The Boatman and Other Stories

“The Boatman and Other Stories tears at the heartstrings of the reader with each story…An appreciation for life and love shines through…An excellent body of work to be enjoyed.” — San Francisco Book Review
“…deeply affecting stories…the collection's best pieces stay close to home and cleave close to the bone…Low-key, nuanced, moving—an impressive collection.” — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
“This collection of taut, lyrical short stories explores the choices of characters at the limits of emotional and physical extremes… O'Callaghan's affection for the harsh landscape of Ireland is as strong as his knowledge of his flawed and emotionally driven characters, to the point that they seem to grow inevitably out of that misty, unforgiving place.” — Booklist
“Twelve outstanding and often poignant stories from one of Ireland’s master storytellers… high quality, literary fiction.”                        — Fictionophile, at 746 Stories
“Love, bereavement, Paris in the rain give an unforced gravity and lyricism to these stories…which focus on the glimmer of heart in the hardness of life.” — Sunday Times (UK)
“A shining example of how [short stories] can distil and intensify a writer’s gifts… These 12 stories confirm [O’Callaghan’s] delicate craftsmanship, unflashy narrative and descriptive skill, and his deep understanding of powerful and universal emotions… Breathtaking… Masterly… Irish writing has put out many new and more consciously modernist shoots in recent years, all welcome. But Billy O’Callaghan belongs now in the recognised front rank, along with Bernard MacLaverty, Edna O’Brien, William Trevor and Colm Tóibín.” — The Tablet (UK)