No Ra Web Star (CREST)

[Machine Translation] Nora Webster, 46, is an Irish housewife whose teacher husband died unexpectedly. Her two daughters have already left home, but her two sons are still at a tender age. Returning to work after 21 years as an office clerk, Nora is not intimidated by the harassment of her former co-workers, but she is able to establish a firm foothold with her solid work ethic. Although her daughters are annoyed with her and she often clashes with her sons, she is not as stubborn and difficult as one might think. She dyes her hair, becomes involved in union activities, decides to buy a stereo, and eventually blossoms into a talented singer. Nora's three years of rebuilding herself and discovering a new joie de vivre. As we follow the meticulously drawn details of her daily life, we are unexpectedly moved. This is an autobiographical novel by one of Ireland's most famous writers, who projects her mother's image onto the story.

教師の夫を突然亡くしたアイルランドの専業主婦、ノーラ・ウェブスター、46歳。娘二人はすでに家を離れたが、息子二人はまだ手のかかる年頃だ。事務員として21年ぶりに復職したノーラは、かつての同僚の嫌がらせにもめげず、確かな仕事ぶりで足場を築いてゆく。娘たちには煙たがられ、息子たちともぶつかりがちだが、ひとが思うほど頑固で気難しいわけではない。髪を染め、組合活動に共鳴し、一大決心をしてステレオを買い、やがては歌の才能まで花開かせる。自分を立て直し、新たな生きる歓びを見出してゆくノーラの3年。丹念に描かれた日常生活の細部を辿るうち、思いがけない大きな感動が押し寄せる。アイルランドを代表する作家が母の姿を投影した自伝的長篇。