The River Field

One of Ireland’s finest writers here follows his magnificent and critically acclaimed memoir, Things You Should Know, with a collection of short stories, set over the centuries and bound by one mitigating the factor – a field near his beloved Athy, Co. Kildare. Each story showcases MacKenna’s incredible gift of capturing a moment, an emotion, a time in sensuous yet stark language. Oft likened to the late John McGahern, this wonderful collection of one of the true art forms – the short story – is further proof that those comparisons are richly deserved.

Praise for John MacKenna:

'His restrained limpid style and rural settings are reminiscent of McGahern' Katie Donovan, Irish Times

'His stories are imbued with an intense eroticism which sharpens the characters’ memories and softens the harsh Irish landscapes in which they live' Sunday Times

'John MacKenna’s short stories are a wonder' Rose Doyle, Irish Times

'MacKenna is one of our most accomplished writers' RTE Guide

Praise for Things You Should Know:

'a powerful and evocative work infused with great craft and courage' Irish Book Review

'powerful…anguished' Irish Independent

'A gorgeous book … John McGahern – only better' The Nationalist and Leinster Times

'John MacKenna … succeeds brilliantly in engaging and sustaining the reader’s attention' The Irish Times

'honest and captivating' Leinster Leader

'Everyone involved in a relationship should read this book' Sunday Tribune