Reviews
‘Frank O’Connor’s theory that the short story captures the lonely voice of submerged population groups has seldom seemed so plausible as in this anthology…The contents of The Hurt World are varied and comprehensive…a sobering summation of the moral economy of terror’ – George O’Brien, The Irish Times ‘Book of the Day’
‘If you want to examine history, don’t go to history books, go to contemporary fiction…I think this is a very valid book and does what the editor set out to do…He reminds us if we need reminding that the whole thing didn’t explode in 1969, that it was a continuum going right back into the roots of Irish history. He has chosen excellent stories…It is a book for our times’ – Ita Daly, In Print, the RTE Book Programme
‘(Parker’s) new book reflects not only the diversity and wealth of creativity stimulated by the Troubles, but in its own way charts the history and hurt of those long years of conflict’ – Lindy McDowell, Belfast Telegraph
‘An excellent selection of the best short stories of the Troubles … a timely commemoration of the suffering…The Hurt World will serve well as an invaluable -and often very moving contribution to the literature of the Troubles’ – Coleraine Times
‘Parker’s collection opens up an array of conflicting ideas and emotions without attempting to present a uniform theme…This is the collection’s great strength, presenting the contradictions just as that’ – Conor Sweeney, Irish Independent