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The Secret Scripture
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The Secret Scripture Paperback - 2009

by Sebastian Barry

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Set against an Ireland besieged by conflict, "The Secret Scripture" is an epic story of love, betrayal, and unavoidable tragedy, and a vivid reminder of the stranglehold that the Catholic Church had on individual lives for much of the 20th century.

Summary

An epic story of family, love, and unavoidable tragedy from the two-time Man Booker Prize finalist

Sebastian Barry 's novels have been hugely admired by readers and critics, and in 2005 his novel A Long Long Way was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize. In The Secret Scripture, Barry revisits County Sligo, Ireland, the setting for his previous three books, to tell the unforgettable story of Roseanne McNulty. Once one of the most beguiling women in Sligo, she is now a resident of Roscommon Regional Mental Hospital and nearing her hundredth year. Set against an Ireland besieged by conflict, The Secret Scripture is an engrossing tale of one woman's life, and a vivid reminder of the stranglehold that the Catholic church had on individuals throughout much of the twentieth century.

Reader reviews for The Secret Scripture

From the publisher

Now a major motion picture starring Rooney Mara

An epic story of family, love, and unavoidable tragedy from the two-time Booker Prize finalist and author of Old God's Time

Sebastian Barry's novels have been hugely admired by readers and critics, and in 2005 his novel A Long Long Way was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize. In The Secret Scripture, Barry revisits County Sligo, Ireland, the setting for his previous three books, to tell the unforgettable story of Roseanne McNulty. Once one of the most beguiling women in Sligo, she is now a resident of Roscommon Regional Mental Hospital and nearing her hundredth year. Set against an Ireland besieged by conflict, The Secret Scripture is an engrossing tale of one woman's life, and a poignant story of the cruelties of civil war and corrupted power. The Secret Scripture is now a film starring Rooney Mara, Eric Bana, and Vanessa Redgrave.

Details

  • Title The Secret Scripture
  • Author Sebastian Barry
  • Binding Paperback
  • Edition [ Edition: Repri
  • Pages 336
  • Volumes 1
  • Language ENG
  • Publisher Penguin Books, New York
  • Publication date 2009-04-28
  • Features Price on Product - Canadian
  • ISBN 9780143115694 / 0143115693
  • Weight 0.46 lbs (0.21 kg)
  • Dimensions 7.66 x 5.18 x 0.55 in (19.46 x 13.16 x 1.40 cm)
  • Age range 18 to UP years
  • Grade levels 13 - UP
  • Themes
    • Chronological Period: 1900-1949
    • Cultural Region: Ireland
  • Category Fiction - Historical
  • Library of Congress subjects Domestic fiction, Historical fiction
  • Dewey Decimal Code FIC

Media reviews

" [Barry writes] in language of surpassing beauty. . . . It is like a song, with all the pulse of the Irish language, a song sung liltingly and plaintively from the top of Ben Bulben into the airy night."
-Dinitia Smith, The New York Times

" Barry recounts all this in prose of often startling beauty. Just as he describes people stopping in the street to look at Roseanne, so I often found myself stopping to look at the sentences he gave her, wanting to pause and copy them down."
-Margot Livesey, The Boston Globe

"Luminous and lyrical."
-O, The Oprah Magazine

Citations

  • New York Times Book Review, 06/07/2009, Page 20

About the author

Sebastian Barry was born in Dublin in 1955. His plays include Boss Grady's Boys (1988), The Steward of Christendom (1995), Our Lady of Sligo (1998), The Pride of Parnell Street (2007), and Dallas Sweetman (2008). Among his novels are The Whereabouts of Eneas McNulty (1998), Annie Dunne (2002) and A Long Long Way (2005), the latter shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize. His poetry includes The Water-Colourist (1982), Fanny Hawke Goes to the Mainland Forever (1989) and The Pinkening Boy (2005). His awards include the Irish-America Fund Literary Award, The Christopher Ewart-Biggs Prize, the London Critics Circle Award, The Kerry Group Irish Fiction Prize, and Costa Awards for Best Novel and Book of the Year. He lives in Wicklow with his wife Ali, and three children, Merlin, Coral, and Tobias.

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The Secret Scripture: A Novel
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The Secret Scripture: A Novel

by Barry, Sebastian

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ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780143115694 / 0143115693
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The Secret Scripture: A Novel
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The Secret Scripture: A Novel

by Barry, Sebastian

  • Used
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  • Paperback
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Good
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ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780143115694 / 0143115693
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The Secret Scripture: A Novel
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The Secret Scripture: A Novel

by Barry, Sebastian

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Very good
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unknown
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780143115694 / 0143115693
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Penguin Books. unknown. Very Good. It's a well-cared-for item that has seen limited use. The item may show minor signs of wear. All the text is legible, with all pages included. It may have slight markings and/or highlighting.
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The Secret Scripture: A Novel

The Secret Scripture: A Novel

by Barry, Sebastian

  • Used
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  • Paperback
Condition
Good
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780143115694 / 0143115693
Quantity available
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Description:
Penguin Books, 2009. Paperback. Good. Pages can have notes/highlighting. Spine may show signs of wear. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed.
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A$9.16
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The Secret Scripture: A Novel

The Secret Scripture: A Novel

by Barry, Sebastian

  • Used
  • Very good
  • Paperback
Condition
Very good
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780143115694 / 0143115693
Quantity available
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A$9.16
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Description:
Penguin Books, 2009. Paperback. Very Good. May have limited writing in cover pages. Pages are unmarked. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed.
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Item price
A$9.16
Free Delivery to USA
The Secret Scripture: A Novel

The Secret Scripture: A Novel

by Barry, Sebastian

  • Used
  • Very good
  • Paperback
Condition
Very good
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780143115694 / 0143115693
Quantity available
1
Seller
Item price
A$9.16
Free Delivery to USA

Show details

Description:
Penguin Books, 2009. Paperback. Very Good. Former library book; May have limited writing in cover pages. Pages are unmarked. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed.
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The Secret Scripture : A Novel
Stock photo: cover may vary

The Secret Scripture : A Novel

by Barry, Sebastian

  • Used
Condition
Used
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780143115694 / 0143115693
Quantity available
4
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A$10.61
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Description:
Penguin Publishing Group. Used - Good. Pages intact with minimal writing/highlighting. The binding may be loose and creased. Dust jackets/supplements are not included. Stock photo provided. Product includes identifying sticker. Better World Books: Buy Books. Do Good.
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The Secret Scripture : A Novel
Stock photo: cover may vary

The Secret Scripture : A Novel

by Barry, Sebastian

  • Used
Condition
Used
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780143115694 / 0143115693
Quantity available
1
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Item price
A$10.61
Free Delivery to USA

Show details

Description:
Penguin Publishing Group. Used - Good. Former library copy. Pages intact with minimal writing/highlighting. The binding may be loose and creased. Dust jackets/supplements are not included. Includes library markings. Stock photo provided. Product includes identifying sticker. Better World Books: Buy Books. Do Good.
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Item price
A$10.61
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The Secret Scripture : A Novel
Stock photo: cover may vary

The Secret Scripture : A Novel

by Barry, Sebastian

  • Used
Condition
Used
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780143115694 / 0143115693
Quantity available
8
Seller
Item price
A$10.61
Free Delivery to USA

Show details

Description:
Penguin Publishing Group. Used - Good. Pages intact with minimal writing/highlighting. The binding may be loose and creased. Dust jackets/supplements are not included. Stock photo provided. Product includes identifying sticker. Better World Books: Buy Books. Do Good.
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Item price
A$10.61
Free Delivery to USA
The Secret Scripture: A Novel
Stock photo: cover may vary

The Secret Scripture: A Novel

by Barry, Sebastian

  • Used
  • Paperback
Condition
Used
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780143115694 / 0143115693
Quantity available
1
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Item price
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Random House Books for Young Readers, 2009-04-28. paperback. Used: Good. 5.00x0.58x7.70. Buy with confidence. Excellent Customer Service & Return policy.
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