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The Country Funeral

Faber Stories
Series: Faber Stories
3.85 goodreads logo

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( 362 ratings, 35 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
In The Country Funeral by John McGahern, the story follows three brothers returning to their family's rural home in Ireland for a funeral. As they navigate the complex interplay of familial ties, past memories, and individual aspirations, the narrative paints a vivid picture of rural life and personal introspection. The novel reflects on themes of heritage, belonging, and the passage of time.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you appreciate finely crafted stories that explore family dynamics and rural life in Ireland. With its reflective tone, it delves into themes of tradition, memory, and the complexities of familial relationships. This book may appeal to you if you enjoy character-driven narratives set against the backdrop of the Irish countryside.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

Three brothers travel west from Dublin to Gloria Bog - the heart of the territory where so many of McGahern's stories take place - to attend the funeral of their uncle.

Faber 90th Stories brings together some of our finest short stories, past, present and future.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

"My only concern," John McGahern once said, "is that I get the sentence right and describe my world clearly and deeply."

The Country Funeral witnesses three brothers, John, Philly, and Fonsie Ryan, as they travel west from Dublin to Gloria Bog—the heart of the territory where so many of McGahern's stories take place—to attend the funeral of their uncle.

Depicting the customs and rituals of the day, McGahern exquisitely traces how the brothers react to the area in unexpected and tender ways, and face their own feelings about the transience of life.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780571351848

Publisher: Faber & Faber

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 07 March 2019

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Faber & Faber

Edition: Main

Contributors:

  • Illustrated by Gary Percival

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 6.0mm

Width: 111.0mm

Height: 160.0mm

Weight: 71g

Pages: 96

About the Author

John McGahern was born in Dublin in 1934 and brought up in the West of Ireland. He was a graduate of University College, Dublin. He worked as a Primary School teacher and held various academic posts at universities in Britain, Ireland and America.

John McGahern was the author of six highly acclaimed novels and four collections of short stories, and was the recipient of numerous awards and honours, including a Society of Authors Travelling Scholarship, the American-Irish Award, the Prix Etrangere Ecureuil and the Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres. Amongst Women, which won both the GPA and the Irish Times Award, was shortlisted for the Booker Prize and made into a four-part BBC television series. His work has appeared in anthologies and has been translated into many languages. His last book, Memoir, was published in 2005. John McGahern died in 2006.

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