J.G. Farrell Books in Order

Set largely in a hospital, this dark comedy follows a man struggling to reconnect with other people after a suffocating ordeal. The patients' shared surroundings become a place to reflect on the wreckage of their lives.

Boris, an aging cynic, experiences personal disasters and desolation against the backdrop of an English seaside resort. Farrell follows his turbulent life through a satirical portrait that combines close observation, comedy, and moments of pathos.

Returning from the Great War, Major Brendan Archer visits a decaying Irish hotel to clarify his uncertain engagement. As eccentric residents cling to fading routines, political unrest and the collapse of imperial confidence advance beyond the hotel’s crumbling walls.

In India during the rebellion of 1857, an isolated British community trusts in its military strength and cultural superiority. Siege strips away those certainties as its members struggle to preserve their lives, privileges and understanding of their empire.

A wealthy British businessman in prewar Singapore manages labor unrest, family ambitions and profitable trade while assuming his position is secure. War approaches a society divided by race and class, threatening the commercial empire he expects to endure.