The Story of Lucy Gault Summary
William Trevor

The Story of Lucy Gault Summary

The Story of Lucy Gault starts on June 21, 1921. Ireland is in the midst of civil unrest and anti-English violence. On that night, there is an intrusion in Lahardane, the home of the well-to-do Gault family, when three boys attempt to burn the family home down. Captain Everand Gault shoots his rifle to scare them away but unintentionally wounds one of the boys, Horahan. He asks the town priest, Father Morrissey, to pass on his regrets concerning the incident, but his apology goes unacknowledged. A letter that Everand writes to them also fails to generate a response. The result of a personal visit to the boy's home is the same. These interactions lead Heloise Gault, Captain Gault's wife, to fear that another attempt to burn their house is inevitable. She feels that because she is English, her presence is drawing attention to the house, and the only possible course... View more of the The Story of Lucy Gault Summary