Sebastian Barry's Days Without End has garnered widespread praise for its evocative prose and deep emotional resonance. Critics applaud its vividly rendered historical settings and complex characters. However, some find its violence and bleakness challenging. Overall, Barry's storytelling and lyrical writing elevate the narrative, offering a poignant, albeit intense, experience.

Readers who enjoy deeply emotional historical fiction with rich, lyrical prose will be captivated by Days Without End by Sebastian Barry. Fans of novels like Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry and The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien will appreciate the vivid storytelling and exploration of complex human experiences against a backdrop of war and survival.

Days Without End by Sebastian Barry follows the story of Thomas McNulty, an Irish immigrant, and his companion John Cole as they navigate love, identity, and survival while serving in the American Indian Wars and the Civil War. The novel explores themes of camaraderie, gender identity, and the harsh realities of 19th-century America.

Melancholic / Gritty / Mysterious / Bittersweet / Emotional

- Days Without End by Sebastian Barry won the 2016 Costa Book of the Year award, highlighting its critical acclaim and impact within the literary community.
- The novel explores themes of identity and belonging, partly inspired by Barry's own family history and stories of his ancestors.
- Sebastian Barry is noted for his lyrical prose style, which is evident in Days Without End and has been compared to other literary figures such as Cormac McCarthy.

**Thomas McNulty**  
The narrator and protagonist, who reflects on his life from his youth as a soldier in the American Indian Wars and the Civil War to his future plans with family. He explores gender identity throughout the novel, moving toward self-identifying as a woman.

**John Cole**  
Thomas’s love interest and steadfast companion, who is involved in the narrative primarily through his relationship with Thomas and their family life. He has some Native American heritage but experiences limited racial discrimination, likely due to being white-passing.

**Major Neale**  
Thomas’s and John’s commanding officer, initially committed to justice and opposing excessive violence against Native Americans, but experiences moral conflict after personal tragedy.  

**Winona Cole**  
The adopted daughter of Thomas and John, originally from the Oglala Sioux community, known for her intelligence and kindness as perceived by her adoptive parents.

Sebastian Barry

Adult

Novel

Days Without End

Fiction

Guide

Study Guide

Before You Read

Explore Days Without End reviews, reading age recommendations, and essential genre and thematic details before you start reading.

Before You Read Days Without End | SuperSummary

title

content

Overview

Get ready to explore Days Without End and its meaning. Our full analysis and study guide provides an even deeper dive with character analysis and quotes explained to help you discover the complexity and beauty of this book.

Days Without End Summary

Background

Days Without End Background

chapter

chapterType

section

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapters 1-5

Days Without End Chapters 1-5 Summary & Analysis

Chapters 6-9

Days Without End Chapters 6-9 Summary & Analysis

Chapters 10-14

Days Without End Chapters 10-14 Summary & Analysis

Chapters 15-19

Days Without End Chapters 15-19 Summary & Analysis

Chapters 20-23

Days Without End Chapters 20-23 Summary & Analysis

character

Character Analysis

Days Without End Character Analysis

theme

Themes

Days Without End Themes

Symbols & Motifs

Days Without End Symbols & Motifs

quote

citation

Important Quotes

Days Without End Important Quotes

primaryCharacter

Essay Topics

Days Without End Essay Topics

Days Without End

Before You Read

Super Short Summary

Reviews & Readership

Review Roundup

Who Should Read Days Without End?

Reading Age

Book Details