Overview

This book follows Alex, an idealistic young family man and relates his experiences as he emigrates from an educated but poverty stricken existence in communist Russia to work and live in the midlands of Ireland. Alex becomes part of the New Ireland, within a changing Europe, with its mixed cultures and floundering Celtic Tiger; an Ireland of traditions and communities, racism, inherent shrewdness and inevitable corruption. The story begins when Alex is forced to leave Russia where he practised as an educated lawyer, a young person of standing, someone of whom others asked for information, for guidance. As well as family, Alex leaves a young wife and two daughters behind and arrives in Ireland to work on a mushroom farm in the bog lands at the mercy of unscrupulous business people who have an Irish and misguided sense of altruism. Coming into contact with other nationalities who seem just as unscrupulous as his tight-fisted bosses, Alex is astounded at the injustices he suffers, and in his heart feels he is a better man, deserving of so much more in this new country he has chosen and had such high hopes for. Attempting to make the best of the unbelievably grim situation he has found himself in, at the beginning Alex relies heavily on his own sense of humour and optimism. But even calling on his intellect, his stamina, his own sense of pride and self-worth, he nevertheless goes through a time of great despair and acute loneliness, emphasised by letters from his wife, full of acceptance of her own continuing struggle at home to provide a life for their two daughters. Finally Alex must face himself, his true reasons for immigration, realising that although faraway hills may be greener, disillusionment is a given, and escape from oneself is a myth.

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