No Greater Love

by David Butler

short story collection

Paperback

First published May 1, 2013

About the author

Since returning to Ireland after ten years of wandering, David Butler has worked as Education Officer at the James Joyce Centre, and has lectured in Spanish Literature at TCD, Essex University, Carlow College and UCD. His first novel The Last European was published in 2005 (Wynkin de Worde), while his debut poetry collection Via Crucis (Doghouse) appeared in 2011. A second novel The Judas Kiss (New Island,2012) was favourably reviewed in the Sunday Times by Alan Murdoch, who in particular noted Butler's talent for characterisation. No Greater Love, a collection of his short stories, was launched in London (Ward Wood) in 2013. His story 'Taylor Keith' won the Fish short story award 2014. His most recent novel, City of Dis, (New Island), was shortlisted for the Kerry Group Irish Novel of the Year 2015. A second poetry collection, All the Barbaric Glass' (Doire Press) was published in 2017. A second short story collection, Fugitive, is forthcoming from Arlen House, and a third poetry collection, Liffey Sequence, from Doire Press in 2021. He lives in Bray with wife and author Tanya Farrelly.

Reviews

[Orla McAlinden · Rating 5 out of 5]

THis is a small, hugely rewarding book. I re-read it recently and enjoyed it even more the second time round. Be-lying the pious impression created by the cover, the book is packed with love , but also with sex, despair, mystery and grief. Tiny shoots of hope poke through in a some of the stories too! Any mother will sympathise with the horror of a missing child, or a baby snatched by the very person who you approach for help.

I would describe this collection as realist with hints of the macabre.

This may sound ridiculous, but I read Alice Munro's swansong collection "This Life" recently, and Butler's collection is the one my mind keeps straying to, in times of reflection.

[David Butler · Rating 5 out of 5]

This rating is based on the fact that the title story No Greater Love won the Maria Edgeworth Prize, Faithful Departed the Lonely Voice Prize (it was also a finalist for the RTE/Penguin Awards) while Rape was short-listed for the prestigious Bridport Prize. Hen Night was anthologised in These Are Our Lives and broadcast on RTE radio.

Further details:
http://www.wardwoodpublishing.co.uk/t...

[Lobna Abulhassan · Rating 4 out of 5]

While the title 'No Greater Love' is rather ethereal, Butler excels at earthy, plot-driven twists and turns and unexpected nuance. His short stories are concise, detailed and enthralling, but remain meaningful. I particularly enjoyed his ability to change voices and setting with smooth dexterity between stories, conveying a variety of different moods and characters; seamlessly exchanging from the tragic love affair of a prodigy musician in Russia in the title story, to the schemes of an 'innocent' schoolboy jealous over his mother in Little Hamlet. My favourite, though, is the first story-In the Name of God and the Dead Generations- because it skims through an array of voices and sounds, even, that evoke the city of Dublin.

[Maria Bruce · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautiful, tight collection of stories filled with soul and told with passion. Each story has something completely different to offer and everyone will definitely have their own favourite; the one that resonates most. For me that was “Unless He is Born Again”… Butler’s talent for striking the perfect balance between the said and the unsaid is remarkable and works a treat in this emotional, sensitive story. I don’t want to spoil any of the stories as I think they’re the most rewarding when you’ve no idea of the journey you’re about to take; all I’ll say is that No Greater Love is an absolute must read!