Annie Dunne by Sebastian Barry - 4 stars (Subdue)

[Joy D]

Annie Dunne by Sebastian Barry - 4* - My Review

Set in 1959 on an Irish farm in County Wicklow, Annie Dunne is experiencing a period of calm and happiness. Her grand niece and nephew are visiting for the summer while their parents look for work in England. Unmarried cousins, Annie and Sarah, in their late fifties and early sixties, work the farm together. It is a time of change for rural life, and there are many indications that this peaceful existence will be ending soon. The storyline follows the courtship of Sarah by a local farmer, Billy Kerr, and Annie’s mothering of the two visiting children. If they marry, Annie will have to move but has no place to go. Annie can be rather abrasive but is also kind underneath her gruff exterior. This is a character-driven narrative with the focus on Annie. It is a quiet novel and not for anyone looking for action. It is beautifully written, as is typical of Barry’s works. This is part of a series, but it is not necessary to read them in order, as they all stand alone nicely.