Trespasses: A Novel

Synopsis

In 1970s Northern Ireland, as the Troubles cast a shadow over everyday life, Cushla Lavery balances teaching at a Catholic primary school with helping to run her family's pub outside Belfast. Quiet and dutiful by nature, she is drawn into an unexpected relationship with Michael Agnew, an older Protestant barrister known for defending IRA members. Their affair unfolds against a backdrop of sectarian violence, where even private acts of love carry profound political consequences.

When one of Cushla's pupils becomes the victim of escalating conflict, the fragile boundaries between personal responsibility and public violence begin to collapse. Tender, devastating, and exquisitely written, Trespasses is a powerful novel about love, loyalty, and moral courage in a society divided by fear. Louise Kennedy's acclaimed debut captures the emotional complexity of ordinary lives shaped by extraordinary historical circumstances.

About the Author

Louise Kennedy is an Irish novelist and short story writer from County Down, Northern Ireland. Trespasses, her debut novel, was shortlisted for the Women's Prize for Fiction and named one of the best books of the year by The Washington Post. She is also the author of the acclaimed short story collection The End of the World Is a Cul de Sac.

Publisher
Riverhead Books

Publication Date
November 1, 2022

Format
Paperback

Pages
320

Subjects
Literary Fiction · Historical Fiction · Irish Literature · Contemporary Fiction

ISBN
9780593540909