Michael D. O'Brien

"By the Rivers of Babylon" explores the early life of the prophet Ezekiel, tracing his journey from childhood through his time in the Temple to the Babylonian Captivity. This novel delves into Ezekiel's experiences among the Jewish exiles as they endeavor to build a new life along the River Chebar, striving to remain faithful without the Temple and to discern the forces threatening their faith. Michael D. O'Brien offers an intimate look into the formation of a prophet, providing insights into...

Ethan McQuarry is a young lighthouse keeper on a tiny island, the rugged outcropping of easternmost Cape Breton Island on the Atlantic Ocean. A man without any family, he sees himself as a silent vigilant, performing his duties courageously year after year, with an admirable sense of responsibility.He cherishes his solitude and is grateful that his interactions with human beings are rare. Even so, he is haunted by his aloneness in the world and by a feeling that his life is meaningless. His c...

Dr. Owen Whitfield is the elderly Oxford professor of history who first appeared in Michael O'Brien's novel The Father's Tale. In the events of The Sabbatical, which occur sometime later, Dr. Whitfield is looking forward to a sabbatical year of peace and quiet, gardening in his backyard, and tinkering with what he calls his latest unpublishable book. As the year begins, he is drawn by a series of seeming coincidences into involvement with a group of characters from across Europe, including a ...