Very Strange Man: A Memoir of Aidan Higgins

Alannah Hopkin and Aidan Higgins were a literary couple who met in 1986 and wrote together for twenty-nine years. Aidan focused on fiction and memoirs, while Alannah prioritized work that paid the bills. When Aidan's eyesight failed and his memory began to fade, Alannah became his carer and had to fight to keep her own writing career alive. This is a unique record of their story, from the joyful honeymoon years to the difficult years of Aidan's decline. Hopkin tells their story candidly and without commentary, showing how they remained the best of friends, in love until Aidan's very last breath.

\n Format: Paperback / softback
\n Length: 368 pages
\n Publication date: 23 April 2021
\n Publisher: New Island Books
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This captivating love story unfolds within the vibrant Irish literary world, spanning from 1986 to 2015. The tale begins when the poet Derek Mahon introduced Alannah Hopkin and Aidan Higgins to each other. Alannah, an arts journalist turned full-time writer, and Aidan, twenty-three years her senior, hailed as the heir to Ireland's illustrious Modernist tradition. Despite their age difference, their bond grew strong, and they embarked on a writing journey together, penning words steadily for twenty-nine years. However, their respective careers took different paths, with Aidan dedicating himself to fiction and memoirs while Alannah prioritized work that provided financial stability. This arrangement proved advantageous for Aidan, as it allowed him to flourish in his craft, enjoying the most stable and productive years of his life.

Yet, as time passed, Aidan's eyesight began to falter, and his memory started to fade. Alannah, now his carer, faced the challenging task of preserving her own writing career while also tending to his needs. Drawing from diaries, notebooks, and intimate correspondence with renowned writers like Samuel Beckett, Alice Munro, and Harold Pinter, Alannah weaves a poignant and unique narrative. From the joyful honeymoon years filled with literary events, festivals, and visits from literary giants like Richard Ford, Edna OBrien, and others, to the increasingly difficult years of Aidan's decline, Hopkin unfolds their story with candidness and without any commentary. Through her words, she reveals the unwavering love and friendship that bound Alannah and Aidan until the very end.

A Very Strange Man is a remarkable piece of writing, exhibiting objectivity, authority, personal depth, honesty, and emotional resonance. It offers a profound insight into the lives and creative journeys of two extraordinary individuals, showcasing their resilience, devotion, and the profound impact of love on their lives. This captivating love story will resonate with readers, offering a glimpse into the complexities of human relationships and the indomitable spirit of artistic pursuit.

\n Weight: 422g\n
Dimension: 135 x 215 x 35 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9781848407930\n \n