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Growing up in rural Ireland under a ruthless father in 'All Will Be Well'

KATHY HABEL

Date published: 7/9/2006

KATHY HABEL

For THE FREE LANCE-STAR

In award-winning John McGahern's newest book, "All Will Be Well," he writes a memoir of his own life in rural Ireland as the oldest of seven children.

As a master of the written word, McGahern paints a picture of the landscape so vivid that you can almost smell the grasses and pick the flowers. His description of his life and family seems to place the reader at the scene, almost a part of this large and dysfunctional family.

He describes his life with his mother, Sue, who died of breast cancer when he was 9 years old. She was a driving force in his life, and his memory of her and her goodness sustained him throughout his life. She was a schoolteacher and balanced her time raising her children, running a household alone and teaching. Together, they planned that he should become a priest when he grew up and they would live together. He would say Masses in her honor to ensure her place in heaven.

His father, Frankie, was with the guards, the local police force in that part of Ireland. As such, he stayed in the barracks and rarely made it home to his family. Besides being extremely handsome, he had a violent and unstable nature that manifested itself in many cruel and humiliating ways toward his wife and children. In today's world, Frankie might be considered bipolar.

Frankie was selfish and self-centered and when his wife became ill with cancer, he worried more about the expense of the treatment than he did about Sue's health. He did not come to visit her prior to her death but spent time and expense on a monument in the cemetery after her passing.

'All Will Be Well' By John McGahern (Knopf, 304 pages, $25)

Date published: 7/9/2006