60 years ago, Faber published John McGahern for the first time. His novel, The Barracks, is the spare, haunting tale of Elizabeth Reegan, dying of breast cancer, looking at her life, past and present, trying to make sense of it.
It was John McGahern's first novel in print, and won instant critical and popular acclaim. McGahern, who died in 2006. would go on to write six novels, four short story collections and a memoir.
This Monday evening, March 20th, the writers Colm Tóibín and Niamh Campbell, and the archivist Catriona Crowe come together online for a special discussion of the The Barracks, and all things McGahern.
Ahead of the event, Colm Tóibín talks about The Barracks and John McGahern to Kay Sheehy for RTÉ Arena above.
A special webinar discussion marking 60 years of The Barracks will take place online, at 7pm on March 20th - find out more here. Listen to more from RTÉ Arena here.
