Irish author Claire Keegan’s latest work, So Late in the Day (Faber and Faber 2023) is, like all her writing, a short, sharp novella, an intimate portrayal of a particular situation and character with not a word wasted.
This story of only 47 pages takes place over one day and evening, as Cathal leaves his office job and catches the bus home. The details of his trip are interspersed with his reflections on his relationship with Sabine.
Keegan tackles weighty social issues and, in this novella, she has misogyny in her crosshairs. In the most subtle and nuanced way, we are drawn into the interiority of Cathal’s thoughts, suspecting nothing amiss, then gradually drawn down a path of knowing from which there is no escape. Our perspective tips and shifts; our alliances and allegiances implode and shatter and reform.
This book did not resonate with me as much as her previous works – I thought both Foster and Small Things Like These were absolutely brilliant – but in saying that, this is still an incredible piece of writing by an intelligent and talented author.
Thanks to Fiona Stager for gifting me a signed copy of this book.