In honour of our latest reissue, John Broderick’s An Apology for Roses, we’re revisiting another of his works, The Pilgrimage, for this month’s Friday Archive. Here’s why it’s worth your while!

1. It was banned in 1961 by the Censorship Board. They always banned the good ones.
2. It sold over 100,000 copies in the U.S.A. as The Chameleons. 
3. It combines an illicit affair with a lovely…
4. … Pilgrimage to Lourdes! What could go wrong?
5. It’s also got a juicy small-town plot (see below)

Wealthy Julia Glynn’s husband is seriously ill, and is being tended to by his nephew, Jim, with whom Julia is having an affair. The parish priest advocates a pilgrimage to Lourdes, just as Julia begins to receive anonymous letters detailing her infidelities. As the day of departure to Lourdes approaches, Julia feels the watchful eyes of small town Ireland upon her, and must discover the source of the letters…

We’re offering The Pilgrimage for the special price of €8 on our website for the month of July! Order your copy here.