Editors’ Pick
Designed to Feel by Peter Burchardt
Designed to Feelby Peter Burchardt — on emotions, evolution & the science of feeling
View on Amazon →
Cover of The Gathering
Literary Fiction· Ireland

The Gathering

by Anne Enright
Aggregate Editorial Score71/100
★Costa Book Award
Published 2007260 pagesEnglish
Buy on Amazon →

About This Book

When Anne Enright published The Gathering in 2007, it quickly found its place in the broader tradition of literary fiction. Veronica Hegarty returns home to Dublin for her brother Liam's funeral and begins to reconstruct the truth of what happened in their family's past. Enright's Booker Prize-winning novel is a dark, bitter, and brilliantly executed reckoning with Irish family life and sexual abuse. Themes of grief, family, abuse run through the work. The book has received recognition from Costa Book Award 2007.

Book Details

AuthorAnne Enright
Published2007
Country of Origin🇮🇪 Ireland
LanguageEnglish
Pages260
Category📖 Literary Fiction
ISBN9780802118561
Editorial Score71/100
About the Category

📖 Literary Fiction

Character-driven fiction that prioritises style, theme, and psychological depth.

Explore all Literary Fiction books →
Country of Origin

🇮🇪 Ireland

This book is part of Ireland's rich literary tradition.

Explore books from Ireland →

Editorial Assessment

Anne Enright published The Gathering in 2007, and it has since become one of the more widely recognised works of literary fiction from Ireland. The book's treatment of grief, family, abuse, Ireland accounts for much of its enduring reputation. The book's place in the literary record rests on its presence across major prize lists and critical surveys. Among its recognitions: Costa Book Award 2007. Its aggregate editorial score of 71/100 reflects recognition from 1 independent editorial sources, from international prizes to specialist critical journals. The appeal of The Gathering lies partly in its refusal to offer easy answers. Its exploration of grief, family, abuse, Ireland is sustained, textured, and genuinely thought-provoking in ways that stay with readers well after the final page. The Gathering reflects Anne Enright's place in a wider literary tradition. The book's concerns resonate with Ireland's broader cultural preoccupations, even as they reach beyond any single national context.
About this assessment: Editorial scores are aggregated from 1 independent sources including major literary prizes, critical surveys, and leading publications. Our editorial team reviews and contextualises this data. Rankings reflect critical consensus, not personal opinion or popularity metrics. Learn about our methodology.

Awards & Recognition

Costa Book Award
winner · national
200765
✍️
About the Author
Anne Enright
Ireland
View Author →

Anne Enright is a celebrated author from Ireland known for influential works of literary fiction.

Happy Children
The Parenting Companion
Happy Children
What Evolution Actually Built Your Child’s Emotions For
Your child’s emotions are not the problem. They are the operating system.
Get It on Amazon →Paperback & Kindle

What to Read Next

Cover of Midnight's Children
literary-fiction

Midnight's Children

Salman Rushdie· 1981
★Nobel Prize in Literature★Booker Prize
Editorial Score100/100
Cover of The God of Small Things
literary-fiction

The God of Small Things

Arundhati Roy· 1997
★Nobel Prize in Literature★Booker Prize
Editorial Score100/100
Cover of The Remains of the Day
literary-fiction

The Remains of the Day

Kazuo Ishiguro· 1989
★Nobel Prize in Literature★Booker Prize
Editorial Score100/100
Cover of The White Tiger
literary-fiction

The White Tiger

Aravind Adiga· 2008
★Nobel Prize in Literature★Booker Prize
Editorial Score100/100
Cover of The Road
literary-fiction

The Road

Cormac McCarthy· 2007
★Pulitzer Prize★Hugo Award
Editorial Score100/100
Cover of Wolf Hall
historical-fiction

Wolf Hall

Hilary Mantel· 2009
★Booker Prize★Costa Book Award
Editorial Score100/100

Frequently Asked Questions

What is The Gathering about?

Veronica Hegarty returns home to Dublin for her brother Liam's funeral and begins to reconstruct the truth of what happened in their family's past. Enright's Booker Prize-winning novel is a dark, bitter, and brilliantly executed reckoning with Irish family life and sexual abuse.

Who wrote The Gathering?

The Gathering was written by Anne Enright, from Ireland. First published in 2007.

What awards has The Gathering won?

The Gathering has received the following awards and honours: Costa Book Award 2007.

Is The Gathering worth reading?

The Gathering is a well-regarded book with solid critical recognition, with an aggregate editorial score of 65/100 on 50 Best Books, based on mentions across 1 editorial source. It is particularly recommended for readers interested in grief, family, abuse.

Where can I buy The Gathering?

You can buy The Gathering on Amazon. Click the Buy on Amazon button above to find the best edition.

What category is The Gathering?

The Gathering is classified as Literary Fiction. Character-driven fiction that prioritises style, theme, and psychological depth.

What country is The Gathering from?

The Gathering originates from Ireland's literary tradition. Explore more books from Ireland on our country page.

Popular on 50 Best Books

Best Science Fiction Books of All TimeScience FictionBooker Prize Winners — Complete List & GuideLiterary PrizesNobel Prize in Literature — Every Winner Since 1901Literary PrizesClassic Literature Reading List — 50 Essential BooksReading GuidesBest Books for Beginners — 20 Easy Reads for New BookloversReading Guides

Explore More

📖More Literary FictionBrowse all Literary Fiction books🇮🇪Books from Ireland🇮🇪 Ireland literature📅2000s BooksPublished in the 2000s🏆Top 50 RankingsThe greatest books of all time