A wholehearted four stars for the sequel to the very good The Princes of Ireland. I probably enjoyed Rebels slightly more than Princes because I had Princes to warm up with and become accustomed to Rutherfurd's style and storytelling method.This book covers the period between 1534 and the 1920s, ending with the creation of the Irish Free State. There's a lot of ground to cover, particularly in the 1700s, but Rutherfurd's writing smoothly moves along through the ages and you hardly notice the passage of time. Various historical personages make appearances or are mentioned in the text, such as Swift, Yeats and Joyce, and even a visitor or two from the United States. They blend so well with Rutherfurd's fictional characters that sometimes you may find yourself running to Google to find out whether so-and-so is actually real.Rutherfurd's characters are very well realized and pull you right into their world. I particularly enjoyed the Mountwalsh family, with old Fortunatus and his daughter-in-law Georgiana being my most favourites. Georgiana's son Hercules, while extremely disagreeable, was at least a character worthy of reaction (better to have characters that elicit strong reactions rather than indifference). And if you have Irish ancestors who lived through the Potato Famine, as I did, the section involving the Maddens and the plight of County Clare during that time will prove very instructive.I also found it kind of strange to be reading about Guy Fawkes and the Gunpowder Plot in the days leading up to November 5. I was so immersed in the struggle of the Irish Catholics that I was actually rather cross with all of the "Remember, remember the 5th of November" status updates I kept seeing on Facebook. I'm not Catholic, but I really sympathized with their plight at the time of the Gunpowder Plot thanks to Rutherfurd's writing, and so spent November 5 thinking, "Well James, if you had just let your loyal Catholic subjects practise their religion peaceably, maybe they would not have tried to blow you up." It was very interesting to see the other side of this historical event, as I don't recall reading about it from a Catholic perspective before.But this is not an entirely serious book. I was definitely chuckling in some places, like a few scenes of very clever political manoeuvring, the part where Guinness is first invented (that was the part where I said to myself, "Man, I LOVE this book"), and most of the Oliver Cromwell section because I had the Monty Python song of the same name stuck in my head.The only part where I kind of lost interest was at the end... it tailed off a bit and I was not quite as invested in the fates of the families once they reached the 20th century. Perhaps it's a bit too "recent" for me within the context of this epic saga. But that's not a serious fault, as the action still moved along fairly quickly and was backed with loads of information.To sum up, both this and The Princes of Ireland come highly recommended if you like Irish history or just good solid historical fiction in general. It may also be helpful if you've been to Dublin -- you'll be able to picture where everything is that much more clearly. And if you haven't been, this book just might inspire you to go.
Edward Rutherfurd's remarkable attention to detail, elegant prose, and historical accuracy brought "The Rebels of Ireland" to life in such a poignant manner that I was in turns, moved to tears, outraged, deeply saddened, and actually shocked by the struggles of my ancestors. Having traveled to Ireland recently, I was amazed at how much of 16th century Dublin remains intact, despite repeated attempts by England to conquer, divide, redistribute, and even destroy the ancient island. St. Patrick's Cathedral, Trinity College, St. Stephens Green, the Post Office (scene of the famous Easter uprising when Irish rebels tried to take Dublin back from the British), the Guinness District, etc. are all still there, just as they were in 1597, when "The Rebels of Ireland" opens. I also gained a better understanding of, and deeper insight into my Irish mother's contempt for all things British. Her grandparents came to America during the potato famine of 1848, and instilled in their children, one of whom was my grandfather, a healthy mistrust for those who turned a blind eye to the mass starvation and death that defined those horrible years. My mother's favorite holiday was St. Patrick's Day, and we celebrated it as though it were Christmas. Now I understand why. The Irish have a lot to be proud of. More important, we are survivors. Nothing, including foreign invasions led by ruthless tyrants, staggering poverty and hardship, famine and disease, or forced Protestantism, can keep a determined Irish-Catholic down. The term "fighting Irish" is more than a sport slogan at Notre Dame; Fighting, surviving, and ultimately thriving, has been a way of life for an entire nation, throughout most of its history."The Rebels of Ireland," a sweeping saga that spans over four centuries, concludes in 1922, a few years after the Easter uprising that would ultimately lead to one generation of peace with the British. But only after considerable bloodshed and concessions by the Irish, and only for a relatively short amount of time. The story ends, just as it begins: with death. Death of an ideal and death of a beloved character. But it also ends on a hopeful note, that there is indeed justice, at least sometimes."The Rebels of Ireland" is a continuation of "The Princes of Ireland" which chronicles the first eleven centuries of Irish history. If you're Irish, this book is required reading! To ignore it would be beyond the pale...and if you know anything about Ireland, you know that living beyond the pale is not a good thing.
What do You think about The Rebels Of Ireland (2007)?
This sweeping (and I mean sweeping) epic of Irish history is the 2nd in a series. It's very ambitious covering a period from the late 16th century to the early 20th century. Great writing and interesting history make it an enjoyable read but it's almost too ambitious! I'm in the last 50 pages and am looking forward to being done! The most interesting angle of this history - one which I never fully understood -is how and why the religious rifts occurred in Ireland. I also learned the "old English" families or those that settled in Ireland in the 1600's really considered themselves Irish and were champions for the Irish Catholics through the years of Cromwell, William or Orange, King George, etc. A great historical romp that gets a bit dry at times.
—Patsy
I loved this book! In fact, I loved the two book series. As one who studies Irish culture and history, I found this series of books to be not only entertaining, but educational, as well. Though not as dearly loved as Trinity by Leon Uris (lets face it, no one can beat Conor Larkin as an Irish hero,)this book covers that same period of time with a few additional centuries thrown in. I did find that I had to review the family tree on several occasions, as the multiple family connections became complicated, but not untenable. It is this intermingling of families that makes the history of the Irish people come alive.
—Charlotte
I always enjoy books by Rutherford, so it is sad that I have just finished the last of them. This two book format though is a bit unwieldy. I struggled to recall the family tree by the end, which is a shame. The ability to recollect the family journey is one of the best aspects of Rutherford's style. It also lacks the realism of his other books. Usually, the guy gets the girl, the evil man never prevails, these sorts of things. In most of Rutherford's work this sort of thing doesn't happen. The
—Michael Plas
