Nora - Nuala O'Connor

*One Dublin One Book choice for 2022*

*Shortlisted for an Irish Book Award 2021*

WhenNora Barnacle,a twenty-year-old from Galwayworking as a maid at Finn's Hotel, meets young JamesJoyce on a summer's day inDublin,she is instantly attracted to him, natural and daring inhis company.But she cannot yetimagine the extraordinary life they will share together. All Nora knows is she likesherJimenough to leave behindfamily and home, in search of a bigger,more excitinglife.

As their family grows, they ricochet fromEuropeancity to city, making fast friends amongst thegreatestartists and writers of their ageas well as their wives, and are brought high and low by Jim'sferocious ambition.Buttime and time again,Noraistornbetween their intenseand unwaveringdesire for each other and the constant anxiety of livinghand-to-mouth, often made worse byJim'scompulsionfor company andattention.So, whileJim writesand drinks his way to literary acclaim, Nora provides unflinching support andinspiration, sometimes at the expense ofher own happiness, andespecially atthat of their children,Giorgioand Lucia. Eventually, together, they achievesome longed-forsecurity andstability,butit is hard-wonand imperfectto the end.

Insensuous,resonant prose,Nuala O'Connor hasconjuredthe definitiveportraitofthis strong,passionateandloyal Irishwoman.Norais a tour de force, an earthy and authentic love letter toIrish literature's greatest muse.