Synopses & Reviews
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.
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“Highly recommended … fans of Edward Rutherfords historical sagas will love it.” Library Journal (Starred Review)
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“A vivid rendering of Irish history.. reminiscent of the best of James Michener in scope and sheer crowd-pleasing potential.” Kirkus Reviews
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“A sprawling, riveting read ... the stories utterly captivate ...in this rich and satisfying book.” Publishers Weekly
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“History, legend, memory and myth come seamlessly together in Frank Delaneys wonderfully engaging new novel, Ireland.” Washington Post
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“Delaney gracefully collects essential mythsand invents a few, tooin his heartfelt ode to the oral tradition.” Entertainment Weekly
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“Dramatic, adventurous, heroic, romantic, slyly comic ... imaginatively [tells] the history of Ireland.” Philadelphia Inquirer
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“Extraordinary … Delaney is such a fabulous storyteller that the 560 pages fly by.” Connecticut Post
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“In the end, IRELAND is, as the Irish themselves are fond of saying about everything from cabbage to castles, brilliant.” San Antonio Express-News
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“A remarkable achievement....Frank Delaney has written a beautiful book.” Edward Rutherfurd, New York Times bestselling author of LONDON and THE PRINCES OF IRELAND
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“If youre a lover of Irish myths and history, there are rich pickings here.” The Guardian
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“An absolute masterpiece. With this extraordinary novel Frank Delaney joins the ranks of the greatest of Irish writers.” Jack Higgins, New York Times bestselling author of Edge of Danger
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“Delaney has written an epic novel on the history of Ireland....Hes a born storyteller.” Hartford Courant
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“Miraculous ... As befits its title, IRELAND touches the heart and moves the soul.” Richmond Times-Dispatch
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“An epic novel of history and storytelling.” U.S. News & World Report
Synopsis
"Dramatic, adventurous, heroic, romantic. . . these historical chronicles, legends, myths, tall tales and fables, featuring warriors, kings, monks, explorers and clever common folk, imaginatively tell the history of Ireland." -- Philadelphia Inquirer
This New York Times bestselling epic is an unforgettable tour de force that marries the intimate, passionate texture of the Irish spirit with a historical scope that is sweeping and resplendent. Storyteller extraordinaire Frank Delaney takes his readers on a journey through the history of Ireland, stopping along the way to evoke the dramatic events and personalities so critical to shaping the Irish experience.
In the winter of 1951, a storyteller, the last practitioner of an honored, centuries-old tradition, arrives at the home of nine-year-old Ronan O'Mara in the Irish countryside. For three wonderful evenings, the old gentleman enthralls his assembled local audience with narratives of foolish kings, fabled saints, and Ireland's enduring accomplishments before moving on. But these nights change young Ronan forever, setting him on a years-long pursuit of the elusive, itinerant storyteller and the glorious tales that are no less than the saga of his tenacious and extraordinary isle.
About the Author
Frank Delaney was born in Tipperary, Ireland. A career in broadcasting earned him fame across the United Kingdom. A judge for the Booker Prize, several of his nonfiction books were bestsellers in the UK, and he writes frequently for American and British publications. He now lives with his wife, Diane Meier, in New York and Connecticut. Ireland is his first novel to be published in the United States.