BS: Princes Of Ireland (The Dublin Saga)

Subject: BS: Princes Of Ireland (The Dublin Saga)
From: GUEST,Texas Guest
Date: 11 Jul 08 - 01:33 AM

Folks, I have chanced upon a book (two, actually) of historical fiction that I cannot seem to put down and I was wondering if anyone else has read it or is familiar with it. The book is titled: The Princes Of Ireland, sub: The Dublin Saga and was written by one Edward Rutherfurd. There is a sequel to the book titled: The Rebels Of Ireland.                  

If you've read it I'd like your comments. I'm wondering if you thought the author was accurate in his historical statements, comments and bits. The book starts out during the time of the Druids but long after the Tuatha De Danaan; and, along in the book, for example he makes a statement that the British invasion of Ireland (1167) was actually initiated by the Flemish. Of course, that was done under the approval of Strongbow who was under the thumb of Henry II, etc., and orchestrated by the deposed "little" Irish King Darmait who had gone to England in search of support to win back his lands, etc., etc.

At any rate, any comments on this book, the author, or any other good books on historical Irish fiction would be much appreciated. Cheers.

Subject: RE: BS: Princes Of Ireland (The Dublin Saga)
From: GUEST,beachcomber
Date: 11 Jul 08 - 04:59 AM

Texas Guest, it sounds as though you might enjoy some of Ms Morgan Llewllyn's (spelling ?) Historical-Fiction, she has written several about Ireland.

Subject: RE: BS: Princes Of Ireland (The Dublin Saga)
From: Beer
Date: 11 Jul 08 - 07:05 AM

of course Trinity was a block buster by Leon Uris.
A favorite of mine is one called "Lion of Ireland" by Morgan Llywelyn. I have the soft cover version 1979. Don't know if you could order it or not. I have also read the Princes of Ireland and did enjoy it. Will purchase the second book when I get to Chapters.
Beer (adrien)

Subject: RE: BS: Princes Of Ireland (The Dublin Saga)
From: Beer
Date: 11 Jul 08 - 07:23 AM

Another great one is "Barb" by Morgan Llywelyn.

Subject: RE: BS: Princes Of Ireland (The Dublin Saga)
From: GUEST,Volgadon
Date: 11 Jul 08 - 07:27 AM

For a later setting, try the Year of the French.

Subject: RE: BS: Princes Of Ireland (The Dublin Saga)
From: Beer
Date: 11 Jul 08 - 07:31 AM

That sounds interesting. Have an author.

Subject: RE: BS: Princes Of Ireland (The Dublin Saga)
From: GUEST,Volgadon
Date: 11 Jul 08 - 07:33 AM

Thomas Flanagan. It is of course about the ill-fated French expedition in 1798.

Subject: RE: BS: Princes Of Ireland (The Dublin Saga)
From: Beer
Date: 11 Jul 08 - 07:36 AM

Got it. Thanks. Here is a quick summery;

"The year is 1798, when a band of determined, romantic Irishmen rise up in County Mayo against their English rulers. The French, secure in the success of their own revolution, decide to come to the aid of the Irish, less for the sake of an ideal than to harass the English. Out of a minor historical episode, Thomas Flanagan has forged an epic. Scores of characters are brought to life in his teeming pages. The panorama unfolds to show us a distant world in all its squalor and splendor, its barbarousness and gallantry, in a novel that promises to win an enduring place in our literature."

Subject: RE: BS: Princes Of Ireland (The Dublin Saga)
From: Fiolar
Date: 11 Jul 08 - 07:58 AM

Texas Guest: Actually the invasion was in 1170.

Subject: RE: BS: Princes Of Ireland (The Dublin Saga)
From: Sorcha
Date: 11 Jul 08 - 08:47 AM

Flanagans is a trilogy....Year of the French, Tenants of Time, and Heel of the Hunt.

Subject: RE: BS: Princes Of Ireland (The Dublin Saga)
From: Beer
Date: 11 Jul 08 - 08:55 AM

Thanks for that Sorcha.

Subject: RE: BS: Princes Of Ireland (The Dublin Saga)
From: GUEST,lox
Date: 11 Jul 08 - 09:11 AM

A good idea might be to check some of the reviews.

such as this one

and this one

The concensus seems to be that its factual detail is correct, though presented in a fictional form.

Of course thats only two reviews, so it would be worth reading a few other points of view to get a full balanced picture.

Google "Review Princes Of Ireland (The Dublin Saga"

And you'll find loads.

Subject: RE: BS: Princes Of Ireland (The Dublin Saga)
From: GUEST,Texas Guest
Date: 11 Jul 08 - 11:31 AM

Thanks to everyone - I knew you all would come through. I had forgotten about Uris but did not know about Llywelyn, who I think will be a great find.

My reading tends to be factual historical stuff but I've kept the book, "The Green Flag, (Kee) on the shelf (highly recommended by an
academician friend of mine from Cork) and have chosen to take flight in a different direction for a while and thanks to your input I do
believe this will be an enlightening journey. Thanks again Catters!
Cheers.

Subject: RE: BS: Princes Of Ireland (The Dublin Saga)
From: GUEST,Neil D
Date: 11 Jul 08 - 11:44 AM

I have read all of Edward Rutherfurd's books and eagerly await a new one. His first novel "Sarum" is widest in breadth beginning at the end of the last Ice Age 10,000 years ago. It is set around Stonehenge and Salisbury, which is also Mr. Rutherfurd's birthplace. I have learned as much history from novels as history books in my life and his are among the best. He has been compared to Michener but I've found his books to be more accessible and thus, more interesting.
   I would also highly recommend "Ireland: A Novel" by Frank Delaney.
A masterpiece of the genre.

Subject: RE: BS: Princes Of Ireland (The Dublin Saga)
From: Beer
Date: 11 Jul 08 - 01:28 PM

"Sarum"
An absolutely wonderful historical adventure. Thanks for the reminder Neil.

Tex, I also love to read historical novels. I'll mention a few if your interested.

Subject: RE: BS: Princes Of Ireland (The Dublin Saga)
From: Big Mick
Date: 11 Jul 08 - 02:50 PM

The sauce that separates a great HISTORICAL novel from a good yarn is the research. In that regard, there are very few that can hold a candle to Morgan Llywelyn. It may be of interest to you, Texas Guest, to know that she spent her childhood being raised six months of the year in Texas and six months of the year in Ireland. She now lives full time in Ireland. The O'Brian of Boru's family figure she captured his family's story as well as it could be done. Llywelen's stories are often, and incorrectly IMO, given short shrift and relegated to the Sci Fi and romance novel areas. I have read every one of her novels from The Wind From Hastings,Red Branch (about Cuchualain) to Finn MacCool (hate the phonetic spelling of the title, loved the story) to Grainne to Last Prince of Ireland to the two novels about Boru and his kin (Lion of Ireland and Pride of Lions), The Horse Goddess (about Epona), to her books on the history of the struggle, beginning with 1916. She did not think well of some of the stuff that was written as they were not historically accurate, and for her that is a must. If she is speculating or creating a conversation, it must be based on the facts. And that is why she is, quite frankly, without equal in the arena of Historical Fiction.

I have read both books of the Dublin Saga, and enjoyed them both very much. I thought they were well researched and presented in a believable way. One could walk away from them knowing the story line was fiction, but understanding the timeline and major events were told in an accurate way.

Great thread.

All the best,

Mick

Subject: RE: BS: Princes Of Ireland (The Dublin Saga)
From: GUEST,beachcomber
Date: 11 Jul 08 - 04:07 PM

Another Author of "Factional" Historical Novels springs to mind. Walter Macken wrote a trilogy on Irish History also. His titles are (Hope my memory is good) "The Scorching Wind", Seek the Fair Land" and one other the name of which I cannot recall. The famous "Strumpet City" by James Stephens would qualify too and, finally, I believe that "Thy Tears Might Cease" by Ml. Farrell (reprinted 1987) is a very good read in the same genre.

Subject: RE: BS: Princes Of Ireland (The Dublin Saga)
From: DougR
Date: 11 Jul 08 - 06:34 PM

I have read several of Llywelyn's books and enjoyed them very much.

DougR

Subject: RE: BS: Princes Of Ireland (The Dublin Saga)
From: michaelr
Date: 11 Jul 08 - 07:37 PM

Actually, the third book in the Flanagan series is called "The End of the Hunt".

I second Neil D's endorsement of Frank Delaney's "Ireland: A Novel". It's brilliant. My wife read it last time we were in Ireland, while I read "Trinity".

Cheers,
Michael