This wonderful novel takes place in Ireland. The book is brand new and still in it's original publisher's shrinkwrap. This is a story about children but it is written for adults. This is a difficult task for any writer as he must comprehend the minds of children but make his novel interesting and believable for the adult reader. The task becomes doubly hard when the author decides to eliminate the sensational subjects that we find in the news today, such as child abuse and the like. This most compelling novel was the 1993 winner of the Booker McConnell Prize which is the most prestigious literary award in England. Many readers already know the author Roddy Doyle for his three previous novels as well as his screenplays. He is a brilliant talent and is well worth exploring. Barrytown, which is the fictional setting of all of his novels is now part of the literary world as is Joyce's Dublin or Dickens's London. Doyle spent fourteen years teaching in North Dublin where he learned that life in a town like Barrytown is both difficult and confining. Although there is humor in this novel, the overall effect is not at all funny. School is like an endless process of intimidation and humilation. Life revolves around the television in a run-down area of the town. Paddy and the other Barrytown boys play soccer, defend their territory, run through their neighbors? yards, steal boards and nails and magazines.They try to define themselves as outcasts and rebels. They are the excluded ones. Roddy Doyle has written a novel of great sensitivity and no condescension, rendering Paddy Clarke's world directly and through eyes that see what Paddy can only dimly and reluctantly comprehend. This beautiful book is bound in fully-tooled leather with satin moiré endpapers, satin ribbon bookmark and 22kt gold on the spine. The spine has raised bands in the style of classic bookbinding. Beautiful gilt designs ornament the front as well as the back boards. The paper was made especially for this edition. The leather was cut entirely by hand. It has raised bands on the spine in the style of classic bookmaking. It includes a certificate of authenticity and a descriptive card laid in with biographical information as well as a few words about the book itself. Published by Easton Press it is a volume of heirloom quality and will be treasured for generations to come.This beautiful book is bound in fully-tooled leather with satin moiré endpapers, satin ribbon bookmark and 22kt gold on the spine. The spine has raised bands in the style of classic bookbinding. Beautiful gilt designs ornament the front as well as the back boards. The paper was made especially for this edition. The leather was cut entirely by hand. It has raised bands on the spine in the style of classic bookmaking. It includes a certificate of authenticity and a descriptive card laid in with biographical information as well as a few words about the book itself. Published by Easton Press it is a volume of heirloom quality and will be treasured for generations to come.