Reviewed by Dymphna Crowe
by Sebastian Barry (Faber and Faber: 2023)
I first read Old God’s Time when it appeared on the 2023 Booker Prize Longlist, and it certainly merits a second reading. As with Sebastian Barry’s previous books, the descriptive detail and lyrical prose takes us deep into the inner experience of the main character.
The story begins with Tom Kettle, a recently retired policeman who has ‘washed up’(p. 1) in Dalkey, a small coastal town near Dublin. Tom lives a solitary life in his small apartment, sitting in his faded wicker chair surrounded with unpacked boxes. He listens to ‘the stirring sound of the sea’ (p. 1), watches the fishermen rowing home, and the flight of the cormorants and gulls on the island beyond. There are hints of unease from the start: the underlying threat of the sea and Tom’s neighbour picking off the unsuspecting cormorants with a sniper rifle.
His silent evening is abruptly disturbed by a loud persistent knock, breaking through the peace. Two young policemen are at the door, former colleagues. Though their demeanour is friendly, they bring questions from the past: a decades old case involving the death of a priest, which Tom was involved in investigating. Tom is reluctantly drawn in to help, which brings up a sea of old, long-buried memories. We sense that the police know more than they are saying and Tom submits to a DNA test. Tom’s peace is further disturbed when he is drawn in to help a new neighbour, a young woman who asks for his protection.
The book is written from Tom’s perspective. He is haunted by the past and spends much time lost in old memories and in reflecting on those he loved. The non-linear narrative, with layers of detail, mingling past and present, draws us into Tom’s story. At times we are left feeling bewildered and confused. We learn about his difficult childhood in a Catholic boy’s home, his time in the army, followed by his years in the gardai. Elements of his life with his wife June and their children are gradually revealed, but it is increasingly unclear what is real and what is imagined. He mentions regular visits from his daughter Winnie, but we learn to question his version of reality.
The confusing narrative reflects the confusion in Tom’s own mind and heart. We get glimpses of happy times, precious family memories. But we also see the long buried hurt and trauma that has haunted Tom and that bubbles up to the surface. This is a beautifully written and deeply moving book. It is more than the story of a single life. It touches on difficult themes, including abuse and the far reaching effects of trauma. At the end, there is a sense of redemption for Tom, of coming to terms with his past. It is a book that gripped me from the start and which stayed with me long after I finished reading.
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