Land (O'Farrell novel)
2026 novel by Maggie O’Farrell
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The 2026 historical novel Land, written by Maggie O'Farrell, follows an Irish family after the devastation that laid waste beginning with the 1840's Great Famine also known as the Irish Potato Famine. The protagonist, an Irish map maker, is commissioned by the British in the aftermath to survey Ireland, taking his family along with him. During his journey, he experiences an epiphany, vowing instead to tell the prehistory and true history of the land. The book was published by Alfred A. Knopf in 2026.[1][2][3][4]
| Author | Maggie O'Farrell |
|---|---|
| Audio read by | Dane Whyte O'Hara |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Historical fiction |
| Publisher | Knopf |
Publication date | June 2, 2026 |
| Media type | Print (hardcover), audiobook, ebook |
| Pages | 400 (first edition hardcover) |
| ISBN | 978-0-593-32064-8 (hardcover) |
| Preceded by | The Marriage Portrait |
Themes
According to The New Yorker magazine, the metaphor of mapping is germane to this story. O'Farrell uses cartography as a central theme. It shows or illuminates the differences between the measured and gridded-off land of that the British colonizers see and the "dreamed" or "recollected" perspectives of the Irish people.[3]
Reception
According to The New Yorker magazine, the author brings together the factual history of the land and technology with folklore and myth, demonstrating how a great story can resurrect the past and give voice to the marginalized. [3] The Wall Street Journal says, "As the struggling men and women in 'Land' endure defeat and distrust victory, it is their frailty as much as their strength that wins our sympathy and holds our attention." The Times (UK) says that "It is unequivocally a novel about Ireland, the Irish and the Irish diasporic experience... It is also... her most far-reaching, ambitious novel to date... With 'Land', O’Farrell might snag a Booker nomination, an accolade that has so far (unaccountably, to fans) eluded her."[4]