1916
by Morgan Llywelyn (448 pages)
Book Description:
The task of transforming the events of the 1916 Irish Rebellion into
coherent fiction would terrify most writers. Llywelyn (The Lion of
Ireland; Red Branch), however, has produced a thunderous, informative
read that rises to the challenge. Sticking to the historical facts and
incorporating all the major historical figures, Llewelyn filters them
through the experience of the fictional Ned Halloran, a young Titanic
survivor whose lust for life takes on new meaning when he goes to the
Irish-language school run by poet and schoolmaster Padraic Pearse.
Gaining a new appreciation of Irish culture, Ned also learns of
Ireland's tragic, bloody history. He soon becomes aware that he is alive
in a vibrant and epochal time, when the new century's potential
inspires poets and revolutionaries to challenge the British Empire's
colonial might. Ned falls in love and graduates from schoolboy to
soldier. On Easter Monday, 1916, he is ready for the Rising itself, and
(as happened on those famously unisex barricades) his sweetheart fights
by his side. Battle scenes are both accurate and compelling. The
betrayals, slaughters and passions of the day are all splendidly
depicted as Llywelyn delivers a blow-by-blow account of the rebellion
and its immediate aftermath. The novel's abundant footnotes should
satisfy history buffs; its easy, gripping style will enthrall casual
readers with what is Llywelyn's best work yet. (From Publisher's Weekly)
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