Abstract
Deirdre Madden's novel One by One in the Darkness, first published in 1996, marks its twenty-fifth anniversary in 2021. Madden began writing the book in 1993 in anticipation of another anniversary (a quarter century of political and sectarian violence in Northern Ireland) and completed it in 1995. I argue that she was both responding to contemporary events, including the 1994 paramilitary ceasefires, and attempting to shape the way that people would think about the impact of the Troubles in the post-conflict period. One by One in the Darkness is usually read as the story of a family that has suffered a traumatic loss: the violent death of its patriarch. I contend, in contrast, that the family's experience is more representative than exceptional. This essay explores the formal means by which Madden makes her point about the lingering effects of trauma on individuals and Northern Irish society at large.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
