The Heart's Invisible Furies

By (author) Boyne, John
Short description/annotation:
At times, incredibly funny, at others, heartrending'' Sarah Winman, author of When God Was a Rabbit

Forced to flee the scandal brewing in her hometown, Catherine Goggin finds herself pregnant and alone, in search of a new life at just sixteen.
Description:

John Boyne''s acclaimed quartet, THE ELEMENTS, is available now.

''A bold, funny epic'' Observer
''Compelling and satisfying . . . At times, incredibly funny, at others, heartrending'' Sarah Winman, author of Still Life
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Cyril Avery is not a real Avery. At least, that''s what his parents make sure to remind him. Adopted as a baby, he feels more and more disconnected with the family that treats him more as a curious pet, rather than a beloved son.

So, as a young adult, Cyril decides to embark on a quest to find his place in the world. Sometimes misguided and often in the wrong place at the wrong time, life has dealt him a difficult hand but Cyril is resolute that he can change things, and find the courage to be himself.

And in doing so, his story will come across that of Catherine Goggin, a young, pregnant woman finding herself alone and isolated at only sixteen. There is a place in the world for both of them, and Cyril is determined to find it.
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What readers are saying:

''The story of the life of one man, told against the backdrop of twentieth century Ireland'' ''Simultaneously heart-breaking, funny and life-affirming.''
''Fantastic eccentric characters and dark humour is underpinned by a touching love story, perfect.''
''The saddest and happiest book I have read . . . told with great compassion and ultimately a great love of life.''

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Tender, dark, hilarious, heartbreaking—I loved it
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It’s been a long time since I read anything so compelling and satisfying. At times, incredibly funny, at others, heartrending
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the most beautifully written and crafted novel ... heartbreaking
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By turns savvy, witty and achingly sad . . . This is a novelist at the top of his game.
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I ran through the whole range of human emotions while reading this brilliant novel. It''s a masterpiece.
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Screamingly funny one minute and heartbreaking the next.
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A special read
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Boyne creates lightness out of doom, humour out of desperately sad situations, creating a compelling page-turner… a terrific read.
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An epic novel…. Worthy of the great master of the Irish comic novel, Flann O’Brien. The Heart’s Invisible Furies proves that John is not just one of Ireland’s best living novelists but also one of the best novelists of Ireland.
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Written with verve, humour and heart…at its core, The Heart’s Invisible Furies aspires to be not just the tale of Cyril Avery, a man buffeted by coincidence and circumstance, but the story of Ireland itself
Biographical note:

John Boyne is the author of sixteen novels for adults, six for younger readers, a picture book and a collection of short stories. His 2006 novel
The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas has sold more than 11 million copies worldwide and has been adapted for cinema, theatre, ballet and opera. His many international bestsellers include The Heart’s Invisible Furies and A Ladder to the Sky. He has won four Irish Book Awards, including Author of the Year in 2022, along with a host of other international literary prizes, including most recently both the 2025 Prix Femina Étranger and