A Deep Well of Want

Paul Butler’s monograph is a wonderful illustration of how a visual reading of McGahern can reveal previously undiscovered aspects of the writer’s aesthetic approach. ‘The Deep Well of Want’ of the title is an expression that captures the pain and hurt at the core of the life journey of both writer and photographer. Paul’s exquisite photos allow us a special entry into ‘McGahern Land’, whose landscape and people nurtured the writer’s creative inspiration. This indispensable study will deepen McGahern readers’ understanding of what lies at the core of his artistic quest.