The Parish and the Hill

by Mary Doyle Curran, Anne Halley (Afterword)

Told from the vantage point of a young woman who grows to maturity in a New England mill town in the 1920s, The Parish and the Hill portrays three generations of an Irish immigrant family in their urge to negotiate multiple identities. Mary O’Connor is the product of a family and a town divided by the conflicting values of the "shanty" and "lace-curtain" Irish.

Originally published in 1948, The Parish and the Hill is now identified as one of the finest works of Irish American fiction, and one of the first to explore Irish life from a woman's point of view. Brilliant and powerful on the themes of alienation, social class, and alcoholism, the novel offers complex and unforgettable portraits of the love between grandfather and granddaughter, mother and children, sister and brother.

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction, School

280 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1948

Reviews

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fictionalized account of growing up in the Highlands of Holyoke, MA in the 1920s and 30s. The book may mean more to fellow Irish-Americans from Holyoke than to others, but I found the character studies of lace curtain and shanty Irish of "Ireland Parish" rang very true. Highly recommended for anyone interested in the society and life of a nearly a century ago in this small mill town.

[Sara Gabai · Rating 4 out of 5]

A soft, gentle book (almost all of it.) Almost no plot. I think that only irish-americans or someone who grew up in Holyoke would find it interesting.

[Aimee King · Rating 5 out of 5]

Didn’t get truly invested until around chapter 3. It was at that point that it became apparent that this was an unusually constructed story. Once I was aware of that, my perspective shifted. Mainly, I began to think of it as a mini series in which each episode is a chapter of this book, creating a cohesive picture of a whole family, a community, a zeitgeist, and a history.

So, the book centers around a little girl and her Irish-American family who live in New England in a town that is split between the poor and the rich, the Irish and not Irish. There is some overlap. That’s literally the book. Each chapter chronicles the life story of each family member-type after first describing the town (1- Grandfather; 2- Mother; 3- Father; 4- Uncles; 5- Aunts; 6- Brother #2; 7- Brother #1).

I don’t know how to correctly express why I felt so much during this reading (I’m not a drop Irish, so that’s out the window). Perhaps it simply felt like a real family. Perhaps it spoke to every type of American who lives in this unjust, hard world. Perhaps it focused so authentically on the problems of the time (WWI and Great Depression), that it didn’t need to outright say that we could always learn the same lessons. It’s there in the humanity and simplicity of this story. Perhaps it’s just that I was surprised it had such depth. Seemed like a textbook when someone lent it to me.

[Jessyca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely beautiful. A must-read for Irish American studies - in particular if you want to focus on women / women writers.
Heavily focuses on the Nostalgia and Memory that is often hand in hand with Irish American Identity + how it shapes the American experience and American literary landscape.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

(read for class) this was poignant but lovely--a meditation on assimilation, a series of vignettes strung together to provide a vivid snapshot of time. i liked it a lot

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Story of Irish family in America. Great story

[Susan Moses · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book has no plot.

[Percival Constantine · Rating 1 out of 5]

Without a doubt, this is one of the most boring books I've ever read. The only saving grace is that it's not very long. It reads like an extremely dry family history, not bothering with characterization or drama. Everything in this book is just stated so coldly and matter-of-factly, as if reading a poorly-written newspaper article.

[Nancy Hawkins · Rating 3 out of 5]

I appreciate this novel from 1948 but I cannot say I liked it. It is very true to life about the Irish immigrant experience of the 20's and 30's. It reminded me of my Irish relatives. A sad story by Curren.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

The language was beautiful but the whole book was sad. I guess it was somewhat realistic because real life isn't perfect. Still, it was sad.

[Maile · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very character driven, classic Irish American story. Not my usual style, but fascinating insight.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pulls at a reader's emotions in the descriptions of the people in the story. I could picture the events she described in my head.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had to read this for one of my grad. school classes. It's super depressing, but also really interesting. If you like Irish immigration stories, this novel is for you!