The Irish-language academic monograph Carnabhal na Marbh (Leabhar Breac, 2023) discusses Máirtín Ó Cadhain’s Cré na Cille in the context of the period when translations of the novel are being circulated internationally. The study draws on various theoretical approaches – including the carnivalesque, the encyclopaedic narrative and narratology – to assess the place of the work in the canon of world literature.

At the same time, Carnabhal na Marbh locates various aspects of Cré na Cille in the context of other works by Ó Cadhain, both published and unpublished, and discusses the connection between the novel and Irish cultural traditions such as folklore, literature and music. It also examines Ó Cadhain’s place among other Irish modernists who have long achieved world fame – James Joyce, Samuel Beckett and Brian Ó Nualláin.

“This book is a tour de force; unquestionably the best book on Ó Cadhain for a long time. And not only that, it is one of the best academic books in Irish for a long time. This work fundamentally changes the whole debate about Cré na Cille.” — Prof. Brian Ó Conchubhair

“A brand new, multi-dimensional re-reading of Máirtín Ó Cadhain’s great work, Cré na Cille, which examines those aspects of the novel that ensure it a special place in the international canon of modern literature. With the publication of this book, the criticism of the novel in Irish as a genre has made a huge leap forward. I have no doubt that the book will be a wonderful guide for new readers, and an encouragement and inspiration for anyone interested in Ó Cadhain’s art and literary heritage.” — Prof. Máirín Nic Eoin