Sara Baume: A tale of pleasant isolation in West Cork 

Though mostly written before the pandemic, Baume's latest novel, Seven Steeples, ended up being strangely relevant for the Covid era 

Sara Baume with her dog Tove on Long Strand, Co Cork, Ireland.  Picture: Kenneth O Halloran

Sara Baume is a woman of many talents. As well as being an acclaimed author, she continues to pursue a parallel career as a visual artist. Perhaps clairvoyance should also be added to the list of her accomplishments.

 In her new novel, Seven Steeples, couple Bell and Sigh and their two dogs retreat to a rented farmhouse beside a mountain in West Cork where they cut themselves off from the outside world, immersing themselves in the mundane rituals of living.