On a dark, wet evening in Dublin, scientist and mother-of-four Eilish Stack answers her front door to find two officers from Ireland’s newly formed secret police on her step. They have arrived to interrogate her husband, a trade unionist.

Ireland is falling apart, caught in the grip of a government turning towards tyranny. As the life she knows and the ones she loves disappear before her eyes, Eilish must contend with the dystopian logic of her new, unraveling country. How far will she go to save her family? And what—or who—is she willing to leave behind?

The winner of the Booker Prize 2023 and a critically acclaimed national bestseller, Prophet Song presents a terrifying and shocking vision of a country sliding into authoritarianism and a deeply human portrait of a mother’s fight to hold her family together.

About the moderator:
Emma Calabrese is the Assistant Director of Development at The Music Hall. She is a lifelong reader and proud owner of over 500+ books. With dual degrees in Theatre and English and MFA in Arts Management, Emma has worked in nonprofits for over 10 years. She currently resides in Salem, MA, and helps curate books for her local book club.