Song for Salamander

About the Book

When Salamander Quinn decides to liberate all the lost souls at St. Job's Infirmary, he embarks on a Kafkaesque journey. Just before Christmas, his plans are further complicated by the arrival of a mystery woman, who sets in motion a chain of startling events. Faced with mounting odds, as his past comes back to haunt him, he struggles to prevail. As Easter approaches, plans are afoot to move everyone at St. Job's to the new Anna Livia hospital, the brainchild of the Minister for health. At St. Job's plans to implement a new technique for memory loss are postponed.

At Whitsun the new Anna Livia hospital is opened. Chaos reigns. To the amazement of the Hospital Fathers, there is talk of a nurses' strike. With the Health Service in crisis and Dublin in the grip of global warming, Salamander risks all to attain his goal. As Michaelmas draws near, he is inspired by former heroes like Scipio Africanus, for whom surprise was the greatest form of attack. Amidst mounting pressure, Salamander presses onwards, planning to celebrate Halloween with his own brand of fireworks. Powerful forces determine his ultimate destiny as he makes his final journey. "I enjoyed it immensely . . . The book is composed of marvellous visual moments and references, calling out to be translated into cinema. . . A paradigm for the time and place we live in . . . liberated psychiatric patients, driftng down the Grand canal to the sea, a mediaeval Ship of Fools, singing Christmas Carols at Halloween . . . "___________Irish Poet Macdara Woods.

About the Author

Miriam Gallagher's work has been staged and screened in Ireland, Europe, Australia, South Africa, USA & Canada. Her short stories are published in anthologies of Irish writing & arts journals. Author of Fancy Footwork (Selected Plays) and Let's Help Our Children Talk (non fiction), she has been a guest lecturer at Irish, European, American & South African universities, and has received several awards. Her website is: www.miriamgallagher.ie

Comments on her work

'She shows vivid imagination and is something of a surrealist' Irish Times

'Vigorous and lively work' New York Daily News

'Displays inventiveness and style' Sunday Tribune

'Combines the real with the surreal' Evening Herald

'Impressive' Books Ireland