Patrick MacGill – författare

Set in the Ireland and Scotland of the early 1900s, and based on real events, The Rat-Pit is the tragic story of Norah Ryan, a devout and intelligent Donegal girl who leaves her homeland after the death of her father hoping to find a better life 'across the water'. Unable to escape the cycle of grinding poverty, Norah's fate is further sealed when she becomes pregnant by Alec Morrison, the son of the farmer on whose land she lives and progressive views on social justice, Alec callously abandons her and, too proud to accept his begrudging offer of financial help, she finds herself bitterly ostracised.More than the story of one woman's decline and death, The Rat-Pit is also a grim and unflinchingly realistic portrayal of the Irish immigrant experience in Scotland, as well as a savage critique of a Church and society that did its best to crush those who could scarcely be more vulnerable and disadvantaged.

The groundbreaking autobiographical novel by the renowned Irish journalist, poet, and author of The Great Push and The Rat-Pit.Peopled with extraordinary characters, suffused with humor and yet unflinching in its portrayal of the near slavery of the poor in Scotland and Ireland, Children of the Dead End sold 50,000 copies a year in the 1920s. It was as influential in its own way as the work of social investigators such as Rowntree in bringing about change in British and Irish attitudes to poverty and destitution. Starting with an account of his childhood in Donegal, Ireland at the end of the 19th century, the story moves to Scotland where, living as a tramp, then working as a gang laborer, and for some years as a navvy at Kinlochleven near Fort William, Dermod Flynn (as he calls himself) begins to discover himself as a writer."Its freshness and force is the mark of true literature—the structure is perfect Heartily recommended." —Irish Press"Splendid . . . a superb account of its times . . . Children of the Dead End and The Rat-Pit blaze with a passionate sincerity." —Irish Times