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Walk the Blue Fields  By  cover art

Walk the Blue Fields

By: Claire Keegan
Narrated by: Aidan Kelly, Aoife McMahon, Aidan Quinn
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Publisher's summary

Claire Keegan's brilliant debut collection, Antarctica, was named a Los Angeles Times Book of the Year and earned her resounding accolades on both sides of the Atlantic. She continues her outstanding work with this new collection of quietly wrenching stories of despair and desire in modern-day Ireland.

In "The Long and Painful Death," a writer awarded a stay to work in Heinrich Böll's old cottage has her peace interrupted by an unwelcome intruder whose ulterior motives emerge as the night progresses. In the title story, a priest waits at the altar to perform a marriage—and battles his memories of a love affair that led him to question all to which he has dedicated his life. And in "Dark Horses," a man seeks solace at the bottom of a bottle as he mourns both his empty life and his lost love.

A masterful portrait of a country wrestling with its past and of individuals struggling toward their futures, Walk the Blue Fields is a breathtaking collection from "that rarest of writers—someone I will always want to read," and a resounding articulation of all the yearnings of the human heart (Irish Times).

©2016 Claire Keegan (P)2022 HighBridge, a division of Recorded Books

What listeners say about Walk the Blue Fields

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Writing and narration

i have read Claire Keegan's Foster and enjoyed listening to her stories in this collection immensely!

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Enjoyed the stories set in Ireland, but . . .

Close to the Water’s Edge: sun setting in the Atlantic and branches on palm trees? I will try another book by this author, as some of the stories were hauntingly beautiful.

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Wonderful stories

Enjoy the wonderful stories and excellent narration. Varied folk and relational stories. Great to listen with a family member. I look forward to reading more from this author — uses imagery, humor, and serious content to blend well-crafted narratives.

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Quirky, atmospheric stories

I loved the matter-of-fact delivery that suited the stories perfectly. Not for everyone but intriguing and enjoyable if you like Ireland and local color.

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Stunning Storytelling

Claire Keegan’s stories are so evocative and beautifully crafted. She has become one of my favorite writers. I will surely listen to this again.

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Just Superb.

I am spellbound by all of Claire Keegan’s stories. They are a beautiful window into the Irish soul and struggle.

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Thanks!

The performances enhanced the stories and the gifted author. I wanted the recording to go on and on!

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Hauntingly Beautiful

This collection of stories moved me deeply. The author’s use of imagery and nature as a backdrop to the story, even to foretell a happening or round out a character, shows her mastery of the craft. Then narrator was excellent, well chosen.

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A different Claire Keegan. . . no good at all

Keegan's Small Things Like These was a beautiful novel, but Walk the Blue Fields sounds like a different author. It's less a set of short stories, and more a set of windows into deep bitterness and hate for the Catholic Church and Irish Catholic culture.

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folklore

The stories were not what I expected. I should have read the description more carefully. However, it was interesting.

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