Book review: A History Of Loneliness by John Boyne

Published by Doubleday

Irishman John Boyne, author of The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas, focusses on the scandal of child abuse within the church in his new novel, A History Of Loneliness.

It follows the life of Father Odran Yates who is called to be a priest as a youngster, trained and then sent to work in a boys’ boarding school. Snapshots of different periods of his life are given in each chapter, darting between years from the Sixties to the present.

Father Yates is eventually forced to come to terms with the fact paedophilia has been taking place all around him. For decades, he has witnessed hints of abuse but assumed innocence on the part of his contemporaries – or ignored it. He is an infuriatingly naive character, but incredibly endearing and kind.

Boyne captures the ghastly rippling effects of child abuse while garnering sympathy for innocent priests, tainted by the actions of others. A stunning but uncomfortable read.