Books

Book review: Beautifully told twin tales of discovery rooted in real life

Skilled storyteller Billy O’Callaghan brings both history and fiction to life in this novel connecting the Jewish communities of Cork and Vienna

Cork native Billy O’Callaghan has a flair for language and excels at capturing his characters’ entire personalities in just a few short sentences. Picture: Clare Keogh

Matthias Sindelar was one of the greatest Austrian footballers of all time. A gifted athlete with exceptional skill and an eye for the goal, he played his entire professional career at Austria Vienna and captained his national side (dubbed the ‘Wunderteam’) at the 1934 World Cup. Known as “the Paper Man” due to his slight build, Sindelar was a superstar, the 1930s equivalent of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo at a time before television beamed ...