At Swim, Two Boys
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4.5 • 53 Ratings
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- $11.99
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- $11.99
Publisher Description
Praised as “a work of wild, vaulting ambition and achievement” by Entertainment Weekly, Jamie O’Neill’s first novel invites comparison to such literary greats as James Joyce, Samuel Beckett and Charles Dickens.
Jim Mack is a naïve young scholar and the son of a foolish, aspiring shopkeeper. Doyler Doyle is the rough-diamond son—revolutionary and blasphemous—of Mr. Mack’s old army pal. Out at the Forty Foot, that great jut of rock where gentlemen bathe in the nude, the two boys make a pact: Doyler will teach Jim to swim, and in a year, on Easter of 1916, they will swim to the distant beacon of Muglins Rock and claim that island for themselves. All the while Mr. Mack, who has grand plans for a corner shop empire, remains unaware of the depth of the boys’ burgeoning friendship and of the changing landscape of a nation.
Set during the year preceding the Easter Uprising of 1916—Ireland’s brave but fractured revolt against British rule—At Swim, Two Boys is a tender, tragic love story and a brilliant depiction of people caught in the tide of history. Powerful and artful, and ten years in the writing, it is a masterwork from Jamie O’Neill.
Customer Reviews
Brilliant, a treasure
While reading the first section of the book, I wasn't sure I could continue. The dialect so different to my Texas tongue and ears.
But then I thought, what a gift that I can read this perspective in this author's native language, which happens to be my own, English. It's a long way from Ireland to Dallas and from 1916 to 2016, but the further I read, with it being so beautifully written, I was transported back 100 years & thousands of miles to Dublin. This family, these friends, became so dear to me that by midway through the book I think I could almost speak like an Irishman myself.
What cheer, eh?
Interesting Story, Interesting Style, Great Read
I enjoyed this book very much. The style of writing was a little hard to get through at first but it eventually became a character itself and really supported the narrative. If you enjoy a unique read I'd highly recommend this book.