'This astonishing collection of stories draws the reader into a world at once familiar and deliciously strange - the world of a fictional island community off the coast of County Mayo. With an unflinching eye for injustice, cruelty and self-deceit, McHugh nonetheless approaches his cast of characters with a sincere and intelligent compassion. These stories bring to life not only the individual lives of human people, but the collective life of a whole community. In exquisite and arresting prose, this collection makes it clear that John Patrick McHugh is one of the most exciting writers working in Ireland today' Sally Rooney, author of Normal People 'The stories in Pure Gold quietly undo the reader with their uncannily insightful exposition of certain cruelties- in particular the linguistic and emotional sleight of hands between teenagers and children who despise and need and love each other. This is a remarkable, rare and truly brilliant collection which will no doubt capture and convert those readers like myself who seldom reach for short stories' Megan Nolan, author of Acts of Desperation 'McHugh's stories are monoliths that glitter with piercing detail, sunlit with godlike purpose and control' Gavin Corbett, author of Green Glowing Skull 'This collection is refreshing and ambitious, its stories full of heart and balls and mischief' Lisa McInerny, author of The Blood Miracles 'McHugh's stories are full of stylish brio, headlong with energy, and pulse with real feeling and depth. He is a young writer forging a fresh and intense new path through the landscape of Irish letters' Colin Barrett, author of Young Skins 'This is a terrific collection. The stories are dark, funny, honest and engrossing' Roddy Doyle, author of Love 'Emotionally intelligent and savagely funny . Pure Gold is a striking literary debut' Nicole Flattery, author of Show Them A Good Time.