A Bit of a Scandal

by Mary Rose Callaghan

A modern retelling of the famous story of Heloise and Abelard by an acclaimed Irish novelist. A Bit of a Scandal opens as Louise, a middle-aged Irish emigrant, returns to Dublin for Christmas after thirty years of living in New York City, where she works as an Art History professor. While waiting for her son to join her, Louise visits her friend, Felicity, whose home overlooks an old Cistercian monastery. The granite building reminds Louise of her youthful love affair with Peter, a Canadian monk, who, at the time, lived in the same monastery while studying theology. The couple, like their predecessors in medieval times, shared a passionate but impossible love. ""In graceful, casual prose, Callaghan spins a believable story... The author summons `70s Dublin in telling detail... A beautiful story of doomed love."" Kirkus Reviews Callaghan is a compassionate storyteller, and her narrative talents, especially for dialog, nuanced character development, and surprising plot twists, are fully evident."" Library Journal

Genres: Fiction

239 pages, Hardcover

First published April 28, 2009

Reviews

[Mary Lou · Rating 4 out of 5]

Its 1970s in Dublin. Louise, a recent graduate with no real job,meets a Canadian priest studying in the City, and embarks upon an affair with him. Both know they should stop but neither can.

I loved this book. It deals with the obvious hypocrisies but with Loiuse as narrator it comes across as genuine and non cynical. Smashing read, delighted to have discovered it

[Wesley Paine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ireland in the 70s; a whiff of Heloise and Abelard; great throw-away lines about Catholicism, romance, vocations; funny and painful at the same time. An unexpected book; I really liked it.