The Story of the Night

Author: Colm Tóibín

ISBN: 9780743272711

Tags: Gay, Literary Fiction, Historical Fiction

From the award-winning author of Brooklyn and The Master, a powerful, brave, and moving novel set in Argentina.

In Argentina, in the time of the Generals, the streets are empty at night, and people have trained themselves not to see. Richard Garay lives with his mother, hiding his sexuality from her and from society. Stifled by his job, Richard is willing to take chances, both sexually and professionally. But Argentina is changing, and as his country edges toward peace, Richard tentatively begins a love affair. The result is a powerful, brave, and poignant novel of sex, death, and the difficulties of connecting one's inner life with the outside world.

"Written in a self-reflective style that rings with honesty, bravely constructing a complex metaphor of sex and death in Argentina." —New York Times

"A fine novel, remarkable for the purity of its ambitions." —Washington Post Book World

"Tóibín's genius is that he makes it impossible for us to walk away." —The New Yorker

“A mesmerizing, dark, powerful novel." —The Times (U.K.)

"Beginning the book is like sneaking into a diary; ending it is like losing a fascinating friend." —Harper's Bazaar

"A love story and a political thriller and about being Irish and a coming-out novel." —Esquire

"Tóibín is a fine writer. This novel pulls you in gradually and keeps you guessing." —Edmonton Journal

"A novel that reads like the most memorable of Camus. The story told in restrained, spare, matter-of-fact prose becomes more immediate and powerful as we are drawn in. The anger you feel as you read the final pages will remain long after you have closed the book." —Globe and Mail

"A smart literary novel that is also a satisfying page-turner." —Out

"This is one of the most absorbing new novels I've read in quite some time." —The Irish Times