Irish Emigrant Book Review, No. 32 (March 1998)

An Irish Century 1845-1945, From the Famine to World War II by Stephen Small
- In “An Irish Century 1845-1945, From the Famine to World War II” Stephen Small has compiled a comprehensive study of an era of great change and has written in a way which is easy to assimilate without being superficial. Following an introductory chapter to set the century in context, the next two chapters detail the history of Ireland from the Famine to the time of Parnell, and from the struggle for independence up to the time of World War II. The author breaks each section into groups of paragraphs under a relevant title so that, for example, the opposing sides at the turn of the century are dealt with under “Parliamentary Nationalism”, “Cultural Nationalism”, “Constructive Unionism” and “Unionism and Orangeism”. Thereafter he concentrates on various aspects of our history, including The United States connection, religion, working life in Ireland, and arts and literature. Helping to make this volume accessible are the large number of high quality contemporary illustrations, both drawings and photographs, and these are particularly good in the “Working Life” section. The author concludes his work with three separate chronologies which serve to put in context all that has been covered. “An Irish Century” is an admirable introduction to this period in Ireland’s history, while at the same time those with some understanding of the subject will find much detail to supplement their knowledge.

Caroline’s Sister by Sheila O’Flanagan
- “Caroline’s Sister” is the age-old story of two sisters, one beautiful and adored by everyone, the other believing herself ugly and gauche in comparison. But Caroline’s popularity and magnetism lead to her downfall when she becomes pregnant, a situation which has a devastating effect on her future, while her younger sister Tossa leaves for London and unexpectedly becomes a high-flying financial trader in the City. Her leaving centres on one of the pivotal events of the story, a stolen kiss between herself and Caroline’s husband, Damien, which splits two families and broadens the canvas to include England, Egypt and the Cayman Islands. The re-emergence of Caroline’s old boyfriend at a time when she is particularly vulnerable adds to her marital problems, while younger sister Tossa is learning the hard way that men can be ruthless and insensitive. The resolution of their difficulties begins when the girls’ father, Patrick, has a heart attack and they are forced to spend some time together. The process of healing is slow, but developments in each of their lives lead eventually to a complete change of direction, with Caroline acknowledging the end of her marriage and settling for life with her two children, while Tossa looks forward to a new relationship with Conor, a childhood friend. Though each felt the other had ruined her life, the last chapter sees the two sisters embarking on a successful joint venture in Dublin. “Caroline’s Sister” is an undemanding book, though none the less enjoyable for that. The action moves on smartly from the small grocer’s shop in Dublin to London, Europe and the West Indies, with a fascinating insight into the world of financial services, and a cast of diverse characters who successfully hold the reader’s attention from start to finish.

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Love Like Hate Adore by Deirdre Purcell
- “Love Like Hate Adore”, is set in Dublin’s inner city and is a gripping story of the life of quiet desperation lived by Angela Devine and her younger brother James, the first and last of five illegitimate children born to a drug addict mother. The minutiae of daily life in the capital city for those not benefiting from the Celtic Tiger is vividly captured by the author, with Angela’s struggle for survival depending on four part-time jobs. When James is accused of date rape she comes out of her corner fighting and overcomes the abandonment by her best friend and singing partner, Patsy, the condemnatory media attention and the manifest hatred of the alleged victim’s family. Things seem to be working out for her, she has a budding relationship with Ken, a fellow-student from her adult Leaving Cert class, and James has been given a suspended sentence but, without revealing too much of the plot, there is not the anticipated happy ending, as perhaps there could never be given the circumstances of their lives, and this is one of the book’s strengths. Ms Purcell draws heavily on actual events to place her story in context, and this I found distracting and somewhat forced. The date rape, after which the girl goes public, the visit of the JFK aircraft carrier to Dublin, the references to Fr McVerry’s home for boys, confuse the issue of what should be a straightforward work of fiction. For me the most interesting part of the story is Angela’s search for and discovery of her mother’s family background and her meeting with her father, an upstanding member of a rural community. Though even here the author has borrowed from real events, in that Ken and Angela pass the scene of Veronica Guerin’s murder on their way to Birr. However the immediacy of the first-person narrative, Angela’s perspective on life, at times despairing and at times humorous, and the portrayal of her intense love for her brother, outweigh the shortcomings and ensure that “Love Like Hate Adore” will prove as popular as Deirdre Purcell’s earlier novels.

There is an Isle - A Limerick Boyhood by Criostoir O’Flynn
- Criostoir O’Flynn sets out to give a different and more positive version from the one presented by Frank McCourt in “Angela’s Ashes”, and in this he succeeds. However his own circumstances differed in a fundamental way from those of the McCourt family, in that he had a father who was ever-present and who was permanently employed, both in the coal trade and as a travelling musician. His perspective would also have differed since he was very much a younger member of his family and was therefore protected to some degree by his older siblings. Having said that, however, Criostoir O’Flynn has given us a balanced view of life in an Irish city in the 1930s, with its intimate neighbourhoods, its feeling of continuity and the role played by the Catholic Church in the lives of its citizens. He defends the use of corporal punishment, while at the same time admitting that his treatment at the hands of a particular Christian Brother turned him away from school. He also defends and attempts to put into context both the so-called pogrom against the Jews in 1904, and the influence of the Archconfraternity on the lives of the men of Limerick. O’Flynn writes with realism and some humour and, while “There is an Isle” is somewhat defensive, he has no difficulty in placing blame where he feels it is due. For example, he roundly castigates both the hierarchy and the governments of the day for the inequality in education prevalent prior to the initiative of Donogh O’Malley. As another, and different, view of growing up in pre-World War II Limerick this book succeeds in conveying the “poor but happy” existence of thousands of families.

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Moral Monopoly by Tom Inglis
- A study of what has been described as “the long nineteenth century of the Irish Catholic Church” has been undertaken by Tom Inglis of UCD in “Moral Monopoly”. Inglis outlines the evolution of power in the Church with regard to education and social welfare, and the different ways in which Catholics have lived their faith over almost 200 years. He traces the way in which the Irish mother was used by the clergy to maintain their control over family life, emphasising the way in which the responsibility for the moral development of children transferred from the father to the mother, particularly from the early years of this century. The final section of the book is devoted to the changes which have taken place over the last 20-30 years, citing such obvious watersheds as the controversies surrounding Bishop Eamonn Casey and Fr Brendan Smyth, not forgetting the famous “bishop and the nightie” episode on the Late Late Show. This is a fascinating and very readable study of the growth and diminution of the Church’s influence over all aspects of life in Ireland from the beginning of the last century up to the present day.

Irish Names for Children by Peg Coghlan
- Peg Coghlan lists, as one would expect, the most common names for both boys and girls, but the author adds her own personal comments which set this book apart from others of the genre. For example, the definition of the name Risteard includes the comment, “It means ’strong ruler’, a description that was not exactly appropriate for the three English kings who bore the name.” Similarly with the name Molly or Mallaidh, Ms Coghlan tells us, “The name has figured in Ireland in song and story for the last three centuries, from Ms Malone with her barrow to Mrs Bloom with her fantasies, with lots of Irish Molly-os thrown in for good measure”.

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Down the Dodder by Christopher Moriarty
- “Down the Dodder” is a reissuing of a book which first appeared in 1991. Christopher Moriarty, a naturalist and fisheries expert, follows the course of the river from its beginnings in the Wicklow mountains to its confluence with the Liffey and the Grand Canal at Ringsend, commenting on the history, flora and fauna of each stage of its passage. Illustrated in both colour and black and white, this book will be of particular interest to those familiar with the geographical setting, but can also be appreciated by a wider audience for the detail of its narrative.

Everyday Genius by Kevin Flanagan
- Kevin Flanagan’s latest book, “Everyday Genius”, gives the reader a guide to understanding his/her feelings and acting upon them. A registered Focusing Trainer, Mr Flanagan leads us through the arts of focusing and listening as forms of natural therapy which, he claims, will help us to solve our emotional problems and to alleviate depression.

Bride of the Nile by Rosalyn Kendrick
- “Bride of the Nile” is a book written for teenagers which moves seamlessly from 20th century Egypt to the violent and incestuous world of the pharaohs. Rosanna March wins a trip to Egypt as a prize in an essay competition and finds herself drawn into a world of archaeological theft and mysterious flashbacks to a former life as the daughter of a pharaoh. The story is well-written and has an ending which will be pleasing to this age group.

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Irish Public Sculpture by Judith Hill
- A fascinating look at statues and monuments in Ireland is to be found in Judith Hill’s “Irish Public Sculpture”. Taking as her starting point the carved stone heads of the Iron Age, the author moves through the early Christian period up to the royalist and nationalist statues and monuments of the 19th century and the cultural examples of the contemporary era. This is no mere list, however, for Ms Hill sets the works in context with descriptions of how each came to be built; in the case of the O’Connell monument in what was then Sackville Street she gives a vivid description of the laying of the foundation stone in 1864. The work has a wealth of black and white illustrations and is furnished with extensive notes on each chapter, as well as a bibliography and index.

The Golden Book of Ireland by Frances Power
- One of a series depicting various countries, The Golden Book of Ireland, with text by Frances Power and photographs by Ghigo Roli, gives a guided tour of the country province by province, with a major section being devoted to the capital city. Each photograph is accompanied by explanatory text while an introductory chapter gives an overall view of Ireland’s history, economy and climate. The version in English is published this month, and it will also be available in French, German and Italian from May, making it an excellent souvenir for the visitor to Ireland.

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