On Canaan's Side is a 2011 novel written by Irish playwright and novelist Sebastian Barry.[1]
 First edition | |
| Author | Sebastian Barry |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Genre | Novel |
| Publisher | Faber and Faber |
Publication date | 24 July 2011 |
| Publication place | Ireland |
| Media type | Print (Hardcover & Paperback) |
| Pages | 272 pp (Hardback) |
| ISBN | 978-0-571-22653-5 |
| Preceded by | The Secret Scripture |
Plot
editThe novel is narrated by the 89-year-old Lily Bere, the sister of Annie Dunne (2002) and Willie Dunne from A Long Long Way (2005), and the daughter of the character Thomas Dunne from The Steward of Christendom (1995), as she looks back on her life, having lived through the Irish War of Independence and escaped to Chicago with her boyfriend Tadg Bere. The Cleveland East Ohio Gas explosion of 1944 is referenced within the story and plays an important role in the plot.
Reception
editOn The Omnivore, a British aggregator of press reviews, the book received an "omniscore" of 3.5 out of 5.[2] In Bookmarks Jan/Feb 2012 issue, a magazine that aggregates critic reviews of books, the book received a 
(4.00 out of 5) with the summary stating, "Reviewers found Lilly's story just as accomplished, describing it as rich and authentic, stripped free of the sentimentality that often clouds war-themed fiction".[3]
Awards and honors
edit- 2011 Man Booker Prize, longlist[4]
- 2012 Walter Scott Prize, winner[5][6]
References
edit- ^ "Faber & Faber Blog - Daily". Faber.co.uk.
- ^ "On Canaan's Side". The Omnivore. Archived from the original on August 18, 2016. Retrieved July 12, 2024.
- ^ "On Canaan's Side: A Novel By Sebastian Barry". Bookmarks Magazine. Archived from the original on August 3, 2016. Retrieved January 14, 2023.
- ^ Burke-Kennedy, Eoin (July 7, 2011). "Barry included on Booker longlist". The Irish Times.
- ^ "Walter Scott historical fiction shortlist announced". BBC News. April 4, 2012. Retrieved April 12, 2012.
- ^ Alison Flood (June 16, 2012). "Sebastian Barry wins Walter Scott prize". The Guardian. London. Retrieved June 16, 2012.
External links
edit- Review in The Guardian