Set against the turbulence of the early Anglo/Irish conflict where food, and shelter can be scarce, and hunger commonplace. 'The Listener' is a beautifully written tale of love, and magic: the love and companionship between, man and wife, horse and rider, mother and child, and above all a girl and her acolyte. All of which are bonds that cannot be broken. The tale twists and turns, giving little away and holding the reader's interest from beginning to end. A masterpiece in every sense of the word.