The Truth Must Dazzle Gradually: A moving and powerful novel from one of Ireland's finest new writers John Boyne

(Paperback)

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An emotional, poignant and atmospheric literary novel from a critically-acclaimed rising star in Irish fiction 'There's a crack in everything, it's how the light gets in' Leonard Cohen On an island off the west coast of Ireland, the Moone family are poised for celebration - but are instead shattered by tragedy. Murtagh Moone is a potter and devoted husband to Maeve, an actor struggling with her most challenging role yet as mother to their four children. Now Murtagh must hold his family close as we bear witness to their story before that night. We return to the day Maeve and Murtagh meet, outside Trinity College in Dublin, and watch how one love story gives rise to another. As the Moone children learn who their parents truly are, we journey onwards with them to a future that none of the Moones can predict. Except perhaps Maeve herself.

Reviews

A beautiful bittersweet story of love, loss and families all set in the most irresistible of locations. Tears were shed! -- Graham Norton
A moving and powerful novel from one of Ireland's finest new writers -- John Boyne
Such a true gift of a novel, with its sumptuous forward momentum, and rare precision, and inspired imagery. The Truth Must Dazzle Gradually generates a very bright light, one that is human, graceful, and healing. It's an absolute pleasure to read -- Sebastian Barry
Just loved it . . . so moving on motherhood, depression, family ties and Ireland -- Annie Macmanus
A beautiful story. I was gripped and held in a state of love for all the characters -- Sarah Winman, Sunday Times bestselling author of Tin Man
I devoured this, falling in love with the setting and with every character - and when I reached the end, I wept. It is just glorious. A sweeping family safe and, at the same time, a close-up on the everyday beautiful details that make up love -- Emma Flint, author of Little Deaths
We are seduced by the story of the star-crossed lovers * Sunday Times *
Cullen's quietly devastating second novel is both a family saga and a careful exploration of the reality of living with mental health issues * i paper *
A beautiful meditation on family life in Ireland -- Elaine Feeney, Irish Times
An extremely moving read. Handles the complexities of love, grief, family life and mental illness with sensitivity and depth. A truly gorgeous novel. -- Ali Land, author of Good Me, Bad Me
Intensely moving, beautifully written and drenched with Irish atmosphere, this novel asks brave and thoughtful questions about mental health * Daily Mail *
I really enjoyed Helen Cullen's confident voice and lyrical descriptions and was relieved by the optimistic and redemptive ending as I had become so invested in the characters. I'll look out for more from this author -- Clare Chambers, author of Small Pleasures
So wonderful on the Irish family and the utter complexity of motherhood, family entanglement and love -- Elaine Feeney, poet and author of As You Were
An honest meditation on love and motherhood - this is a story of the confessions that aren't easily made; the secret hopes and desires that can feel too complicated or painful to express. Cullen is a thoughtful writer and she dissects the stubborn optimism of the human heart with skill and sympathy * Irish Independent *
A compassionate portrayal of love, support and grief, The Truth Must Dazzle Gradually contains moments so recognisable to anyone who has suffered from depression that credit must be given to Cullen for depicting mental illness in all its senseless brutality while never exploiting it for sentimental reasons... There are many strengths to this novel, not least of which is the author's decision not to fill the pages with anguish . . . a writer whose skill is matched by an ability to surprise with each new work -- John Boyne, Irish Times
Precise, haunting and, above all, beautiful . . . has the twin ability to inspire you to take delight in the world, yet also cry with the pain that unfolds in its pages . . . a book of rare quality * i magazine *
I loved this book so much . . . Gorgeous -- Aisling Bea
A powerful and poignant narrative told over a lifetime; exploring unconditional love, heartbreak and the beautiful flaws of human nature set within a family unit. (Cullen) is an astute and empathic writer and an incredible voice in Irish literature. You'll fall in love with the Moone family and they will linger in your heart long after you read the final pages -- Cat Hogan, author of They All Fall Down and There Was A Crooked Man
Beautifully-observed [...] charts a family across 37 years, living through a tragedy on a remote island; portraying mental health and the fall-out around it with enormous humanity and integrity. Tonally reminiscent of recent Colm Tibn -- Caoilinn Hughes, author of Orchid and The Wasp
A beautiful novel - Helen Cullen writes with such deft care and attention about the things that hold us together when everything falls apart -- Rnn Hession, author of Leonard and Hungry Paul
Such a tender read. Astute and compassionate, it made me cry. It's full of love. And it's quietly magnificent -- Tor Udall, author of A Thousand Paper Birds
A perfect combination of deeply-felt tragedy with great hopefulness -- Anne Youngson, author of Meet Me at the Museum
A remarkable book -- Joy Rhoades, author of The Woolgrowers Companion
A superb second novel that goes to places you mightn't expect but which ultimately end up making a great deal of sense. It touches on a lot thematically and doesn't ever suggest that any one life path can be a cure for severe mental illness and it does some things that... are very pleasing indeed. I had a LOT OF FEELINGS -- Claire Hennessy, author and editor of Banshee Journal
Loved it. Beautiful and original * Sunday Independent *
A beautifully observed saga of abandoned dreams, loss and self-discovery -- Alan McGonagle, author of Ithaca
Absolute poetry and a love letter to family and to the arts. The depiction of depression is as accurate as any I've read and the empathy in this book is beautiful -- Maggie Smith, award-winning author of Good Bones and Keep Moving
Powerful, intimate, moving - a beautiful exploration of love and family -- Maria Dickenson, M.D. Dubray Books
This will touch your soul * Sainsbury's Magazine *
Cullen's atmospheric novel captures beautifully the continuity of life even at times of deepest grief. If we avoid tragedy in literature, we're closing ourselves off to some of the most powerful and moving writing, as exemplified by Helen Cullen's second novel which deals delicately and humanely with the subjects of mental health and the ravaging effects of grief * Business Post *
An Irish novel moves from a family's joy to tragedy and back in this poignant yet hopeful novel spanning the late 1970s to 2015 * Shelf Awareness *
Cullen's lyrical prose drives the immersive and heart-wrenching narrative. This complex study of depression and its impact on family dynamics will lure readers * Publishers Weekly *
Love is here in spades... clear a weekend for this gorgeous read * Library Journal (starred review) *
Praise for Helen Cullen * - *

If you liked Harold Fry and Me Before You, you will love Cullen's nostalgic debut. This life-affirming book will draw you in and keep you there

* Independent *
Delightful * Sunday Times *
Deeply moving * Irish Times *
I found myself totally transported into William's poignant and beguiling world of lost opportunities and love
This will touch your soul * Sainsbury's Magazine *
Cullen's writing is precise, haunting and, above all, beautiful . . . has the twin ability to inspire you to take delight in the world, yet also cry with the pain that unfolds in its pages * i *
Deals delicately and humanely with the subjects of mental health and the ravaging effects of grief . . . ultimately a hopeful read that lives long in the memory * Business Post *
Cullen's quietly devastating novel is both a family saga and a careful exploration of the realities of living with mental health issues * i *
A thoroughly moving and frequently funny story of love and compassion * The New European *
A tender and unflinching exploration of mental illness and how it can eat into the heart of a family. Full of empathy and genuinely moving, a novel that will stay with me for a long time -- Christine Dwyer Hickey, prizewinning author of The Narrow Land

Author Bio

Helen Cullen is an Irish writer living in London. She is the author of The Lost Letters of William Woolf which has been optioned for television. She was shortlisted for Newcomer of the Year at the Irish Book Awards. To learn more, please visit www.helencullen.ie