{"product_id":"the-dark-1","title":"Dark","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eWith a new foreword by Colin Walsh, this is ''one of the most volatile, vital and unsafe novels in Irish literature'', banned by the censor for obscenity in 1965 - and just as explosive today.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eHe was coming and there was nothing to do but wait and grow hard as stone and lie.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMahoney grows up in fear of his father: of his beatings with the heavy leather strap; of the nights he wants love. Seeking to escape the claustrophobic family farm, he contemplates a future in the priesthood, but battles with his tortured conscience amidst adolescent lusts. After winning a scholarship, he takes a stand against the household''s toxic violence - and begins a journey towards an understanding that may mean peace.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e''A master.'' \u003cb\u003eKevin Barry\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e''Timeless.'' \u003cb\u003eSinéad Gleeson\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e''Extraordinary.'' \u003cb\u003eColin Walsh\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e‘Blew me away.’ \u003cb\u003eColin Barrett\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e''A great writer.'' \u003cb\u003eSebastian Barry\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e''Exquisite.'' \u003cb\u003eAndrew Michael Hurley\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e''Elegiac and graceful.'' \u003cb\u003eDavid Mitchell\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e''One of the greatest writers of our era.''\u003cb\u003e Hilary Mantel\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e''The Irish novelist everyone should read.'' \u003cb\u003eColm Tóibín\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e‘The preeminent Irish writer of his generation.’ \u003cb\u003eAnne Enright\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e''I’m grateful for every sentence he left in this world.'' \u003cb\u003eDonal Ryan\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e''One reads McGahern for the textures of time and space, through which each of us travels, often alone.'' \u003cb\u003eYiyun Li\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57487728181621,"sku":"9780571399505","price":9.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9780571399505.jpg?v=1786354953","url":"https:\/\/backstory.london\/products\/the-dark-1","provider":"Backstory","version":"1.0","type":"link"}