Joe Clear, 'a celestial-minded Presbyterian man', worked as the superintendent of a Catholic graveyard. Roseanne's testimony begins with her father. The story is told through the device of these alternating narratives, Roseanne's 'secret scriptures' hidden beneath the floorboards of her room and Dr Grene's personal notes hidden safely at home. Meanwhile, Dr William Grene, Roscommon Hospital's senior psychiatrist, is keeping his own 'Commonplace Book' to record his thoughts as he assesses his patients for community care ahead of the impending closure of the asylum. 'Sligo made me and Sligo undid me,' she says, and over the course of the novel we find out how this is so.

She is completely alone, without friend or family, 'a thing left over, a remnant woman.' Roseanne has been secretly writing her 'Testimony of Herself', her own memories of her life story in Sligo, a place she describes as a cold town, a dark spot with a black river. When the novel begins, Roseanne McNulty is nearing her 100th birthday as a patient in Roscommon Regional Mental Hospital. The Secret Scripture finds Sebastian Barry on familiar territory, delving into the recent troubled history of Ireland.

It is, however, let down by a surprisingly poor ending – but is a recommended read nevertheless.

A very, very good book indeed, beautifully written from start to finish. Summary: Barry's latest Booker-shortlisted, Costa-nominated novel explores the human impact of Ireland's troubled 20th century history.

The Secret Scripture by Sebastian Barry