From the acclaimed author of Room and The Pull of the Stars comes a haunting, luminous meditation on isolation, faith and survival inspired by real historical events, as a trio of seventh-century monks found a monastery on an impossibly remote island.
Three men vow to leave the world behind them and start anew...
In seventh-century Ireland, a scholar and priest called Artt has a dream telling him to leave the sinful world behind. Taking two monks - young Trian and old Cormac - he travels down the river Shannon in search of an isolated spot on which to found a monastery. Drifting out into the Atlantic, the three men find an impossibly steep, bare island inhabited by tens of thousands of birds, and claim it for God. Their extraordinary landing spot is now known as Skellig Michael. But in such a place, far from all other humanity, what will survival mean?
Haunting, moving and vividly told, Haven displays Emma Donoghue's trademark world-building and psychological intensity - but this tale is like nothing she has ever written before...
Publisher: Pan Macmillan
ISBN: 9781529091113
Number of pages: 272
Weight: 383 g
Dimensions: 216 x 135 x 24 mm
MEDIA REVIEWS
'Haven is a beautiful and timely novel about isolation, passion and the conflict between obedience and self-preservation. The island setting and the characters stayed with me long after I finished reading' - Sarah Moss
'Told with the clarity of a fable, Haven transports us into territories unknown, where 'fog makes an island of every man.' Donoghue's men of the cloth confront challenges that rattle not only their faith in God, but their faith in each other and in the natural world. This is a patient, thoughtful novel with much to say about spirituality, hope, and human failure, and about the miracle of mercy' - Esi Edugyan
'In 7th century Ireland, three men set sail to a bird-thick island to find God. Emma Donoghue combines pressure-cooker intensity and radical isolation, to stunning effect. What is Divine Grace? Purity of soul? Virtue? Not what they think' - Margaret Atwood
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“Simple but powerful tale”
Another tale of life in a limited environment from this accomplished author. The writing is uncomplicated but exceptionally beautiful. The life these three monks live is basic and very frugal. The story unfolds... More
“"Haven" will be one of those books that everyone raves about but haven’t actually read.”
I have read “Room” but none of Emma Donoghue’s other books, and I am never swayed by hype, so I am reviewing “Haven” on its own merit. While this novel is very well researched with memorable, well-rounded characters,... More
“Faith and survival in 7th Century Ireland. An unusual, original, immersive and "illuminated"book”
I think readers of "Room" might be confused as this is a (seemingly) very different book...
It's set in 7th Century Ireland. A priest has a vision about leaving the monastery and establishing a purer...
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