Milkman is author Anna Burns’ third novel and the winner of the 2018 Man Booker Prize in Fiction (widely regarded as one of the most prestigious awards in literature). Burns was the first Northern Irish writer ever to receive the award, and Milkman’s subject matter is inseparable from its author’s nationality. Like Burns herself, the novel’s protagonist grows up in 1970s Northern Ireland at the height of the Troubles: a 30-year political, ethnic, and religious conflict between nationalists (primarily Catholic and of Irish descent) seeking to split from the United Kingdom, and loyalists (primarily Protestant descendants of British settlers) seeking to remain.

In Milkman, however, Burns refers to the Troubles only indirectly, calling those associated with the local paramilitary forces (likely branches of the Irish Republican Army, known as the IRA) “renouncers,” and speaking of England and loyalist strongholds as “over the water” and “over the road,” respectively. Other aspects of what Burns calls the work’s “experimental” style include a lack of names and a highly voice-driven narrative.

This study guide refers to the 2018 Graywolf Press edition of the novel.

Content Warning: The source material and this guide contain instances and discussions of misogyny, abuse, and sexual assault.

Plot Summary

Milkman takes place in an unnamed city (probably Belfast) in 1970s Northern Ireland. It follows the story of an 18-year-old woman living in a Catholic and separatist stronghold; “middle sister,” as she most commonly refers to herself, is one of 11 children, the eldest of whom have all either left home or died. Middle sister, however, continues to live with her widowed mother (“ma”) and three younger siblings (“wee sisters”) while working and attending night classes downtown. One day, as she is walking around the neighborhood, she’s approached by a 41-year-old paramilitary in a white van (“milkman”), who offers her a ride.

Middle sister has a boyfriend (maybe-boyfriend) and is in any case uninterested in milkman, so she refuses the offer. Milkman, however, continues to pursue her in ever more disturbing ways; when speaking with her, he makes it clear that he’s highly familiar with her schedule and habits, and eventually begins to threaten to have maybe-boyfriend killed on trumped-up charges of being an informer for the state. Middle sister undertakes various steps to try to evade her stalker, but the situation spirals out of her control as the community at large becomes convinced that she’s having an affair with milkman. As middle sister’s mental health and her relationship with maybe-boyfriend deteriorate, she tries to handle the rumors by feigning ignorance. Her efforts backfire, and a renouncer friend of hers stages an intervention, warning middle sister that she is in danger of becoming a community outcast (or “beyond-the-pale”).

While out with this friend, middle sister is poisoned by a woman with an unspecified mental health condition (“tablets girl”) who routinely spikes people’s drinks. Middle sister recovers but learns in the aftermath of her illness that tablets girl has herself been murdered and that everyone believes milkman killed her on middle sister’s behalf. What’s more, the district’s actual milkman (“real milkman”) has been shot by state officials who confused him with milkman. He is now recovering in a hospital, with ma—who has secretly been in love with him for decades—visiting him regularly.

After a particularly nasty phone conversation with maybe-boyfriend, middle sister decides to go to his house to apologize. Once there, however, she discovers that maybe-boyfriend is involved in a clandestine romantic relationship with his best friend (“chef”). Shocked and disheartened, she begins walking home, only to be approached once again by milkman. Middle sister feels she has no choice but to get into his van; she then listens numbly as he tells her that he will pick her up for a date the following evening.

The next day, middle sister learns milkman has been killed by state forces. Relieved, she goes out to a club, where she is attacked by Somebody McSomebody—a young man who has consistently refused to listen to her rejections. Fortunately, the attack happens in the women’s bathroom: Middle sister is saved by the arrival of a group of women who proceed to beat up McSomebody himself.

Middle sister’s life returns to something like normal as the novel closes. As she leaves for a run, she’s amused to see that the streets are full of little girls—wee sisters included—dressed up and pretending to be maybe-boyfriend’s mother, who is an internationally famous ballroom dancer.