Narrator Jack McNulty, an Irishman living temporarily in Ghana, tells two stories. One is the journal he is writing about his relationship with his wife and the other what is happening to him at present (1957). I had previously read Barry’s The Secret Scripture and loved it. I very much enjoy his writing style, so I thought I would try another. The Temporary Gentleman is written in the same expressive manner. For example, Jack describes his assistant, Tom:

“I looked at him. Though his eyes are hooded and nearly hidden, yet out through the folds of skin shine two slivers of emerald. I don’t know how sad he is, but I do know that he is sad. He has been extraordinarily kind, I was thinking. He is a dependable, decent man. There was goodness in him, yes, there was something of God in him. He is just a local man I employ to clean and see to the house, that’s one way of looking at it. But. Something about Tom Quaye’s care and loyalty, even if words like care and loyalty might usually suggest servility, is entrancing. He is like a big lump of medicine to me.”

This is a true character study. It is about Jack and the important people in his life. Jack is plagued by addictions, both gambling and drinking. He is not always a good influence on his family. By the end, the reader will come to know Jack and empathize with him, though recognizing his flaws and his tendencies to self-destruct. The tone is melancholy. There is a tiny thread of mystery that keeps the plot moving forward as we wonder what has happened with his wife, but I would not recommend it for anyone looking for action. This book is for readers who love a well-crafted novel of stunning prose. I liked this book immensely and will definitely be reading more of his work.

4.5
( )

Really enjoyed but the African bit did not work for me. ( )

Excellent ( )

This is the most boring and repetitive tale of unrepentant alcoholism I've ever read.

Except for the torpedoed opening, it continues slowly and predictably, with no redemption.

I chose this for the Irish Challenge - what a letdown. ( )

Sebastian Barry is the only writer that I sometimes wish I could write like. His prose style is poetic and beautiful but does not distract from the narrative as I find many self-consciously poetic prose writers do. This is a heartbreakingly simple story of one man's life and his doomed failing marriage. Despite its simplicity, it manages to span over 50 years and include the struggle for Irish independence, the 2nd world war and African colonialism.
Its only drawbacks for me were the abrupt, unconvincing ending and a reliance on the stereotypical link between the Irish and alcoholism. ( )