1965*1st* An Answer From Limbo - Brian Moore(Penguin)

Small name inside front cover otherwise good for age. 

An Answer from Limbo is a 1962 novel by Irish-Canadian writer Brian Moore. It explores themes of religion, family, faith, and personal responsibility. The story follows Brendan Tierney, an aspiring novelist in his 20s who moves from Belfast to New York City. He struggles to balance his literary ambitions with the Catholic guilt and familial obligations that follow him, even across the ocean.

Plot Summary

Brendan Tierney is an Irish expatriate living in New York, attempting to make his mark as a novelist. He faces a moral and existential crisis when his devoutly Catholic mother, Maura, comes to visit him. Her sudden arrival disrupts his life, complicating his relationship with his girlfriend, Jane, an independent and modern woman who embodies a worldview that conflicts with Maura’s traditional values.

Maura’s visit is intended to be temporary, but things take a dramatic turn when she becomes seriously ill. Brendan must decide whether to send her to a Catholic charity hospital or a better facility, knowing he cannot afford the latter without sacrificing his own goals. This decision puts him at odds with the Catholic moral teachings he grew up with and his desire for independence and success in America.

Themes and Analysis

1. Catholic Guilt and Moral Dilemma:

The novel delves deeply into Brendan’s internal conflict between his religious upbringing and the secular values of his new life in New York. He grapples with feelings of guilt over his desire to distance himself from his mother’s control and the traditional expectations she represents.

2. Cultural Clash:

The book highlights the tension between the old-world values of Ireland and the modern, secular outlook of mid-20th-century America. This cultural clash is embodied in the contrast between Maura’s devout Catholicism and Jane’s more liberated, progressive views.

3. The Artist’s Struggle:

Brendan’s journey is not only one of moral reckoning but also of artistic discovery. He is an aspiring writer torn between the lure