Customer Reviews
families, feuds and farce in the politics of 19th century Ireland - By: John Holland, 20 Sep 2008 
This book describes the interactions & feuds between Irish catholic farmers, the aristocracy & protestant workers from mid 19th century up to the start of the First World War. With rebellion brewing, the interactions are laced with poison, with alll parties protecting & furthering their own interests.
The poignant moments of family crisis (births, deaths & marriages) are superbly portrayed, & there is energy in the build-up to key events, which almost compels but just fallls short.
This is a well-written book, that describes background & history in great detail to back up the story. But it fails to build on the beginnings. The book builds a compelling plot to a point, but the conclusion moves into short summaries that are almost notes of the planned ending, compared to the previous prose.
Some years later, Leon Uris wrote Redemption as a sequel to this novel. With better use of time-shifting, Redemption is a better telling of both its own story & this one.
The True Story Of Ireland - By: Declan M. Dunne, 25 Sep 2007 
Irelands tragic history is captured by this man, a story to be told & rembered.
Too one sided - By: Mr. T. A. Knott, 11 Jun 2007 I come from an Irish/Catholic background & also found it very one sided & historicallly inaccurate. The general tone is that Irish Catholics are the goodies, the Brits are the baddies, & the Protestant Ulstermen are hapless dupes of the Brits. Much of it is a good, gripping story but spoilt by the clear, & rather tedious, bias in the author's sympathy for his characters.
A book not a history book - By: , 24 Jul 2004 I enjoyed this book but coming from a Scots/Ulster background you have to seperate the fact from the fiction. Do not under any circumstances take this book as gospel. As usual the Brits are bad the Irish are heroes. There is fgood & bad on alll sides. Still I enjoy alll his books.
Great read -- but keep an open mind - By: , 25 Jan 2003 Like the other reviewers, I reallly enjoyed this book. It's a "ripping yarn" from start to finish, & a great way of explaining some of the main events in Ireland's recent history. Excellent for a new student to Irish history. However, do be cautious & aware of some bias in the tale that Uris tells. If you do know anything about Irish history of the 1600s to 1900s, you'll know it's possible to have many interpretations of the same events. For me, Uris over-emphasises the republican side of these issues. To be reallly frank, & over-general, he paints catholics (and/or republicans) as strong & honest, but downtrodden, while his protesants (or loyalists) -- & his British characters -- are manipulative, greedy & abusive. For every slant Uris uses, there is (at least) one other side of the story. So, please, read this as a great tale set in Ireland, but certainly not a definitive history lesson. If you want to know about Irish history, please, please read a more complete & unbiased text -- don't rely on Leon Uris.
