The Law of Dreams by Peter Behrens

[parthianbow]

I finished this book about a year ago, and regarded it as one of the finest books I have read in some years. I still do. This is the harrowing story of Fergus, a boy in nineteenth century Ireland, and it's set during one of the worst famines of the time. (Contrary to most people's opinion that there was only one famine, in 'black' 1847, there were more than 20 in the forty or so years that ran up to '47. The story follows Fergus from the farm that he grew up on to Liverpool, and thence to America.

The plotline is most realistic (I say this having studied the Famine in school and visited the Famine museum in Strokestown, Co. Roscommon, Ireland several times), and the lyrical writing is of stunning quality. The story is tragic and extremely poignant and moved me to tears on a number of occasions. A couple of minor errors (doves in Ireland is the one that springs to mind - they didn't reach the country until well into the 20th century) were easily glossed over in what I regard as a masterpiece. Like the book Shantaram, this is a book which I will give to lots of people as a present. A resounding 5 out of 5 stars.