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A review by leemac027
Ireland Awakening by Edward Rutherfurd
5.0
I have to admit to being a huge Edward Rutherfurd fan. The amount of research he does to create these magnificent tomes and bring centuries of history to life is simple wonderful.
Reading his books has exposed elements of history that I did not know and telling this history through the voices of fictional characters brings you into the story. Ireland Awakening is no exception. It carries on from where his book, Dublin left off in the late 1500s and I was again hooked.
Rutherfurd is a compelling storyteller and we are again drawn into the lives of the O'Byrnes, Maddens, MacGowans, Harolds, Budges and Walshes with the seemingly unending torment of clashes between religion, power and politics that make up Ireland's complex history.
I have a soft spot for a few characters - the heroic Fortunatus Walsh, Patrick Walsh is another and there are some very strong female characters as well - Caitlin Birne comes into her own during the uprisings around 1916/17.
Reading about this convoluted and complex history gives a tiny insight into how divisions were cemented in Ireland resulting in ongoing tragic and bloody clashes that have continued into the 21st century.
Reading his books has exposed elements of history that I did not know and telling this history through the voices of fictional characters brings you into the story. Ireland Awakening is no exception. It carries on from where his book, Dublin left off in the late 1500s and I was again hooked.
Rutherfurd is a compelling storyteller and we are again drawn into the lives of the O'Byrnes, Maddens, MacGowans, Harolds, Budges and Walshes with the seemingly unending torment of clashes between religion, power and politics that make up Ireland's complex history.
I have a soft spot for a few characters - the heroic Fortunatus Walsh, Patrick Walsh is another and there are some very strong female characters as well - Caitlin Birne comes into her own during the uprisings around 1916/17.
Reading about this convoluted and complex history gives a tiny insight into how divisions were cemented in Ireland resulting in ongoing tragic and bloody clashes that have continued into the 21st century.