The Strangled Impulse follows a young curate uprooted from a comfortable parish to serve the pastoral needs of working-class North Dublin. Set against the backdrop of the Church’s dwindling influence in 1970s Ireland and an increased scrutiny of priests’ personal lives, this is the story of Father O’Neill’s battles between the demands of his vocation and his own desires.

His loneliness leads him to an attractive yet wounded woman, and together they find a solace they once thought impossible. As O’Neill struggles with the promises he made on ordination day, their newfound intimacy threatens to destro them both.William King’s daring first novel offers an insight into the conflicted, political, brotherly world of the priesthood.

Re-issued for the first time since its publication in 1997, it is augmented with an afterword by the author reflecting on his work.

‘Conflict between vocation and desire makes for an engaging and poignant read.’ – The Irish Times

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

William King was born in Kilflynn, County Kerry in 1945. He studied at University College Dublin and Holy Cross College, Clonliffe and is pariosh priest at Corpus Christi Drumcondra. He is the author of novels The Strangled Impulse (1997, 2014), Swansong (2001), Leaving Ardglass (2008) and Is That All There Is (2013)