The Secret Scripture
by Barry, Sebastian
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The Secret Scripture is the seventh stand-alone novel by Irish author, Sebastian Barry. Against the background of the imminent closure of an Irish mental facility, an ageing psychiatrist reviews his remaining patients for suitability to re-enter the community at large. Dr William Grene, Senior Pyschiatrist at Roscommon Regional Mental Hospital, is particularly concerned about hundred-year-old Roseanne McNulty, suspecting that her sectioning some sixty-plus years ago, like many others of that era, may have been based on social convenience rather than psychiatric need.
Barry sets up his story as twin narrations: "Dr Grene's Commonplace Book" is meant to contain a professional account of the last days of the hospital, but Will includes his personal observations about Roseanne McNulty and the results of his investigations into her admission as well as events, past and present, in his own life; "Roseanne's Testimony of Herself" is a secret memoir that Roseanne writes and keeps hidden, detailing events in her life leading up to her sectioning, along with present day happenings. This novel has a marvellous cast of characters, credible dialogue and a brilliant plot.
Astute readers will have twigged to the who and what of the mystery half-way through the novel, but this in no way reduces the enjoyment or the compulsion to continue reading Barry's beautiful prose for the how and why. Barry touches on many topics including the chequered history of mental institutions, the Irish Civil War, the power of the Catholic Church in 20th century Ireland and whether there is such a thing as factual truth (or does it all depend on the accuracy of a person's memory?). This was a great read and I will be looking for the companion works to this one that Barry has written: The Whereabouts of Eneas McNulty, and Our Lady of Sligo. This unbiased review is from a copy provided by NetGalley and Faber & Faber
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The Secret Scripture (SIGNED)
by Barry, Sebastian
- Condition
- Used - Good, 1st p/b edition, signed, spine creased
- Edition
- 1st thus
- Published
- 2008
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- P/b
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- 9780571239610
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Maidenhead, Berkshire, GBR
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The Secret Scripture
by Sebastian Barry
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- First edition
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- 2008
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- Cloth
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BATH, Somerset, GBR
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The Secret Scripture: A BBC2 'Between the Covers' Booker Gem 2021
by Barry, Sebastian
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GORING BY SEA, West Sussex, GBR
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The secret scripture: a novel / by Sebastian Barry
by Barry, Sebastian (1955-)
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- 2008
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- Softcover
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- 9780571239610
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Galway, IRL
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The Secret Scripture
by Sebastian Barry
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- 2008
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The Secret Scripture: A Novel
by Sebastian Barry
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- 2008
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The Secret Scripture
by Sebastian Barry
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- 2008
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The Secret Scripture
by Sebastian Barry
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The Secret Scripture
by Barry, Sebastian
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- 2008
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Cadillac, Michigan, USA
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The Secret Scripture
by Barry, Sebastian
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- 2008
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Edmonton, Alberta, CAN
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The Secret Scripture
by Sebastian Barry
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Seattle, Washington, USA
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The Secret Scripture
by Barry, Sebastian
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- 2008
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The Secret Scripture Barry, Sebastian
by Sebastian Barry
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- 2009-01-29
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Secret Scripture, The
by Sebastian Barry
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- 2008
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Seattle, Washington, USA
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The Secret Scripture
by Barry, Sebastian
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- 2007
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- 9780571215294
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Seattle, Washington, USA
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The Secret Scripture
by Sebastian Barry
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- 01/29/2009
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London, Greater London, GBR
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The Secret Scripture
by Barry, Sebastian
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- First American Edition; Fifth Printing
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- 2008
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- Hardcover
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- 9780670019403
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HOUSTON, Texas, USA
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The Secret Scripture
by Barry, Sebastian
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- 1st Edition
- Published
- 2008
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- Hardcover
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- 9780670019403
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The secret scripture : a novel / by Sebastian Barry
by Barry, Sebastian (1955-)
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- 19th edition
- Published
- 2009
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- Softcover
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- 9780571215294
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Galway, IRL
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The Secret Scripture
by Sebastian Barry
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Wellington, Greater Wellington, NZL
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