Hagstone - Sinead Gleeson

Hagstone: Sinéad Gleeson / ISBN 9780008626648 / 320-page hardback published in 2024 by Fourth Estate

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The haunting debut novel from acclaimed, Irish author, Sinéad Gleeson.

The sea is steady for now. The land readies itself. What can be done with the woman on the cliff?

On a wild and rugged island cut off and isolated to some, artist Nell feels the island is her home. It is the source of inspiration for her art, rooted in landscape, folklore and the feminine. The mysterious Inions, a commune of women who have travelled there from all over the world, consider it a place of refuge and safety, of solace in nature.

All the islanders live alongside the strange murmurings that seem to emanate from within the depths of the island, a sound that is almost supernatural – a Summoning as the Inions call it. One day, a letter arrives at Nell’s door from the reclusive Inions who invite Nell into the commune for a commission to produce a magnificent art piece to celebrate their long history. In its creation, Nell will discover things about the community and about herself that will challenge everything she thought she knew.

Beautifully written and gripping, Sinéad Gleeson’s debut novel takes in the darker side of human nature and the mysteries of faith and the natural world.

‘Magnificent…a literary page-turner’ JENNIFER HIGGIE

‘Wild, singular…gripped me from the start’ DOUGLAS STUART

'Passionate, wild, hugely atmospheric' DAVID NICHOLLS

‘Intelligent, probing’ MAGGIE O'FARRELL

'A gorgeous, mysterious read’ AISLING BEA

‘I adored it’ LOUISE KENNEDY