Super Short Summary

The Heather Blazing by Colm Tóibín follows Eamon Redmond, an emotionally reserved Irish High Court Judge, whose life spans most of the twentieth century amidst changing Irish views on history, religion, and sexuality. Through alternating chapters of his late years and his upbringing in the 1940s, the novel explores how his detachment impacts his relationships and professional life. Topics addressed include the death of a parent and coping with loss.