A Sloping Meadow

About the Book

A Sloping Meadow is a novel set in post war Ireland and follows the life of Tom Conlon. It is about growing up and especially the growing up that occurs between the ages of twenty and thirty. Because of the economic situation in Ireland at the time, many of Tom's friends and family move to England for employment. He greatly bemoans their departure, but is glad that the Hayes sisters and the exuberant Roddy Maher are still in the nationhood.

Tom shares a short but somehow stormy relationship with Maureen Hayes, but it is her older sister, Kitty, who steals his hear. He is saddened, however, when this girl chooses to walk down the aisle with a brash townie called Bert. Some weeks before the wedding, as Tom cycles through the countryside he meets up with a chance. They share a short period of madness by a haystack, which Tom assumes is her way of offering consolation- she is only too well aware of how much he is attracted to her.

Tom moves to limerick to take up a banking career only to find himself some time later sharing a boarding house with a roughneck whom he recognizes as Peter from his hometown. Peter is creating the wrong impression in the city with his drinking and loutish behavior. However, it is a harsh warning forms his no-nonsense doctor that makes him see sense. Suddenly he stops drinking and succeeds in getting some order back into his life.

With his bank account getting healthier by the day, Peter sets about purchasing a large suburban dwelling and converting it into apartments. Soon he convinces Tom to be his business partner. The project proves to be a huge success until Peter has a serious car accident. When he returns after a long convalescence, his life takes a different course, causing Tom to worry.

Life in England for Kitty Hayes comes an endurance test as Bert the townie fails to keep her and their son off the breadline. The family is on the point of breakup but it's the death of Bert's mother that offers him reprieve. When Con Farna, who is Bert's uncle and employer, offers finical backing for his nephew to return to Ireland and start up his own business, he receives a somewhat lukewarm response. Nagle has known for some time that he is sterile and young Sam whom he loves dearly, is not his own, he broods but postpones confronting his wife.

After much consideration, Bert accepts his uncle's offer and moves back with Kitty and Sam to Clonmel. Unfortunately, when he seems to be getting his marriage back on track, and forgiven his wife for straying from the path of rectitude, his life is blotted out by a brain tumor.

Tom returns home to take over the family farm following deterioration in his dad's health, and soon becomes part of Kitty's life again. He is shocked and saddened, however, when she hastily departs for England and he fears that he may have lost her for good- perhaps she discovered the family secret that he r mother kept quiet for so long.

Tom prays that she will return but ironically, it takes a fall from a roof on his farm, in which he is lucky to survive, that brings them together again. On hearing the tragic news, Kitty rushes home to his hospital bed, and when he gains consciousness she expresses her love and promises never to leave his side again.

About the Author

Sean Crowe was born in Co Limerick, but has spent the last thirty five years living in Dublin. He has been published in various magazines and has picked up awards for a number of short stories.