This book was recently reissued since it was banned in Ireland since 1961. The Pilgrimage takes place in Ireland, and the main characters are Michael, Julia, Jim and Stephen. Julia and Michael are married. He is the wealthiest man in their small town, totally incapacitated and gay. Julia is having an affair with Jim , Michael’s doctor and nephew. One day Julia receives a letter in the mail describing to a tee what she and Jim are doing behind closed doors. This exact same letter appears at her home almost daily. Julia suspects Stephen, their servant, but is not sure how to get him to confess.

By today’s standards, The Pilgrimage is tame. It is not shocking, but Julia’s promiscuity and several gay characters seem to be the reason it was banned in Ireland for over fifty years. Is The Pilgrimage a great read? No, but it is interesting to see how much morals and sexual standards have changed since 1961.