- Emerald Germs of Ireland
"Emerald Germs of Ireland" (2001) is a
black comedy novel by Irishwriter Patrick McCabe . Each chapter is begun with an Irishfolk song .Plot Summary
The book focuses on the life of Gullytown homeboy Pat McNab, the village idiot. The alternately adoring and criticizing attention by his mother, Maimie and the total abusiveness of his father finally send him over the edge.
He responds by ridding Ireland of "germs," however, in this case, the "germs" are people. He kills his both his father and mother, his neighbors and local visitors to he village. His list includes four-legged "germs" as he kills several donkeys.
He then digs his mother up from her grave after the removal of each succeeding "germ".
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