Chairperson Sinéad Gleeson

‘Bright’s Passage shines with a compressed lyricism that recalls Ray Bradbury in his prime… This is the work of a gifted novelist…’ Stephen King, New York Times Book Review

The cult American singer-songwriter discusses his debut novel and the challenges of trading verse for prose.

As a songwriter Josh Ritter is a natural born storyteller in the Dylan/Guthrie mould, distilling full character-driven narratives into concise and compelling vignettes. It comes as little surprise therefore that the alt-folk/Americana star should make such a deft transition to full-length fiction.

Ritter’s forthcoming debut novel, Bright’s Passage, is the story of Henry Bright, newly returned to West Virginia from the battlefields of the First World War. Grief struck by the death of his young wife and confronted by the destruction of the only home he’s ever known, Bright is soon cast adrift. His only hope is the angel who followed him to Appalachia from the trenches of France and who now guides him and his young son towards uncertain salvation.

With the same dark wit and unique imagination that characterises his songs, Bright’s Passage is an assured and arresting debut from a bright new literary talent.