On Canaan's Side

By Sebastian Barry,

Book cover of On Canaan's Side

Book description

'As they used to say in Ireland, the devil only comes into good things.' Narrated by Lilly Bere, "On Canaan's Side" opens as she mourns the loss of her grandson, Bill. The story then goes back to the moment she was forced to flee Dublin, at the end of the…

Shepherd is reader supported. When you buy books, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Why read it?

1 author picked On Canaan's Side as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

This is also a book by an Irish writer, Sebastian Barry.  First of all the book is beautifully written. I cannot read a badly written book no matter how interesting the plot, and here from the very first page you know you are in the hands of a master. 

This book is told in the first person by Lily Bere, an impoverished Irish immigrant to the US looking back over about 70 years of her life. The story begins when Lily was forced to flee Ireland for her life at the end of the First World War and recounts the…

Want books like On Canaan's Side?

Our community of 10,000+ authors has personally recommended 100 books like On Canaan's Side.

Browse books like On Canaan's Side

5 book lists we think you will like!

Interested in Irish Americans, Dublin, and World War 1?

10,000+ authors have recommended their favorite books and what they love about them. Browse their picks for the best books about Irish Americans, Dublin, and World War 1.

Irish Americans Explore 35 books about Irish Americans
Dublin Explore 70 books about Dublin
World War 1 Explore 882 books about World War 1