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Search - Ireland
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Book Description:
From a land famous for storytelling comes
an "absolute masterpiece"* -- an epic novel
of Ireland that captures the intimate, passionate
texture of the Irish spirit.
One wintry evening in 1951, an itinerant storyteller -- a Seanchai, the very last practitioner of a fabled tradition extending back hundreds of years -- arrives unannounced at a house in the Irish countryside. In exchange for a bed and a warm meal, he invites his hosts and some of their neighbors to join him by the fireside, and begins to tell formative stories of Ireland's history. One of his listeners, a nine-year-old boy, grows so entranced by the story-telling that, when the old man leaves abruptly under mysterious circumstances, the boy devotes himself to finding him again.
Ronan's search for the Storyteller becomes both a journey of self-discovery and an immersion into the sometimes-conflicting histories of his native land. As the long-unspoken secrets of his own family begin to reveal themselves, he becomes increasingly single-minded in pursuit of the old man, who he fears may already be dead. But Ronan's personal path also leads him deeper and deeper into the history and mythology of Ireland itself, in all its drama, intrigue, and heroism.
Ireland travels through the centuries, interweaving Ronan's quest for the Storyteller with a richly evocative unfolding of the great moments in Irish history, ranging from the savage grip of the Ice Age to the green andtroubled land of tourist brochures and political unrest. Along the way, we meet foolish kings and innocent monks, fabled saints and great works of art, shrewd Normanraiders, strong tribal leaders, poets, politicians, and lovers. Each illuminates the magic of Ireland and the eternal connection of its people to the land.
A sweeping novel of huge ambition, Ireland is the beautifully told story of a remarkable nation. From the epic sweep of its telling to the precision of its characters -- great and small, tragic and comic -- it rings with the truth of a writer passionate about his country and in full command of his craft.
* Jack Higgins
an "absolute masterpiece"* -- an epic novel
of Ireland that captures the intimate, passionate
texture of the Irish spirit.
One wintry evening in 1951, an itinerant storyteller -- a Seanchai, the very last practitioner of a fabled tradition extending back hundreds of years -- arrives unannounced at a house in the Irish countryside. In exchange for a bed and a warm meal, he invites his hosts and some of their neighbors to join him by the fireside, and begins to tell formative stories of Ireland's history. One of his listeners, a nine-year-old boy, grows so entranced by the story-telling that, when the old man leaves abruptly under mysterious circumstances, the boy devotes himself to finding him again.
Ronan's search for the Storyteller becomes both a journey of self-discovery and an immersion into the sometimes-conflicting histories of his native land. As the long-unspoken secrets of his own family begin to reveal themselves, he becomes increasingly single-minded in pursuit of the old man, who he fears may already be dead. But Ronan's personal path also leads him deeper and deeper into the history and mythology of Ireland itself, in all its drama, intrigue, and heroism.
Ireland travels through the centuries, interweaving Ronan's quest for the Storyteller with a richly evocative unfolding of the great moments in Irish history, ranging from the savage grip of the Ice Age to the green andtroubled land of tourist brochures and political unrest. Along the way, we meet foolish kings and innocent monks, fabled saints and great works of art, shrewd Normanraiders, strong tribal leaders, poets, politicians, and lovers. Each illuminates the magic of Ireland and the eternal connection of its people to the land.
A sweeping novel of huge ambition, Ireland is the beautifully told story of a remarkable nation. From the epic sweep of its telling to the precision of its characters -- great and small, tragic and comic -- it rings with the truth of a writer passionate about his country and in full command of his craft.
* Jack Higgins
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Other Versions of this Book: Hardcover, Audio CD (Unabridged)
Top Member Reviews
Michelle R. (
7 member(s) found this review helpful.
My favorite read of this past year. Rich in history with colorful, vivid detailing. Could absolutely not put this one down. Can't wait to read something else by this author.
Linda N. (
4 member(s) found this review helpful.
What a beautiful novel!! It is not an easy read and it took time for me to get into the feel of the story, but it was certainly well worth the effort. This novel weaves together the story of a naïve boy growing into manhood and the heritage of Ireland as told by a charismatic professional storyteller. It is an unusual romance/love story as well as a story of maturing and growing into ones place and purpose in the world. This book is worth reading more than once.
3 member(s) found this review helpful.
I've never read a better book than this one. I laughed, I cried, I couldn't put it down. The author knows Ireland, he knows history, and he is an amazing writer who can describe his setting, write interesting characters, and spin an incredible yarn or two. I recommend this to everyone I know who can read.
2 member(s) found this review helpful.
Although I read the entire book, I was sorely disappointed about it. It was extremely predictable and boring in some places. I really enjoyed the storyline between Ronan's family, specifically with Kate and Alison in the first half of the novel, however I grew quickly bored with Ronan's journeys during the second half of the book. I had expected this novel to have an historical fiction style and although its setup was unique to an extent, it didn't have enough panache to really make it a worthwhile epic. I enjoyed half of the Irish tales and legends in this book, while I could have gone without the rest. Best of luck to the next reader!
2 member(s) found this review helpful.
I listened to the CD--it was long! This was one of my favorite books in the past year! A nice mix of history, storytelling and a boy's relationship with a storyteller.
Charlie M. wrote on 12/9/2006...
2 member(s) found this review helpful.
A fantastic novel that mixes Irish history and myth as it tells the story of what could be Ireland's last Seanchai(oral storyteller) and the young boy enthralled with him and his tales.
It was hard to post this book because I enjoyed it so much that I may want to re-read again some day. But, my TBR Pile is growing in leaps & bounds.
Nona R. from POWELL, WY wrote on 5/25/2006...
2 member(s) found this review helpful.
I really enjoyed this book. Frank Delaney knows how to tell a story.
Maureen B. from FRANKLINTON, NC wrote on 7/3/2008...
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
The book is rich in language and stories. Although it is long, it seemed to me that each story built on the previous one. I appreciated that there were subplots in the story just as interesting. The suspense of knowing how the plots tied together at times caused me to have a strong desire to skip to the final chapter. I thoroughly enjoyed the book.
Kae P. from BRANDON, FL wrote on 3/22/2007...
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
An excellent novel about Ireland's history, legends and myths. The story is based upon "old time Irish storyteller's" and is written by Frank DeLaney a storyteller himself.
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
I loved this book. Great read!
Rate These Member Reviews
Patricia H. from PINE BUSH, NY wrote on 4/12/2008...A very well-written book about the history of Ireland for all you lovers of Irish history!
Claudia M. from OVERLAND PARK, KS wrote on 12/10/2006...Ireland in 1951 and the story of a young boy whose life is changed by a "mystical" story teller.
What a wonderful epic tale! Once I got involved in the story I couldn't put it down!
Amanda A. from SEATTLE, WA wrote on 5/3/2006...Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
BBC reporter Delaney's fictionalized history of his native country, an Irish bestseller, is a sprawling, riveting read, a book of stories melding into a novel wrapped up in an Irish history text. In 1951, when Ronan O'Mara is nine, he meets the aging itinerant Storyteller, who emerges out a "silver veil" of Irish mist, hoping to trade a yarn for a hot meal. Welcomed inside, the Storyteller lights his pipe and begins, telling of the architect of Newgrange, who built "a marvelous, immortal structure... before Stonehenge in England, before the pyramids of Egypt," and the dentally challenged King Conor of Ulster, who tried, and failed, to outsmart his wife. The stories utterly captivate the young Ronan ("This is the best thing that ever, ever happened"), and they'll draw readers in, too, with their warriors and kings, drinkers and devils, all rendered cleanly and without undue sentimentality. When Ronan's mother banishes the Storyteller for telling a blasphemous tale, Ronan vows to find him. He also becomes fascinated by Irish myth and legend, and, as the years pass, he discovers his own gift for storytelling. Eventually, he sets off, traversing Ireland on foot to find his mentor. Past and present weave together as Delaney entwines the lives of the Storyteller and Ronan in this rich and satisfying book.
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Corrina T. from LAS VEGAS, NV wrote on 4/10/2006...This book is a fictionalized history of Ireland as told by a storyteller or Seanchai.