The Dregs of the Day, Paperback

A riveting English translation the Irish classic tale of heartache, death, and loneliness by the beloved author of The Dirty Dust

The final published work by the renowned M irt n Cadhain, this novella follows a widower as he attempts to plan his wife's funeral arrangements without money, direction, or whiskey. Thrown into a desert of unknowing, he knows not where to turn or what to do. In a poignant meditation on regret, possibilities, maybes, and avoidances, the author portrays a man hopelessly watching as the people in the world go about their lives around him. With black humor sprinkled throughout, the book, a profound look at psychic loss and puzzlement by a writer at the height of his powers, illustrates Cadhain's conviction that tragedy and comedy are inextricably connected.

Bringing this work to an English-speaking audience for the first time, this volume includes an illuminating introduction by Alan Titley, whose skillful translation captures the spirit and tone of the original.

Máirtín Ó Cadhain (1906-1970) is considered one of the most significant writers in the Irish language. Alan Titley is a novelist, playwright, and scholar. He lives in Dublin and writes for The Irish Times on cultural matters.