Little Gidding is the fourth poem in T.S. Eliot's Four Quartets, a series of poems exploring themes of time, memory, and spiritual redemption. Little Gidding, a small village in Cambridgeshire, England, serves as a focal point for contemplating historical and personal events. The poem explores the intersection of the past, present, and future, and the possibility of finding meaning in the midst of destruction. It reflects on the fire bombings of London during World War II and the search for spiritual renewal. Little Gidding is celebrated for its lyrical beauty and its profound meditation on the human condition.
The novel follows the contest for the Mastership of a Cambridge college as the old Master dies of cancer. The two main candidates are Paul Jago and Crawford, each with their own strengths and weaknesses. The narrative, told through the eyes of Lewis Eliot, delves into the politics and personal issues of the college's faculty, providing a meticulous study of power dynamics in an academic setting during post-war Britain[2][5].
Thomas Hardy's 'The Mayor of Casterbridge' follows the life of Michael Henchard, a hay trusser who, in a fit of drunkenness, sells his wife and daughter at a country fair. Years later, he rises to prominence as the mayor of Casterbridge, but his past actions come back to haunt him. The novel explores themes of fate, social class, and the consequences of impulsive decisions. Henchard's struggles with guilt, ambition, and the changing fortunes of his life make for a compelling character study. Set against the backdrop of rural England, the book delves into the complexities of human relationships and the enduring power of the past.
The play revolves around Prince Hamlet's journey to avenge his father's murder, which was committed by his uncle Claudius. Hamlet's father's ghost appears and reveals that he was poisoned by Claudius, who then married Hamlet's mother, Gertrude. Hamlet feigns madness while he investigates and plots his revenge. The play explores themes of betrayal, mortality, and the human condition, culminating in a tragic finale where nearly all main characters die, including Hamlet, Claudius, Gertrude, and several others[1][3][5].
In 'Long Island', Colm Tóibín continues the story of Eilis Lacey, a character from his earlier novel 'Brooklyn'. Eilis, now in her forties and living on Long Island with her husband Tony and their two teenage children, faces a crisis when she learns that Tony has fathered a child with another woman. This revelation prompts Eilis to return to her hometown in Ireland, where she reconnects with old friends and acquaintances, including Jim Farrell, the man she once loved. The novel delves into themes of unfulfilled desires, the search for identity, and the complex nature of home, as Eilis grapples with her feelings for Tony, her responsibilities to her children, and the future she desires for herself. The story is marked by its exploration of human emotions, the weight of secrets, and the intricate web of relationships that define Eilis's life[1][3][5].
The novel tells the story of Eilis Lacey, a young woman from small-town Ireland who, in the hard years following World War II, leaves her fragile mother and charismatic sister behind to start a new life in Brooklyn. Sponsored by an Irish priest, Eilis finds work in a department store and begins evening classes in bookkeeping. She faces homesickness and culture shock but eventually finds love with Tony, an Italian-American. However, devastating news from Ireland forces her to make a critical decision between her old and new lives. The book is a quiet tour de force, exploring themes of self-determination, love, and the complexities of immigrant life.
The Irish novelist has always been open to where life can unexpectedly take him, and the excitement that comes with that kind of freedom.
Colm Toibin's first big move was from rural Ireland to Dublin after his father died when he was young.
Then, it was off to experience the wild hedonism and sexual liberation of post-Franco Spain, a pleasant shock after needing a prescription to buy condoms in Ireland.
Since then, he's journeyed to Sudan, Los Angeles, New York and beyond.
Wherever Colm goes, he keeps a running list in his head of tiny details — observations of seemingly mundane encounters, an offhand comment or the cut of a lady's suit on a train.
Every now and then, these details bubble up in Colm's memory and another of his well-loved novels, like Brooklyn, Nora Webster or The Master, is born.
This episode was produced by Meggie Morris. Conversations Executive Producer is Nicola Harrison. Presented by Sarah Kanowski.
It explores film adaptations, death of a parent, grief, Ireland, homophobia, growing up gay, Catholicism, epic adventure, John Crowley, Nick Hornby, Saoirse Ronan, Domhnall Gleeson, Julie Walters, Dublin, immigrant experience, the Irish immigrant experience, family separation, origin stories, falling in love, books, writers, novels, life-story, family dynamics, reflection, loss, funny, comedy, repression, orgies, condom prescriptions, journalism, foreign correspondents.
Colm's latest novel Long Island is published by Pan MacMillan.
He was in Australia as a guest of the Wheeler Centre, RMIT, Melbourne Writers Festival and Sydney Writers Festival.
Conversations 
