Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

Ireland, 1880 and a prosperous, provincial family observes the three great autumnal feasts of the Church. As Teresa Mulqueen lies dying, her family gather round her and beneath this drama another, no less poignant, unfolds. Unmarried daughter Agnes awaits the return of her sister Marie-Rose and brother-in-law Vincent. She adores her sister, but secretly, pasionately, loves Vincent. And their marriage, she knows, is unhappy...Ahead lies a terrible battle between her uncompromising faith and the intensity of her love. In this delicately imagined novel, originally published in 1934, Kate O'Brien lays bare the struggles between personal need and the Catholic faith with the sympathy and insight which is the hallmark of her craft.

Reviews provided by Syndetics

Library Journal Review

O'Brien's soap opera-ish novel dates back to 1934. In the shadow of her mother's impending death, Agnes awaits the arrival of her sister and brother-in-law. Generally this would bring comfort, but the twist is that Agnes is secretly in love with the man and knows the marriage is on the rocks. Will she take advantage of the opportunity? (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Kirkus Book Review

The second novel by the Irish-born O’Brien (1897–1974 ) is set in her native country before the turn of the century, and concerns a prosperous provincial Catholic family on a deathwatch for its matriarch. In 1934, Kirkus found this “concentrated, intensely moving story” (Aug. 15, p. 193) of special interest to co-religionists, since its crucial plot-turn relies on articles of the faith. The power exerted by the Church shades the highly internal drama suffered by the youngest family member, a beautiful young woman who secretly yearns for her older sister’s husband. Kirkus suggested that only those who “appreciate rather sombre, moving drama” will enjoy this somewhat airless fiction. Guilt-drenched and death-driven, the confessional tale does reflect (in O’Brien’s words) “the sharp and prudish eyes of Irish society in the 1880s.”

Author notes provided by Syndetics

Kate O'Brien (1897-1974), one of Ireland's greatest and best-loved writers, was born in Limerick. As well as writing plays, travel and biography, she published nine wonderful novels.