A story of kindness and hope in 1962 Ireland

Nothing much happens in Faha, Ireland. It’s located on the furthermost edge of what author Niall Williams calls a fabled country. He first introduced us to this fictional village and its quiet, resilient residents in his novel The History of Rain, and continued the story of this place and its people in This Is Happiness. Now, those residents are back again, this time with his warm-hearted, humane focus on doctor Jack Troy and his eldest daughter Ronnie. It’s Christmas in 1962.

Time of the Child opens with Jack and Ronnie attending Sunday Mass. Along with all the other parishioners, they witness Father Tom’s dementia in full display. He falters shockingly through the Advent sermon. Jack spends the rest of the day on house calls, and in the evening, he finds the priest wandering dangerously close to the eroded edge of the River Shannon. Much more happens this day. It’s not dramatic action, rather the doctor’s conscience at work, the shame he feels for thwarting his daughter’s romantic relationship with a village boy. He’s determined to make it right.

The narrative voice is one of convincing authority. It’s omnisciently observant and sensitively aware, especially with Jack Troy, who’s elegantly depicted as a steadfast physician with a burdened human spirit. Another fine character is the young Jude Quinlan. We find him herding the family’s cattle toward an open gate in predawn hours. The animals’ unpredictability is alive with touchable realism, the young ones taking off “in haunch-kicks and leaps, flying muck and puddle in a bucking charge.” It’s the day of the Christmas Fair, when the cattle are to be sold. Surprisingly, also on this day, by the back wall of the church, Jude finds an abandoned baby.

There’s so much to love in this novel. Jude Quinlan’s youthful wisdom. Father Tom’s love of saying the Catholic mass, and his fear of losing the ability to do this one thing in life that means everything to him. The twin farmers Tim and Tom Talty, who look so much alike the villagers call both of them Tim-Tom, so as to always be right. Even Harry, the dog that pretend sleeps in the center of Faha’s main street.

Jude brings the baby to the Troys. Ronnie secludes herself in the house to take care of the child. Jack loudly plays holiday carols on the radio, so his patients in the surgery waiting room won’t hear the infant crying. It’s against state and church law to keep the child, but Jack and Ronnie do just that, upturning their lives. The doctor knows whatever happens next matters enormously. Because long ago, an unmarried girl with a newborn trusted him, and he stood back while authorities came for both.

The Irish lyricism of the prose is as much a part of why this story sings as these believable characters. It’s also why it takes a while for action to create consequence – the prose lingers, so the meaning and depth of the words can immerse us in this event that’s of a time and place. 

Jack Troy formulates an astonishing plan to legally keep the baby. He suspects he’ll be defeated, except, that’s not what happens. What does happen is a spirit of generosity, and the magic of author Niall Williams at work.

Time of the Child by Niall Williams is published by Bloomsbury. A version of this review broadcast over Ohio NPR member station WOSU 89.7 FM. Correction: In the broadcast, it was incorrectly stated that Faha first appeared in This Is Happiness.