Jennifer Johnston
Having lived abroad most of my adult life it’s perhaps understandable that I have no strong allegiance to Irish writing. The fact that an author was Irish never used to influence my choice until recently.
Now I keep an eye on Irish writers old and new. Shadows is written in a very spare simple style. It’s set in 70’s Derry. The violence remains in the background – at one point several shots are fired and two British soldiers are killed, but it takes place just out of sight around the corner. It’s very readable and very real. Some might call it deceptively simple.
Valancourt The Viaduct reissue
.
Irish Times Q+A