A Malady (Modern Irish Fiction) - Softcover

Many readers will encounter the malady evoked in this finely-written novel with a shock of instant recognition. The central characters are preoccupied with their inability to penetrate the world around them, to make contact with each other, or even to gain a measure of control in their own lives.
The 'fast-film' technique of the writing yields a startling clarity; and the setting of the book, in a hospital, highlights the experience of isolation. By a subtle use of irony and imagery the author keeps the reader aware of the fact that the world of the hospital closely parallels the world outside.
Pierce Butler was born in Waterford city, where he grew up, and has lived in Cork, London and the US. He has attended University College Cork, where he taught for three years in the Civil Engineering Department, and Harvard University. At present, he lives in Arlington, Massachusetts, and is working on a collection of stories and a novel.