The Ballad of Manus and Mona

Author: John Paul Hurley

Genres: Genre Fiction

Entertaining Literary Fiction by Irish screenwriter and actor John Paul Hurley, THE BALLAD OF MANUS AND MONA is a wild, chokingly funny story that follows the most unpleasant man imaginable from being loathed in his local Tipperary country pub to being nationally hated in America, having been the most successful Country singer for a generation.

Think John Kennedy Toole’s A CONFEDERANCY OF DUNCES, set in Ireland and Nashville. Manus’s personal odour out-whiffs Mick Herron’s creation, Jackson Lamb. There are murders and two witless gardai (Irish police) on the protagonist’s trail. It’s a big joy with great female characters.

This unique, tragic-comic epic is compelling, disgusting, hilarious and masterful. Its eponymous anti-hero is as engaging as he is offensive, whilst the vast supportive cast of flawed humanity is drawn with great sensitivity and rare wit. Manus is unique: I doubt the existence of anything remotely like it. I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised if it turned out to be a best seller.
- Mike Leigh, BAFTA winning, Oscar multi-nominated filmmaker

No ego-stroking, no playing it safe. John Paul’s book has got soul and guts. He’s not entertaining you politely. It’s the funniest, maddest book I’ve ever read. Fact.
- Christopher Eccleston, Actor/Author. Dr Who. Shallow Grave. The Leftovers. Emmy winner

It’s mad, yes—but there’s genius in the madness. There’s something rare here—dangerous, absurd and bang on the money.
- George Costigan, Actor/ 2x Author/playwright, Rita, Sue and Bob Too. Happy Valley