Mervyn Wall (1908–1997)

This book follows the life of Lucian Brewse Burke for a few weeks following his writing a letter to the local paper criticising the County Council's decision to demolish an old castle in the small town where he works as clerk in the County Council Sub-office. Lucian has a master's degree in Greek and has ended up working for the last ten years in this small rural town where he feels lonely and where he has no connection with the people of the town or its hinterland. His letter not only gets him in trouble with his County Council superiors, but also with the local population. The castle was viewed locally as a symbol of British oppression and Lucien, in his plea for its preservation, has put him on the receiving end of disquiet from the local people who were mostly involved in The War of Independence which was waged to remove British rule.

Mervyn Wall writes very humorously about serious matters, and the first half of the book is very funny as it describes the actions of various people in the small town of Barretstown and the local County Seat, Moymell, where the County Manager and the County Council Chairman, a senator in the government, hold court and manipulate the politics of the surrounding area. There are many humorous episodes and situations that would today be identified as corrupt, outdated, and having the smell of nepotism. This was the way of things in post-revolutionary Ireland.

The middle of the book brings us to a darker side of life and the reader is presented with moral dilemma after moral dilemma. Also, the characters in the story begin to question their own values and to dwell on the past of twenty years ago when they had dreams and felt in control of their own destinies. Much of what was wrong in the country of the time is brought to the surface, and its impact on individuals is discussed and analysed.

The position of women is highlighted in the book. I will say no more on this subject as to do so would give away a key element of the plot.

While Lucian is a forty-three year old man the story is very much a coming of age tale. The adventures that follow his writing the letter in defence of the castle lead him on a journey of self-discovery.

Would I read more work by this author?
Most definitely yes!

Would I recommend this book?
Yes.

What sort of person would I recommend ti to?
Anyone who enjoys humour, and who likes looking at real socio-political situations through a correcting lens that reveals the reality of those situations.

Has this book inspired me to do anything?
I am inspired to read more Irish history of the time the story was set.… (mere)