'I'm in awe of Thomas Lynch's way with language- the plain-spoken honesty of this poet's prose' - Elmore Leonard.
Thomas Lynch's poems, essays and stories have appeared in The Atlantic and Granta, Harper's and the Times (of London, New York, Ireland and L.A.) and elsewhere. He has published four poetry collections and a collection of stories, Apparition & Other Late Fictions (published by Jonathan Cape), as well as works of non-fiction, including The Undertaking- Life Studies from the Dismal Trade. He lives in Milford, Michigan and in Moveen, West Clare.
A curious and engaging series of pieces which retain a personal and
historical flavour...while he is excellent on Irish history and the
immigrant experience
*Observer*
By turns diverting, evocative and provocative, Booking Passage gets
to grips with all the muddle and multiplicity of its author's
lifelong concerns. It does so, to our enjoyment, in a spirit of
discernment and delight'
*Independent*
Heartfelt and artfully expressed
*Scotland on Sunday*
There are some beautiful observations about what it means to
embrace a new culture, while holding on to, and romanticising, an
old one...[with] lyrical and moving descriptions of Ireland,
Irishness and the linguistic consequences of American cultural
imperialism
*Time Out*
Profound, funny and immensely moving
*Sunday Times*
Undertaker-cum-poet Lynch (Bodies in Motion and at Rest) recalls his long romance with Eire and how it has affected his life in this compelling memoir. He takes off for the Emerald Isle early in 1970 to meet his people, who live on the edge of the Atlantic in County Clare. He stays with his elderly cousins, Nora and Tommy, a brother and sister who never married. The humble cottage has no water and is heated by a turf fire. Here the young Yank absorbs his culture shock and learns how life is lived without television, cars and other modern distractions. After Tommy's death, Lynch and Nora become closer, and he begins to bring the 20th century into the house in the form of running water. Along the way he tells the story of the Lynches of County Clare: how they survived "starvation, eviction and emigration-the three-headed scourge of English racism"-and the pain of diaspora as they emigrated to the U.S. Along the way Lynch examines his own life: his love-hate relationship with the misogynist Catholic Church and pedophilic priests; his battle with alcoholism; the breakup of his marriage and remarriage; and his unusual love of the undertaking trade. This is a deeply thought-out book filled with poetry, pathos, triumph and lots of Irish laughter. Agent, Richard McDonough. (June) Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.
A curious and engaging series of pieces which retain a personal and
historical flavour...while he is excellent on Irish history and the
immigrant experience -- Stephanie Merritt * Observer *
By turns diverting, evocative and provocative, Booking
Passage gets to grips with all the muddle and multiplicity of
its author's lifelong concerns. It does so, to our enjoyment, in a
spirit of discernment and delight' -- Patricia Craig * Independent
*
Heartfelt and artfully expressed * Scotland on Sunday *
There are some beautiful observations about what it means to
embrace a new culture, while holding on to, and romanticising, an
old one...[with] lyrical and moving descriptions of Ireland,
Irishness and the linguistic consequences of American cultural
imperialism * Time Out *
Profound, funny and immensely moving * Sunday Times *
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