Sharon's Grave deals with a man's ruthless lust for land, which overrides all family loyalties, and can ultimately lead to tragedy. In The Crazy Wall, John B. Keane loses none of his realistic force in creating the powerful symbol of the wall that Michael Barrett erects. The Man from Clare deals with the personal tragedy of an ageing athlete who finds he no longer has the physical strength to maintain his position as captain of the team, or his reputation as the best footballer in Clare.