The Secret Scripture

By: Sebastian Barry

Narrated by: Wanda McCaddon

Length: 9 hrs and 44 mins

Publisher's summary

Roseanne McNulty, once one of the most beautiful and beguiling girls in County Sligo, Ireland, is now an elderly patient at Roscommon Regional Mental Hospital. As her 100th year draws near, she decides to record the events of her life, hiding the manuscript beneath the floorboards.

Meanwhile, the hospital is preparing to close and is evaluating its patients to determine whether they can return to society. Dr. Grene, Roseanne's caretaker, takes a special interest in her case. In his research, he discovers a document written by a local priest that tells a very different story of Roseanne's life than what she recalls. As doctor and patient attempt to understand each other, they begin to uncover long-buried secrets about themselves. Set against an Ireland besieged by conflict, The Secret Scripture is an epic story of love, betrayal, and unavoidable tragedy.

©2008 Sebastian Barry (P)2008 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Above all it is the surpassing quality of Mr. Barry's language that gives it its power....It is like a song, with all the pulse of the Irish language, a song sung liltingly and plaintively from the top of Ben Bulben into the airy night." ( New York Times)

Beautiful story of two lost souls

There were times when I almost quit listening because of the pain and vulnerability of Roseanne. I'm very glad I persevered because the ending was so satisfying even if it requires a bit of suspension of plausibility. This is a very Irish story in its melancholy, and Roseanne's voice is written in beautiful prose. I came to love her and Dr Green.

Sad Story, Warm Ending

A reminder of how repressive society was as we entered the 1900s. An unknown friend lacks the clout to keep the heroine from a being locked in a mental asylum but never gives up his vigil until he can hand it to another.

An indomitable spirit

And a dark story told by two protagonists that adds immeasurably to the tale. And the writing is of course a marvel.

A Wild Irish Rose

How does one live a life that is lost, even without dying, especially when that life had held so much promise? This is a story, an almost painfully poignant story, of a girl, Roseanne, growing up in the small town Ireland of the first half of the 20th century. Roseanne was burdened doubly by being Presbyterian and exceptionally beautiful – something which seems to have drawn the suspicious censure of the local priest. This is not a simple story – it is filled with the complexities, tragedies and beauties of the human experience.
Told from the perspective of an aged Roseanne who has been living in a mental asylum for the past 50+ years and that of her attending psychiatrist, the story draws you in to the world in which Roseanne lived – both terrible and beautiful, and with many unexpected turns along the way. Beautifully written and narrated.

Regrettable

Highly regrettable, those were
9 hours and 45 minutes I'll never get back. I struggled along, figuring it was an okay book. I'll give extra latitude to a novel that was free. And the three last chapters came and went and left me frustrated and angry. I'll say no more.

Loved this book

Loved the characters, hated the people who wronged them and as usual, I miss them all now that the book is finished. I may read it again just to visit them.

A perfect novel

Starting quietly and slowly, the story becomes mesmerizing as an exploration of two lives. The narrator masterfully conveys the voices of male and female, English and Irish characters.

Delightful historical fiction

Wonderfully crafted historical fiction. The dialogue is spot on and the inner dialogue is awesome ??? a little like watching a champion gymnast execute near impossible acrobatics effortlessly. I kept hitting the re-wind button thinking ???wait! Do that again!???

I felt like I was there

What made the experience of listening to The Secret Scripture the most enjoyable?

The narration was tremendous. Unlike some other listeners/readers, I loved the careful depiction of the small things because it put me directly into the story in a visceral way.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Secret Scripture?

I want to say all of them. Her description of her father shaving, the discussion of his downfall, the clandestine burial, Roseanne and Eneas, the conversations with Dr. Grene, and old Mrs. McNulty turning Roseanne away in the storm.

Have you listened to any of Wanda McCaddon’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I have not, but I would certainly listen to her read anything. She could enliven the directions on a toothpaste tube!

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I had so many reactions. Some of it was disgust and shock, some of it was a sense of extreme tenderness. Sometimes what I felt was rage and disgust at how unkind people and institutions can be.

Any additional comments?

I bought this because I also purchased two of the Neopolitan Novels by Ferrante at the same time and the algorithm of Audible thought they were similar. The difference, for me, is that I could NOT finish the Ferrante books. The hardscrabble life depicted in those books was so mean, so unyielding and ugly that I couldn't get past a few hours. However Barry's writing and McCaddon's performance brought this story of very hard Irish country life to breathe in a way that was insightful and though describing lives that were tightly socially controlled (even unto manipulation), the story also contained so many moments of tangible sweetness and always always a sense of hope that I fell in love with this book and with Roseanne.

catch a salmon or catch not a salmon

wanda mc caddon did a wonderful job
this story really deserves a thick irish brogue
her diction is lyrical but always intelligible

the tale is one of relentless irish adversity
the british, the church and other irish are all equally cruel
to have anything of your own is its' own small victory

? how do you live in a world not designed with you in mind
? how do you remain sane while constantly under attack
? where can you find a home in this uncaring society

there is a beautiful paragraph near the start of the book
it reports to be about signs for catching or not catching salmon
as it turns out you never really do catch a salmon

no matter what ; life won't turn out the way you planned
there is no real use in complaining and worrying about it
it's what you do after you learn this fact that really matters