Colm Tóibín opens this stunning collection with a supremely compelling essay, laced with humor about his (successful) treatment for cancer, which begins: “It all started with my balls.”
Part two is an autobiographical essay about growing up in the small town of Enniscorthy in County Wexford, the setting for many of his novels and stories, including Brooklyn, The Blackwater Lightship, and Nora Webster. Tóibín writes about the priests who educated him, several of whom were condemned years later for abuse in the greatest scandal ever to befall the Catholic Church in Ireland. He writes about Irish history and literature and about homosexuality—including his personal experience, that of his predecessors and contemporaries, and the long, tragic journey toward legal and social acceptance.
In part three, Tóibín introduces complex portraits of three popes—John Paul II, Benedict XVI, and Francis.
In part four he writes about a trio of authors who reckon with religion. The final essay, “Alone in Venice,” beautifully recounts his trip to that incomparable city (where he has set some of his most dazzling scenes) at the height of the pandemic, when the streets and canals and churches and museums were empty.
A Guest at the Feast is a glorious celebration of a life devoted to art.
Colm Tóibín opens this stunning collection with a supremely compelling essay, laced with humor about his (successful) treatment for cancer, which begins: “It all started with my balls.”
Part two is an autobiographical essay about growing up in the small town of Enniscorthy in County Wexford, the setting for many of his novels and stories, including Brooklyn, The Blackwater Lightship, and Nora Webster. Tóibín writes about the priests who educated him, several of whom were condemned years later for abuse in the greatest scandal ever to befall the Catholic Church in Ireland. He writes about Irish history and literature and about homosexuality—including his personal experience, that of his predecessors and contemporaries, and the long, tragic journey toward legal and social acceptance.
In part three, Tóibín introduces complex portraits of three popes—John Paul II, Benedict XVI, and Francis.
In part four he writes about a trio of authors who reckon with religion. The final essay, “Alone in Venice,” beautifully recounts his trip to that incomparable city (where he has set some of his most dazzling scenes) at the height of the pandemic, when the streets and canals and churches and museums were empty.
A Guest at the Feast is a glorious celebration of a life devoted to art.
| ISBN-13: | 9781797153254 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Simon & Schuster Audio |
| Publication date: | 01/17/2023 |
| Product dimensions: | 5.80(w) x 5.60(h) x 1.10(d) |
It’s the very first week of National Poetry Month and we know you might be wondering — how should you celebrate? What collections should you be reading? Who should you be reading? As always, we’ve got you covered. Our Poured Over podcast has welcomed myriad poets to talk about everything from collections of verse to […]
