrote occasional novels.

He has twice been shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize for his novels A Long Long Way (2005) and The Secret Scripture (2008), the latter of which won the 2008 Costa Book of the Year and the James Tait Black Memorial Prize. His 2011 novel On Canaan's Side was long-listed for the Booker. He won the Costa Book of the Year again - in 2017 for Days Without End.

Reviews

[Old Man JP · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was Sebastan Barrys first full length novel and, because I consider him one of the best writer of all time, I was excited to read it. I'm afraid I was somewhat disappointed. It was done experimentally with six different narratives going and was difficult to get through. It's strange because his next book "The Whereabouts of Eneas McNulty" was, in my opinion, one the finest books ever written.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Highly experimental, almost impenetrable, work but the style, plotting (what there is of it), and characters are brilliant.

Recommended for hardcore literati only.