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Original Essays | December 12, 2009

Alexander McCall Smith: IMG The Courage of Others

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I have recently written a novel about life in England during the Second World War. I felt some concern before I tackled this theme — the War... Continue »
  1. $16.76 Sale Hardcover add to wish list

    La's Orchestra Saves the World

    Alexander McCall Smith

Ireland

by Frank Delaney

Ireland Cover

ISBN13: 9780060563493
ISBN10: 0060563494
Condition: Standard
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Only 1 left in stock at $4.50!

Synopses & Reviews

Publisher Comments:

In the winter of 1951, a storyteller arrives at the home of nine-year-old Ronan O'Mara in the Irish countryside. The last practitioner of an honored, centuries-old tradition, the Seanchai enthralls his assembled audience for three evenings running with narratives of foolish kings and fabled saints, of enduring accomplishments and selfless acts — until he is banished from the household for blasphemy and moves on. But these three incomparable nights have changed young Ronan forever, setting him on the course he will follow for years to come — as he pursues the elusive, itinerant storyteller . . . and the magical tales that are no less than the glorious saga of his tenacious, troubled, and extraordinary isle.

Synopsis:

A sprawling, epic "New York Times" bestseller, this tour de force marries the intimate, passionate spirit of the Irish with a grand historical scope to create a glorious, resplendent saga.

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About the Author

Frank Delaney enjoyed a long career in BBC broadcasting before becoming a full-time writer. He is the author of several books that were bestsellers in the United Kingdom, including James Joyce's Odyssey, A Walk to the Western Isles, and The Celts. He now lives in Connecticut.
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What Our Readers Are Saying

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Average customer rating based on 2 comments:
katknit, May 7, 2009 (view all comments by katknit)
Frank Delaney’s Ireland is my kind of novel. Rich with character, history, and lyrical language, it is at once the chronicle of a nation and the coming of age tale of a young man. The story opens with the arrival of a man who may be Ireland’s last itinerant storyteller, and from the moment he lights his pipe by the fireside, and begins describing the evolution of prehistoric New Grange, his audience is enthralled. As is Ronan, who from that evening on finds his career and his very life shaped by this enigmatic, nameless wanderer. The millenium-long, traumatic epic of a nation’s building, the travails of a single 20th century family, the beauty of the landscape, the pain of loss, forgiveness and love, poets and leprechauns – it’s all here, fascinating and beautifully expressed. If the book has a flaw, it’s in its length. Though it bogs down after the halfway mark, Delaney’s riveting conclusion more than makes up for that. Highly recommended for lovers of good historical fiction.
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Sharon Skinner, June 1, 2008 (view all comments by Sharon Skinner)
This is a remarkable book that truly reveals the innate spirit of Irish storytelling and history. Frank Delaney is a wonderful storyteller.
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Product Details

ISBN:
9780060563493
Author:
Delaney, Frank
Publisher:
Avon Books
Author:
by Frank Delaney
Subject:
Ireland
Subject:
Historical - General
Subject:
Sagas
Subject:
Historical
Subject:
Historical fiction
Copyright:
2005
Publication Date:
March 2006
Binding:
Mass Market Paperbound
Grade Level:
General/trade
Language:
English
Pages:
651
Dimensions:
6.88x4.20x1.42 in. .69 lbs.
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