All Down Darkness Wide by Sean Hewitt

Saturday, June 14, 2025--San Antonio

All Down Darkness Wide by Sean Hewitt is one of the most beautifully written books I have ever read.  It is a memoir of and Irish man who grew up west of Liverpool hiding his real self in so many ways to try to fit into life there--working to lose his Irish accent, to hide any indications that he might be gay, etc.  Currently a professor at Trinity College in Dublin, a reviewer for the Irish Times, and an award-winning poet, the book covers the part of his life before--when a child discovering the church he loved didn't really love what he was, yearning to fit in and be accepted by others in school, yearning even more to have physical contact with males, discovering on his own that he could meet others by cruising in dark, possibly dangerous places in the evenings, falling in love as a graduate student only to learn have his Swedish lover to become a victim of SAD (the depression so common with people who live in northern climates) and try to commit suicide.  What I liked the most about the book is the way he describes all of these experiences--in words that are perceptive, clear, and beautiful.  What I disappointed me is the length of time (number of pages) spent on describing the depth of his partner's depression and its effects on their lives.  I gave the book 4 stars out of 5.