Synopses & Reviews
The Irish Century series is the story of the Irish people's epic struggle for independence through the tumultuous course of the 20th century. Morgan Llywelyn's magisterial multi-novel chronicle of that story began with
1916, which was followed by
1921 and
1949. It now continues with
1972, which covers the events and social changes of the mid-century in Ireland through the story of the coming-of-age of Barry Halloran, son of Ursula Halloran (the heroine of
1949). Barry moves from patriotic involvement in the IRA, to an aversion to explosives and guns and a career as a photographer, to a final moment of radicalization in the face of the horrifying injustices in Northern Ireland that crystalized on Bloody Sunday in Derry in 1972.
A chronicle of life in Ireland between 1950 and 1972, through Barry's journey the novel gives a clear understanding of social changes, pressure points, and vivid moments of historical importance. Clear parallels are drawn to the American civil rights movements of the 1960s, which in part motivated the patriotic and oppressed Irish Catholics. At the same time, there is the continuation of the family saga that links all the volumes of this series, and a passionate romance for Barry. Morgan Llywelyn is at her storytelling best in 1972.
Review
"As the multi-novel nears our own age, the reader draws more deeply into the flow of events and the characters."
Kirkus
Review
"This novel is Irish history brought to thrilling life. . . .Morgan Llywelyn is at her storytelling best in 1972."
Boston Irish Reporter
Review
Praise for 1972
"As the multi-novel nears our own age, the reader draws more deeply into the flow of events and the characters. The years whistle by with joy and gunpowder."
--Kirkus
"This novel is Irish history brought to thrilling life by the acclaimed Morgan Llywelyn . . .A chronicle of life in Ireland between 1950 and 1972, the novel gives a clear understanding of social changes, pressure points, and vivid movements of historical importance. . . .Morgan Llywelyn is at her storytelling best in 1972."
--Boston Irish Reporter
"[Morgan Llywelyn's] strength comes from her extraordinary ability to place the story in the surrounding politics of the time. . . . Llywelyn's grasp of Northern Ireland history is superb, and the immediacy of her writing is extremely gripping . . . . Llywelyn convincingly describes the bitter disappointment and the worsening violence that would culminate in Bloody Sunday in 1972. This ambitious series proves that Llywelyn is not some naive outsider writing romantic historical novels about Ireland's bloody political past. Her research is accomplished, her narrative style is gripping."
--Irish Voice
"Llywelyn is an astute observer of matters Irish, and understands the passions that move the actors. 1972's ending is as tragic and inevitable as a tombstone, and as memorable as Swift's quip: The Irish have religion enough to hate, but not enough to love."
-Richmond-Times Dispatch
About the Author
MORGAN LLYWELYN lives near Dublin, Ireland