Maura Laverty And Never No More
This 1943 reprint of Never No More is in our collections in Local Studies. Originally published in 1942, the book caused somewhat of a stir in Laverty’s hometown of Rathangan. Laverty did change the names of places and characters, but it is easy to see how locals could recognise themselves, or their neighbours, from within the pages of the novel. As Seamus Kelly says in his own book, The Story Of Maura Laverty: ‘Rathangan was never mentioned in the book or in reviews at the time…Locals were not fooled as to the identity of the village or its inhabitants. This is the novel that raised the hackles in Rathangan big time.’
The reaction to the book in the press, outside of Kildare, seems to have been quite positive. One reviewer in The Irish Press on 18th March 1942 called it a ‘remarkable first book’. Another in The Dublin Leader on April 4th, 1942 was equally kind: ‘Never No More is a work far above the usual level of first novels. It is a sensitive record, delicately and imaginatively made, inlaid with understanding and sympathy.’
Like all succesful story-tellers, Laverty had the ability to make you feel that you were wearing the same boots as her characters, walking their streets.
At the heart of the story is the beautiful, warm and loving relationship between the protagonist Delia and her materfamilias, ‘Gran’. She is the beating heart of the novel and the bond between her and her granddaughter leaves a deep impression. Reading these passages of the book would touch even the coldest of hearts.
The rural work ethic, and the appreciation and understanding of good, hearty food are woven into every page. It is not hard to see how Laverty became an authority on cooking herself. Also in our collections in Local Studies is Full And Plenty:
For a book published in 1960, the recipies feel quite contemporary. If Laverty were around today, you could imagine her having a culinary blog or Instagram account with lots of followers. A review in the Catholic Standard on 4th March, 1960 remarked that: ‘Maura Laverty says that she wonders what has happened to the Irish people that we have lost our interest in fish…’ The love-hate relationship between the Irish and fish? Plus ça change, as the saying goes.
Between writing novels, cookbooks, radio and theatre work (not to mention a busy domestic life), Laverty obviously had a great work ethic. Just like ‘Gran’ in Never No More. Maura was a huge influence on people like Nell McCafferty and Nuala O’Faolain. The latter wrote of Laverty, in her book Are You Somebody?: ‘Maura lived in an elegant flat with great long windows hung with sweeps of soft muslin…She never spoke about herself, much less uttered any complaint, but I used to feel loneliness coming from her.’
There is a nice memorial to Maura Laverty in Rathangan. It faces out on to New Street, with the beautiful River Slate running just behind, on its way to meet The Figile. The memorial was officially unveiled by Nell McCafferty in 1992.
By Kevin Dowling, Kildare County Archives And Local Studies.
Sources:
Never No More, by Maura Laverty
Full & Plenty, by Maura Laverty
The Maura Laverty Story, by Seamus Kelly
Are You Somebody?, by Nuala O’Faolain
The Irish Newspaper Archives
The British Newspaper Archives
