Author:Derek Scally
The Number One Bestseller
Shortlisted for the Irish Book Awards 2021
'A great achievement . . . Brilliant, engaging and essential' Colm Tóibín
'At once intimate and epic, this is a landmark book' Fintan O'Toole
When Dubliner Derek Scally goes to Christmas Eve Mass on a visit home from Berlin, he finds more memories than congregants in the church where he was once an altar boy. Not for the first time, the collapse of the Catholic Church in Ireland brings to mind the fall of another powerful ideology - East German communism. While Germans are engaging earnestly with their past, Scally sees nothing comparable going on in his native land. So he embarks on a quest to unravel the tight hold the Church had on the Irish.
He travels the length and breadth of Ireland and across Europe, going to Masses, novenas, shrines and seminaries, talking to those who have abandoned the Church and those who have held on, to survivors and campaigners, to writers, historians, psychologists and many more. And he has probing and revealing encounters with Vatican officials, priests and religious along the way.
The Best Catholics in the World is the remarkable result of his three-year journey. With wit, wisdom and compassion Scally gives voice and definition to the murky and difficult questions that face a society coming to terms with its troubling past. It is both a lively personal odyssey and a resonant and gripping work of reporting that is a major contribution to the story of Ireland.
'Reflective, textured, insightful and original ... rich with history, interrogation and emotional intelligence' Diarmaid Ferriter, Irish Times
'An unblinking look at the collapse of the Church and Catholic deference in Ireland. Excellent and timely' John Banville, The Sunday Times
'Engaging and incisive' Caelainn Hogan, author of Republic of Shame
'Remarkable ... Essential reading for anyone concerned about history and forgetting' Michael Harding
'Fair-minded ... thoughtful' Melanie McDonagh, The Times
'Very pacey and entertaining ... and it changed how I regard Ireland and our history for good. Fantastic' Oliver Callan
'Original, thought-provoking and very engaging' Marie Collins
'A provocative insight into a time that many would rather forget' John Boyne
'Challenging' Mary McAleese
'Explores this subject in a way that I've never seen before' Hugh Linehan, Irish Times
An extraordinary story ... At once intimate and epic, this is a landmark book
—— Fintan O'TooleA great achievement ... brilliant, engaging and essential
—— Colm TóibínAn engaging and incisive book that asks what keeping the faith cost us, how it shaped us and what it means now
—— Caelainn Hogan , author of Republic of ShameRemarkable ... [Scally] examines the past with disarming honesty and a sense of compassion. His book is essential reading for anyone concerned about history and forgetting
—— Michael HardingOffers some challenging end-of-an-era reflections on being Catholic in the scandal-ridden church of contemporary Ireland
—— Mary McAleeseAbsolutely thrilling. A wonderful blend of personal story, journalism and history - it goes to unexpected places and asks questions we don't usually consider
—— Oliver CallanAccessible, original, thought-provoking and very engaging
—— Marie CollinsA wonderful book
—— Catriona CroweReflective, textured, insightful and original ... rich with history, interrogation and emotional intelligence
—— Diarmaid Ferriter , Irish TimesA highly intelligent, patriotic work
—— Business PostCompelling
—— Irish ExaminerExcellent and timely
—— Sunday TimesWomen from the New Testament are given a voice and their side of the story in this richly imagined but impressively researched novel. Thayil's knowledge and rootedness in the biblical world is palpable on every page.
—— Juanita Coulson , Lady, *Books of the Year*A gleaming and brilliant novel of history, mystery and mythology set in Georgian London...a real gem of a debut
—— Anna MazzolaA complete and utter joy of a book. I adored the characters and it was an incredibly atmospheric read. The evocation of eighteenth century London was beautifully done, the mystery kept me turning the pages and the love story captured my heart. My only complaint was I didn't want it to end!'
—— Elodie Harper, bestselling author of The Wolf DenThis novel is a work of genius. Beautifully written and perfectly plotted with a heroine you'll fall in love with. It richly describes Georgian London and weaves character study and gorgeous setting and Greek mythology into a perfect book. One of the best historical novels I've ever read.
—— Christina Sweeney-BairdDelicious, intriguing and original...unfolds beautifully into a cracking finale.
—— Liz Hyder, author of The GiftsIf you like a novel steeped in great characters, a Gothic Georgian London, a world of antiquities and myth - this is an absolute winner. I loved it!
—— Essie FoxThe author has very skilfully and pleasurably set her tale in Georgian London...wonderful characters ...book groups will love the plot and be entranced by Dora's world
—— NB MagazineSumptuous, hypnotic and unforgettable. This beautifully told story of Gothic Georgian London is filled with mesmeric wonder, compelling mysteries and fascinating characters. I loved every page of it.
—— BP Walter, author of The Dinner Guest[An] immersive, unusual love tale
—— Claire Allfree , MetroStokes-Chapman can write fascinating, three-dimensional characters... Meanwhile, extensive research brings the period so much to life you can taste it... full of buried family histories and fantastical archaeological theories, Pandora is a readable, solid debut
—— Natasha Pulley , GuardianWhether the discussion is about artificial intelligence, the future capacities of knowledge, politics, philosophy, intuition, history (philosopher Thomas Metzinger shares experiences from post–World War II Germany that are hard to look away from), religion, reason, or the nature of consciousness, Harris grounds lofty discussions with concrete examples and his gift for analogy . . . free and open debate, in the best sense of the word . . . the book’s advantage over the podcast is that readers can linger as they need to and cherry-pick interviews at will. Recommended for anyone who wants to spend time with intelligent minds wrestling not with each other but with understanding.
—— Kirkus ReviewsOne of the most eloquent and inspiring memoirs of recent years... A Dutiful Boy is real-life storytelling at its finest
—— Mr Porter, *Summer Reads of 2021*Mohsin Zaidi...in a compassionate, compelling and humorous way, tells his story of seeking acceptance within the gay community, and within the Muslim community in which he grew up
—— Gilllian Carty , Scottish Legal NewsA powerful portrayal of being able to live authentically despite all the odds
—— Mike Findlay , ScotsmanZaidi's affecting memoir recounts his journey growing up in east London in a devout Muslim household. He has a secret, one he cannot share with anyone - he is gay. When he moves away to study at Oxford he finds, for the first time, the possibility of living his life authentically. The dissonance this causes in him - of finding a way to accept himself while knowing his family will not do the same - is so sensitively depicted. One of the most moving chapters includes him coming home to a witch doctor, who his family has summoned to "cure" him. This is an incredibly important read, full of hope.
—— Jyoti Patel, The GuardianA beautifully written book, a lovely story, life-affirming
—— Jeremy VineZaidi's account is raw, honest and at times quite painful to read. It's so vivid that it feels almost tangible, as though you're living the experiences of the author himself.
—— VogueThis heartfelt and honest book is beautifully written and full of hope
—— The New Arab