Leaves for the Burning

by Mervyn Wall

Leaves for the Burning is Mervyn Wall's third novel, and his first non-humorous work. Set in a small town in the Irish midlands, it explores the passing of youth and opportunity and the onset of premature aging, against the backdrop of a fiercely-insular community.

Genres: Irish Literature, Fiction

224 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1952

About the author

Mervyn Wall was born in Dublin in 1908. He attended Belvedere College, a Jesuit school for boys in Dublin, and obtained his B.A. from the National University of Ireland in 1928. He worked in the Irish civil service from 1934-1948 and later for Radio Éireann as Programme Officer. In 1957 he became Secretary of the Arts Council of Ireland, a post he held until his retirement in 1975. Though he published a number of novels, short stories, and plays, Wall is best remembered for his two comic fantasies centering on the medieval monk Fursey, which have been republished several times and praised by critics such as E. F. Bleiler and Darrell Schweitzer. Wall died in 1997.

Reviews

[Christian Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wrote a review for this book but Goodreads deleted it before I could post. So, what I’ll say is this…

Seems like an Irish Fear & Loathing on it’s surface, but at its core this book is an exploration of the challenges of growing old, the pain and destruction that comes with holding onto the past, and the strangeness and beauty that arises when choosing to let go.

Full of quotable one liners and plenty of drinking 😵‍💫

[justin · Rating 5 out of 5]

bij toeval gekocht in een kringloopwinkel in ierland en ik was echt heel verrast hoe goed ie was !

[Joey Brockert · Rating 4 out of 5]

I learned of this book reading Doris Lessing's autobiography, “Walking in Shade – 1949 to 1962.” She wrote a review of this other story for a magazine, “probably John O'London's Weekly.”
In her review she said the characters went on a drunken spree, “drinking out of desperation.” That was the story.
Lucian Burke wakes from a childhood nightmare, though he is now 43 years old. It seems he can not really accept what happened, and it haunts him still. He is also in despair, being so old, middle aged, and being where he is, doing what he does, etc. He is unhappy with his life, and, yet, is unable to rearrange or correct it. He sucks it up, and goes about his daily routine. At breakfast, he has two or three letters waiting for him. The first is from his mother, telling of what has been happening in Dublin, where she lives. The second is from an old college chum, and son of the family physician, Frank Peebles. He is writes to say he will be walking through the town Lucian lives in on his way to Sligo for Yeats' funeral.
Lucian goes about his business as a town clerk, or something to do with the county government in that town. On going out for lunch, he sees that Mr. Peebles has arrived. They greet, and chat, and, on a lark, Lucian decides to take some time off from work, and go off with Mr. Peebles. He has stirred up a nest of hornets with a letter to the newspaper, and there is other stuff happening, but in the end he, Mr Peebles, another college chum, and the local doctor head off on a drunken spree for the weekend.
In the end, nothing changes, yet they enjoy themselves for a time, and life goes on.
I kept thinking this is Irishmen acting normally, drinking and being carefree. Lucian does end up doing his job, and everyone else does the same, but, for that weekend, it was a grand time.

[Andy · Rating 4 out of 5]

exploring the loss of youth, opportunity and idealism, at the onset of middle age for low ranking civil servant in small Irish town, beset by regrets, stymied by bureaucracy and cronyism, steeped in alcohol and finding college friends to be similarly positioned

[Marcheto Marcheto · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars
One of the funniest and at the same time saddest and bitterest book I’ve read in a long time. Loved it!