Snapshots of an Irish life, spanning the 1940s to 1970s, told by the third child in the family.   Themes of childhood sickness and death are woven together with boyhood scrapes, political troubles, and vivid Irish characters.   A thread of intrigue runs through the book  -  what happened to Uncle Eddie, the uncle who mysteriously disappeared years ago ?   Crazy Joe supplies major clues.   Deane writes a haunting and engrossing tale with evocative prose, realistic dialogue, moments of humour and sadness.

Shortlisted for the 1996 Booker prize, and Winner of the 1996 Guardian fiction prize.