Novelist puzzled at row sparked by 'Irish Times' review of latest book

WRITER DERMOT Healy has confessed to being puzzled about the spat that has erupted in the letters pages of The Irish Timesabout his new novel.

A review of Healy's new novel Long Time, No Seeby Irish Timesliterary correspondent Eileen Battersby provoked a furious response from the novelist and playwright Eugene McCabe.

McCabe said Battersby should not have the “temerity to sit in negative judgment on one of the great masters of Irish writing”.

Speaking at his book launch last night, Healy said he was only made aware of the series of letters on Wednesday.

“It was kind of something came out of the blue and I didn’t understand it,” he said. “Eugene must have felt something, but I wouldn’t have answered. It has nothing to do with me.”

Healy said he was disappointed by Battersby’s reviews which criticised the pace of the novel and said Healy had tried to write a young man’s novel, but “it doesn’t quite work”.

Healy said he had attended actor TP McKenna’s funeral in Cavan with Battersby, but could not comment on her own creative writing as he had not read it.

“A bad review is always sad for yourself and then you go about your business. When you finish the book, you leave it up to the reader.” Healy dismissed any suggestion the controversy might boost sales. He said the fuss over it only amounted to “gossip” and it did not mean that people would read the book.

Among those who turned up for the launch last night in the Powerscourt Town Centre were film director and novelist Neil Jordan and actors Seán McGinley and Tom Hickey.