What do you think?
Rate this book
Picador Four Letters Of Love.
Four Letters Of Love ABISBOOK Picador.
Paperback
7 people are currently reading
48 people want to read
About the author
Niall Williams
37 books1,847 followersNiall Williams studied English and French Literature at University College Dublin and graduated with a MA in Modern American Literature. He moved to New York in 1980 where he married Christine Breen. His first job in New York was opening boxes of books in Fox and Sutherland's Bookshop in Mount Kisco. He later worked as a copywriter for Avon Books in New York City before leaving America with Chris in 1985 to attempt to make a life as a writer in Ireland. They moved on April 1st to the cottage in west Clare that Chris's grandfather had left eighty years before to find his life in America.
His first four books were co-written with Chris and tell of their life together in Co Clare.
In 1991 Niall's first play THE MURPHY INITIATIVE was staged at The Abbey Theatre in Dublin. His second play, A LITTLE LIKE PARADISE was produced on the Peacock stage of The Abbey Theatre in 1995. His third play, THE WAY YOU LOOK TONIGHT, was produced by Galway's Druid Theatre Company in 1999.
Niall's first novel was FOUR LETTERS OF LOVE. Published in 1997, it went on to become an international bestseller and has been published in over twenty countries. His second novel, AS IT IS IN HEAVEN was published in 1999 and short-listed for the Irish Times Literature Prize. Further novels include THE FALL OF LIGHT, ONLY SAY THE WORD, BOY IN THE WORLD and its sequel, BOY AND MAN.
In 2008 Bloomsbury published Niall's fictional account of the last year in the life of the apostle, JOHN.
His new novel, HISTORY OF THE RAIN, will be published by Bloomsbury in the UK/Ireland and in the USA Spring 2014. (Spanish and Turkish rights have also been sold.)
Niall has recently written several screenplays. Two have been optioned by film companies.
His first four books were co-written with Chris and tell of their life together in Co Clare.
In 1991 Niall's first play THE MURPHY INITIATIVE was staged at The Abbey Theatre in Dublin. His second play, A LITTLE LIKE PARADISE was produced on the Peacock stage of The Abbey Theatre in 1995. His third play, THE WAY YOU LOOK TONIGHT, was produced by Galway's Druid Theatre Company in 1999.
Niall's first novel was FOUR LETTERS OF LOVE. Published in 1997, it went on to become an international bestseller and has been published in over twenty countries. His second novel, AS IT IS IN HEAVEN was published in 1999 and short-listed for the Irish Times Literature Prize. Further novels include THE FALL OF LIGHT, ONLY SAY THE WORD, BOY IN THE WORLD and its sequel, BOY AND MAN.
In 2008 Bloomsbury published Niall's fictional account of the last year in the life of the apostle, JOHN.
His new novel, HISTORY OF THE RAIN, will be published by Bloomsbury in the UK/Ireland and in the USA Spring 2014. (Spanish and Turkish rights have also been sold.)
Niall has recently written several screenplays. Two have been optioned by film companies.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
July 27, 2025
I felt like i didnt enjoy this as much as i normally would've, for completely unfair reasons. I am in SUCH a reading slump because I recently read a really amazing book, one of my now all time favourites, then read the worst book ive ever read right afterwards.... then to this. I DID enjoy this and i think it was really beautiful and really clever, i read the last 2/3 all at once, i couldnt put it down. Towards the end, it got a bit funny and i couldnt quite process wtf was going on, it was a bit paranormal which i didnt particularly like. I lowkey got confused, maybe i just dont "get it" but at the same time, i DO get the actual message it was putting across if that makes sense?
Love is the most powerful force humankind knows. It is consistent, persistent and powerful.
Love is the most powerful force humankind knows. It is consistent, persistent and powerful.
October 27, 2025
I didn’t enjoy this as much as I’m sure I would have if I weren’t in a slump at the moment and I wasn’t very engaged by the plot.
It started off a little slow. I liked the writing style but it just felt a bit off like I was missing a key part of the story. A lot happens towards the end which felt a little like I was dreaming it up and left me a bit confused.
Overall I loved the meaning behind the story. Love is the greatest and most powerful thing there is and what is meant for you will be yours. It just took a while and a bit of confusion to get there.
It started off a little slow. I liked the writing style but it just felt a bit off like I was missing a key part of the story. A lot happens towards the end which felt a little like I was dreaming it up and left me a bit confused.
Overall I loved the meaning behind the story. Love is the greatest and most powerful thing there is and what is meant for you will be yours. It just took a while and a bit of confusion to get there.
September 14, 2025
Wow! I have never read such stories of love, longing, marriages and divine intervention.
Niall Williams’ writing is beautiful. The stories and the language propelled me speedily to the conclusion. Half way through the book I went searching for the letters and was proud of myself when I thought I had found 2 of them in the first half. Little did I know….
Niall Williams’ writing is beautiful. The stories and the language propelled me speedily to the conclusion. Half way through the book I went searching for the letters and was proud of myself when I thought I had found 2 of them in the first half. Little did I know….
October 29, 2025
Pushed through to finish this.
“Nicholas Coughlan and Isabel Gore were made for each other but how will they ever know it?”
I didn’t see how they were made for each other at all.
Nicholas was really made for Sean.
Didn’t read the “four letters of love” until the last 20 pages.
Just didn’t enjoy it, sorry nana
“Nicholas Coughlan and Isabel Gore were made for each other but how will they ever know it?”
I didn’t see how they were made for each other at all.
Nicholas was really made for Sean.
Didn’t read the “four letters of love” until the last 20 pages.
Just didn’t enjoy it, sorry nana
April 26, 2025
3.5 *
May 12, 2025
I read romance now...
beautifully written and full of life
beautifully written and full of life
June 11, 2025
Incredible.
August 10, 2025
Picked this up on a whim and was absolutely blown away. A beautiful, messy, imperfect and often heartbreaking portrayal of love in all its many forms.
October 4, 2025
So depressing it was not the love story I needed
November 23, 2025
If words were diamonds, this book would be overwhelming in its brilliance. A gem in every sense of the word.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews