Milkman (novel)

Milkman is a 2018 novel by Irish author Anna Burns. It won the 2018 Man Booker Prize, making Burns the first Northern Irish writer to win the award.

The novel is set in an unnamed city during "the Troubles" in Northern Ireland, although the specific time period is deliberately ambiguous. The narrative follows an 18-year-old woman, known only as "Middle Sister," who is harassed by a powerful paramilitary figure known as "Milkman." The story explores themes of political conflict, sexual harassment, rumour, community paranoia, and the psychological impact of living in a society under constant threat.

Burns's writing style is characterized by its stream-of-consciousness narration, its long, winding sentences, and its use of indirect and ambiguous language, reflecting the atmosphere of fear and uncertainty that pervades the protagonist's life. The characters are often referred to by their relationships to Middle Sister (e.g., "Maybe-Boyfriend," "First Sister") rather than by their names, further contributing to the sense of detachment and unease.

Milkman has been praised for its innovative prose and its powerful exploration of the Troubles through a uniquely personal and psychological lens. It is considered a challenging but rewarding read, offering a complex and nuanced perspective on a period of intense political and social turmoil.