Fool of the Family: A Life of J.M. Synge Book

"Synge was like Frank McCourt of today but in more delicate circumstances, and he was a much greater, more original writer. . . . McCormack's biography, written in his distinctive, elegant style is refreshing and invigorating, a literary tour de force." --Daily Telegraph "Superb"--Denis Donoghue, New York University "Synge was a mass of contradictions, skillfully dissected in W. J. McCormack's definitive new biography. Fool of the Family is a magnificent labor of scholarship, which draws on much unpublished material to present a superbly rounded portrait." --Terry Eagleton, Independent "Well-researched and insightful. . . . At times it is beautifully gripping." --Sunday Telegraph Soulmate of James Joyce, J. M. Synge (1871-1909) is famous as the author of Playboy of the Western World, which provoked riots at its Dublin premiere in 1907. But the man himself, his peculiar religious background, and little-investigated death, have, until now, remained in the shadows. W. J. McCormack here recreates the complex religious and social environment in which Synge refined his talents as a writer. Placing Synge's life firmly in the context of the cultural revolution unfolding in Europe, this fresh and lively account will stand as the authoritative biography of this great writer.Read More