About the Book

On a sumptuous August day in 1952, in an agrarian setting, 14-year-old Francis Carroll inadvertently overhears a rancorous confrontation between two farmers. Several hours later one of the men is murdered. The occurrence traumatizes an Irish community and mesmerizes a nearby city where the ensuing trial is held. As a reluctant witness, Francis struggles through the ordeal of testifying. The ongoing story then blends the tragedy, history, and exhilaration of a Canadian Irish experience.

"Griffin´s prose is eminently readable.... There is a marked maturity to his work, and a richness to his voice."

   - Nelson Peters, Quebec Chronicle Telegraph.

"I was able to appreciate Griffin´s skill as a sensitive narrator. He has a knack for characterization. He is able to get inside the heads of his subjects....and lets the reader know their thoughts. Poignant, amusing, and provocative....."

   - Anne Forrest, Editor, "Nuacht" (Montreal)

About the Author Harold Griffin
My dad was Irish and my mom was French—another one of those mixed marriages. But they appreciated the same things. Of course, my dad said, "It took me twenty years to learn." Harold Griffin´s short story, "The Leaving," won 1st prize in the 2000 Nuacht short story competition, sponsored by the St. Patrick´s Society of Montreal. The selection committee anticipated that Harold Griffin´s story "would have wide audience appeal and capture the experience of many people in the Irish community."

Also by the Author Under This Mantle of Snow: and other stories (2014)
fragile boys, fragile men (2008)