A Man in a Distant Field: A NovelDeclan O'Malley came to the coast of British Columbia because it was as far away from Ireland as he could possibly go. Haunted by memories of his family's death at the hands of the Black and Tans, Declan is unable to escape his grief. He immerses himself in a new life, seeking to produce a more perfect translation of Homer's Odyssey while at the same time becoming closer to the family on whose property he is living. But Declan cannot free himself from his past, and when Ireland beckons, he is drawn to his own history and to the opportunity for a happier future. |
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Alex Argos arms asphodel barmbrack Ben Gorm Bernadette birds boat bog oak boys bread Bundorragha cabin called canoe cedar Clifden County Mayo creek Cregganbaun daughters Declan asked Delphi door dream Edward Higgins Eilis eyes farm father felt Fergus fingers fire fish flowers girl Glengarry County Grainne hands harp head hill Ireland Irish island Killary Harbour knew lads Leenane looked MacIsaac Mannion milk mother Neil Neil children never night O'Malley Odysseus Oyster Bay paddle plants poem potatoes raven remembered road rock Rose salal salmon shore side skiff smell soda bread stones stopped story strings talk tell thing tide told took trees Tullaglas turf shed Una's waited walked wanted warm wash watched wind woman wondered wood World's End young καὶ
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Page 9 - ... were interwoven. Here Odysseus tunnelled, and raked together with his hands a wide bed— for a fall of leaves was there, enough to save two men or maybe three on a winter night, a night of bitter cold. Odysseus' heart laughed when he saw his leaf-bed, and down he lay, heaping more leaves above him. A man in a distant field, no hearthfires near, will hide a fresh brand in his bed of embers to keep a spark alive for the next day; so in the leaves Odysseus hid himself, while over him Athena showered...