I'm looking for suggestions about Irish historical fiction....I've already read the following
Rutherford - Princes of Ireland
Uris - Trinity
Delaney (?) - Ireland
Anyone have any other suggestions? My sons and I have a 45-minute trip each way and we listen to books on tape. They're asking for Irish historical fiction. (BTW, we've "read" -- listened to -- almost all of Bernard Cornwell's books, Iggulden's Genghis, Shaara books, etc. so they're pretty much ready for anything).
Thanks so much, I'm a new member and I'm looking forward to contributing.
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Irish Historical Fiction
I haven't read it yet, but I've heard raves about Galway Bay. Its finally on the hold shelf at the library waiting for pickup, and many more waiting for their turn as well so I'd take that its creating quite a buzz.
While it's better classified as a novel in a historical setting and not a historical novel, I loved Susan Howatch's Cashelmara a great deal - this has the added bonus that she parallels the lives of her characters with those of England's first three Edwards.
While it's better classified as a novel in a historical setting and not a historical novel, I loved Susan Howatch's Cashelmara a great deal - this has the added bonus that she parallels the lives of her characters with those of England's first three Edwards.
At home with a good book and the cat...
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...is the only place I want to be
I'd suggest Morgan Llywelyn's books, maybe starting with "The Lion of Ireland", the story of Brian Boru.
There's a list of her novels here:
http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/l/morgan-llywelyn/
If you enjoyed Rutherfurd's time-sweep novels you might like Frank Delaney's "Ireland"
Hard to come by now, but very good are Patricia Finney's 2-book series about the Tain, "A Shadow of Gulls" and "The Crow Goddess"
There's a list of her novels here:
http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/l/morgan-llywelyn/
If you enjoyed Rutherfurd's time-sweep novels you might like Frank Delaney's "Ireland"
Hard to come by now, but very good are Patricia Finney's 2-book series about the Tain, "A Shadow of Gulls" and "The Crow Goddess"
- juleswatson
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I second Morgan Llywelyn. She did a good story on The Tain called Red Branch (It might have been called something else in the US) She has loads of books covering all eras in Ireland and they are not that long (the earlier ones anyway). My own book The Swan Maiden is set in Ireland based on an ancient Irish myth, however it is a romance too and has some sex in it so don't think your sons would be too impressed with that!! Perish the thought.
Author of Celtic historical fantasy
New book "THE RAVEN QUEEN" out Feb 22 2011: The story of Maeve, the famous warrior queen of Irish mythology.
Out now, "THE SWAN MAIDEN", the ancient tale of Deirdre, the Irish 'Helen of Troy'
http://www.juleswatson.com
New book "THE RAVEN QUEEN" out Feb 22 2011: The story of Maeve, the famous warrior queen of Irish mythology.
Out now, "THE SWAN MAIDEN", the ancient tale of Deirdre, the Irish 'Helen of Troy'
http://www.juleswatson.com
- stu1883
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Whilst not strictly Irish, try "Dublin" by Edward Rutherford.
The bloke writes many different books, but his stories telling the history of cities are really good. Sarum, Dublin & London are the ones I've read.
Stu
The bloke writes many different books, but his stories telling the history of cities are really good. Sarum, Dublin & London are the ones I've read.
Stu
Regards
Stuart
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Stuart
My Blogs
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http://bristolhistorywriter.blogspot.co.uk/
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[quote=""c18913""]I'm looking for suggestions about Irish historical fiction....I've already read the following
Rutherford - Princes of Ireland
Uris - Trinity
Delaney (?) - Ireland
Anyone have any other suggestions? My sons and I have a 45-minute trip each way and we listen to books on tape. They're asking for Irish historical fiction. (BTW, we've "read" -- listened to -- almost all of Bernard Cornwell's books, Iggulden's Genghis, Shaara books, etc. so they're pretty much ready for anything).
Thanks so much, I'm a new member and I'm looking forward to contributing.[/quote]
If you like Conn Igguldens genghis books, try the Emperor series. They are all about Julius Caesar and utterly absorbing.
Welcome to the forum!
Rutherford - Princes of Ireland
Uris - Trinity
Delaney (?) - Ireland
Anyone have any other suggestions? My sons and I have a 45-minute trip each way and we listen to books on tape. They're asking for Irish historical fiction. (BTW, we've "read" -- listened to -- almost all of Bernard Cornwell's books, Iggulden's Genghis, Shaara books, etc. so they're pretty much ready for anything).
Thanks so much, I'm a new member and I'm looking forward to contributing.[/quote]
If you like Conn Igguldens genghis books, try the Emperor series. They are all about Julius Caesar and utterly absorbing.
Welcome to the forum!
Last edited by stu1883 on Sat May 9th, 2009, 8:50 am, edited 1 time in total.
Reason: Forgot welcome note
Reason: Forgot welcome note
Regards
Stuart
My Blogs
http://sir-readalot.blogspot.co.uk/
http://bristolhistorywriter.blogspot.co.uk/
Stuart
My Blogs
http://sir-readalot.blogspot.co.uk/
http://bristolhistorywriter.blogspot.co.uk/
Any particular period you're looking for? If you're open to something more recent, I've read a couple of very good novels set at the time of the Easter Rising/Civil war:
The Story of Lucy Gault by William Trevor
A Star Called Henry by Roddy Doyle
There's also The Star of the Sea, Joseph O'Connor's wonderful novel about escapees from the 1840's potato famine.
The Story of Lucy Gault by William Trevor
A Star Called Henry by Roddy Doyle
There's also The Star of the Sea, Joseph O'Connor's wonderful novel about escapees from the 1840's potato famine.
Wow - I think I'm going to search out some of these titles myself
Just a question though - Was Rutherford's novel not issued under two titles for differing markets? I was under the impression that Dublin and The Princes of Ireland were the same book, but I could be wrong. TPI is certainly all about Dublin!
I loved Morgan Llewelyn's The Lions of Ireland, about Brian Boru. I have another title, Finn Mac Cool, on Mount TBR, and have read a few more, but they were library books whose titles escape me now
Just a question though - Was Rutherford's novel not issued under two titles for differing markets? I was under the impression that Dublin and The Princes of Ireland were the same book, but I could be wrong. TPI is certainly all about Dublin!
I loved Morgan Llewelyn's The Lions of Ireland, about Brian Boru. I have another title, Finn Mac Cool, on Mount TBR, and have read a few more, but they were library books whose titles escape me now
Even the mighty oak was once just a nut that held its ground.
[quote=""Lauryn""]Just a question though - Was Rutherford's novel not issued under two titles for differing markets? I was under the impression that Dublin and The Princes of Ireland were the same book, but I could be wrong. TPI is certainly all about Dublin![/quote]
There are two different books and the North American titles are The Princes of Ireland and The Rebels of Ireland. Elsewhere the books are known as Dublin: Foundation and Ireland: Awakening. The Princes of Ireland deals with the years 430-1533 and The Rebels of Ireland deals with the time after that.
I very much liked The Princes of Ireland, but there was something about The Rebels of Ireland that caused me not to finish the book. I can't recall what. My husband read both books and enjoyed them very much.
http://www.edwardrutherfurd.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dublin:_Foundation
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ireland:_Awakening
There are two different books and the North American titles are The Princes of Ireland and The Rebels of Ireland. Elsewhere the books are known as Dublin: Foundation and Ireland: Awakening. The Princes of Ireland deals with the years 430-1533 and The Rebels of Ireland deals with the time after that.
I very much liked The Princes of Ireland, but there was something about The Rebels of Ireland that caused me not to finish the book. I can't recall what. My husband read both books and enjoyed them very much.
http://www.edwardrutherfurd.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dublin:_Foundation
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ireland:_Awakening
Last edited by Susan on Sat May 9th, 2009, 6:18 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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- Margaret
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I was going to suggest Morgan Llywelyn's novels, but Annis and Jules beat me to it! Browsing my website at www.HistoricalNovels.info might turn up some other novels you would enjoy. There's a separate section for Ancient Ireland on the Ancient History page, and a separate page for the Medieval Celts that includes Ireland in the Medieval section. Otherwise, novels set in Ireland are generally included in the "British Isles" sections in the other time-period categories.
Browse over 5000 historical novel listings (probably well over 5000 by now, but I haven't re-counted lately) and over 700 reviews at www.HistoricalNovels.info