Through his narrator’s stream of consciousness, Patrick McCabe portrays the descent into madness of a young killer in small-town Ireland in the 1960s.

This is the story of Francis ‘Francie’ Brady, whose troubled home life leaves him violent and detached, yet somehow still childlike. Things begin to fall apart after his mother’s suicide - when he is consumed with fury and commits a terrible crime. Committed to an asylum, it is only here that he finally achieves peace.

Shortlisted
The Booker Prize 1992
Published by
Picador
Publication date

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Patrick McCabe

Patrick McCabe

About the Author

Patrick McCabe was born in Clones, County Monaghan, Ireland. Two of his novels have been shortlisted for the Booker Prize.
More about Patrick McCabe

Other nominated books by Patrick McCabe

Breakfast on Pluto