56 pages • 1 hour read
Old God's Time
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Summary and Study Guide
Overview
Old God’s Time (2023) is a novel by Sebastian Barry, who was the Laureate for Irish Fiction from 2018 to 2021. He has won numerous awards for his large body of work, which includes plays, novels, and poetry. Old God’s Time was shortlisted for the International Dublin Literary Award and longlisted for the Booker Prize. The novel follows Tom Kettle, a retired police detective living a quiet seaside town in Ireland, who is forced to confront his own difficult past when he becomes involved in an ongoing investigation in the present. The narrative weaves through Tom’s memories, exploring themes of trauma, violence, and the passage of time.
This guide uses the 2024 Faber & Faber paperback edition.
Content Warning: The source material contains depictions of physical and sexual violence against minors. It also depicts suicide, drug abuse, acts of terrorism, violence, and murder.
Plot Summary
Tom Kettle, a retired police officer, rents an apartment annexed to his wealthy landlord’s house. His neighbor plays the cello at odd hours and shoots seabirds from his balcony. Sometimes, Tom’s beloved daughter Winnie visits; his son Joe is a doctor in the United States. One day, two officers from his old police division, Unlock all 56 pages of this Study Guide Plus, gain access to 8,900+ more expert-written Study Guides. Including features:
Related Titles
By Sebastian Barry
