Novel with strong Offaly theme launched in Birr

Frances Browner’s new book, 'A Bronx Summer', was launched recently by local historian James Scully in the Birr Library before a large and appreciative audience.

In his introductory work Mr Scully quoted Rosalind Fanning’s description of the work as a rollicking good read, with repeated rhythms and word pairings, written in a style that is original in both Irish and American literary ways.

The book is set in 1980s South Dublin and New York with recurring references to a fictional Kilcoghlan, a thinly disguised pseudonym for West Offaly where the influential relatives of Kaye Butler, the story’s dominant character, hail from.

When Kaye’s persuasive cousin and close friend, Chrissie, suddenly announces she was off to New York, Kaye feels her world is shrinking. This allied with an unrequited love affair where affection is maddeningly bestowed and withdrawn, impels Kaye to consider such an option. She is further disillusioned when at her graduation ceremony she hears that only a small fraction of her year will gain permanent employment. Soon she cannot resist the American option and heads to J.F.K. to be quickly immersed in a fast-moving social whirl of Irish pubs, confident barmen, taxi drivers and hardworking waitresses.

What follows is a wry, humorous but authentic story of the emotional and sexual transformation of a young Irish woman abroad. While still hankering for her beloved man at home she flirts and enters relationships both pleasing and bruising. Yet she is steadfast and survives.

Ironically through her pub contacts she gains an interview for the Pope Pius High School and is successful overcoming the sky-high demands of her principal Sister Virginia. After a year the longing for home and the need to have her love affair at home resolved she returns home for a warm family Christmas where matters are resolved and new beginnings ushered in.

Frances Browner has bee writing for more than 25 years so it is not at all surprising that A Bronx Summer is a terrific read, embellished with West Offaly undertones, laced with refences to the music, literature, iconic Irish products of the bleak 1980s which make it a most worthwhile read for both historians and lovers of good fiction.

Both the Limerick Writers Centre and the Arts Office in Offaly County Council are to be congratulated on their enlightened support for this fine publication. A Bronx Summer is available in SuperValu Birr and Midland Books, Tullamore at €20 per copy.