Troubled Departures: Migration and the Afterlife of the Northern Irish Conflict in Nick Laird’s Fiction

Abstract

The article examines the portrayal of migration in Nick Laird’s novels Utterly Monkey (2004) and Modern Gods (2014) within the context of recent Northern Irish fiction and its repeated themes. While contemporary fiction authors continue to address the Northern Irish conflict and its aftermaths, Laird’s texts extend this discourse by focusing on an often-overlooked theme of (e)migration (in)directly resulting from the conflict. Providing a brief history of emigration from the province and the themes connected with migration literature, the article provides a comparative analysis of the two novels. It demonstrates how Laird depicts characters who navigate identity negotiations and grapple with tensions between cultural and identity continuity and reinvention as they move from Northern Ireland, both within the United Kingdom and beyond. Drawing on theories of migration literature and identity formation, the article argues that while not unique, Laird’s nuanced portrayal of migration captures its deep psychological and emotional impact, revealing how Northern Ireland’s turbulent history continues to shape the identities and experiences of those who leave its borders.