Written in 2019 by Niall Williams and steeped in lyricism and Irish charm, This Is Happiness is a coming-of-age novel that explores human connection, love, storytelling, memory, and the intersections of tradition and progress. Williams’s narrative draws from the pastoral beauty of rural Ireland while also integrating elements of the country’s oral storytelling tradition.

Niall Williams hails from Dublin, Ireland. He received his education at University College Dublin and later moved to New York City, where he worked in the theater and as a copywriter. His body of work includes several acclaimed novels and plays. His distinctive writing style, which carries an inherent musicality and a sense of nostalgia, has made him a standout voice in contemporary Irish literature.

Williams began writing This Is Happiness when he returned to live in County Clare, Ireland, and the story accordingly draws upon the unique rhythm of life and the conversational storytelling that characterizes these rural communities. In This Is Happiness, Williams examines the nature of happiness and the transformative power of change through the narrative of Noe, a man looking back at his life in the fictional village of Faha during the advent of electricity. Nominated for the Walter Scott Prize and the Irish Book Awards, and listed among The Washington Post’s 50 best novels of 2019, This Is Happiness shines a light on the magic of ordinary life and the enduring power of stories.

The narrative of This Is Happiness unfolds against the backdrop of Faha, a fictional, remote Irish village on the brink of a seismic shift from old ways to new. The narrative thus focuses on personal growth and societal change, with the advent of electricity serving as a symbol of progress and modernity. This juxtaposition between the old and the new forms a critical backdrop to the developing personal dramas. The story follows young Noe (short for Noel), who becomes a witness to the transformative journey of his village. The novel grapples with themes such as love, The Balance Between Tradition and Progress, and the complexities of human relationships. Williams’s novel is a celebration of storytelling, an ode to a bygone era, and a testament to the enduring power of community and connection.

This study guide refers to the Bloomsbury Publishing 2021 Kindle edition.

Plot Summary

Set in a small rural village called Faha in County Clare, Ireland, This Is Happiness is narrated by Noe (short for Noel) Crowe as an older man looking back on the transformative summer of his 17th year––a time of personal growth, first love, and profound changes that reflect the universal themes of storytelling, love, and The Balance Between Tradition and Progress.

The primary narrative commences when 17-year-old Noe returns to Faha to live with his grandparents, Ganga and Doady, after a brief stint at seminary school. (The narrative gradually reveals that he promised his dying mother he would become a priest but ultimately left seminary school before fulfilling this promise.) Simultaneously, a man named Christy McMahon arrives in Faha with the task of introducing electricity to the rural area. He lodges with Noe’s grandparents, and a bond quickly forms between the two through the unspoken power of companionship, with Noe fascinated by Christy’s magnetism and wisdom. As the narrative progresses, Christy’s mission to reconcile with his past becomes a more prominent theme, specifically his need to ask forgiveness from Annie Mooney, a woman he wronged in his youth by leaving her at the altar. Christy’s heartfelt search for forgiveness interweaves with Noe’s own burgeoning journey of self-discovery and romantic awakening, specifically with the three Troy sisters.

As the narrative progresses, the secrets surrounding Christy’s past and his relationship with Annie Mooney are slowly revealed. By the time electricity is finally incorporated into the town, the lives of Faha’s residents have been indelibly changed, especially Noe’s. The concluding chapters reveal Christy’s departure from Faha after Annie’s death, and while he never gets the opportunity to see her and ask forgiveness in person, he is able to speak with her over the phone, sharing his life story and falling in love with her all over again. The impact of his stories and his shared wisdom leave a lasting impression on Noe, who gains his own understanding of the intricacies of life, love, and happiness.

Reflecting on this transformative period, Noe acknowledges the sweeping changes brought about by electricity and its impact on the village’s way of life, realizing that the benefits of modernization also come at a cost: the loss of traditional lifestyles. Ultimately, however, Noe’s many life lessons affirm that human experiences—including love, joy, sorrow, and the power of storytelling—remain unwavering even amid the winds of change.