Literary Fiction· Ireland
The Glorious Heresies
by Lisa McInerneyAggregate Editorial Score89/100
★Women's Prize for Fiction
Published 2015379 pagesEnglish
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Few works of literary fiction have earned the sustained critical attention that The Glorious Heresies (2015) by Lisa McInerney continues to receive. A matriarch's accidental murder of an intruder sets in motion a chain of consequences among the working-class underbelly of Cork City. McInerney's Bailey's Prize-winning debut is explosive, darkly comic, and richly empathetic. Themes of Ireland, crime, working class run through the work. The book has received recognition from Women's Prize for Fiction 2015.
Book Details
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
First published in 2015, Lisa McInerney's The Glorious Heresies is a work of literary fiction that has drawn sustained interest from critics and prize committees alike. Its engagement with Ireland, crime, working class, family gives the book a depth that extends well beyond its genre.
The book's place in the literary record rests on its presence across major prize lists and critical surveys. Among its recognitions: Women's Prize for Fiction 2015. Its aggregate editorial score of 89/100 reflects recognition from 1 independent editorial sources, from international prizes to specialist critical journals.
Readers coming to The Glorious Heresies for the first time will find a work that rewards patience. The book's handling of Ireland, crime, working class, family is layered rather than didactic, and a second reading often reveals dimensions the first pass only hinted at.
Lisa McInerney's role in the literature of Ireland is well established. The Glorious Heresies can be read as both a standalone achievement and as part of a broader national literary conversation about identity, history, and the possibilities of narrative form.
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
Women's Prize for Fiction
winner · global
201589
Lisa McInerney is a celebrated author from Ireland known for influential works of literary fiction.
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