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Ireland #3
The Last Storyteller
Frank Delaney, New York Times bestselling author of Ireland, Shannon, Tipperary, Venetia Kelly’s Traveling Show, and The Matchmaker of Kenmare , is the unparalleled master of Irish historical fiction, bringing Ireland to life with exceptional warmth, wisdom, and wit. Now, in The Last Storyteller, Delaney weaves an absorbing tale of lasting love, dangerous risk, and the healing power of redemption.
“Every legend and all mythologies exist to teach us how to run our days. In kind fashion. A loving way. But there’s no story, no matter how ancient, as important as one’s own. So if we’re to live good lives, we have to tell ourselves our own story. In a good way.” So says James Clare, Ben MacCarthy’s beloved mentor, and it is this fateful advice that will guide Ben through the tumultuous events of Ireland in 1956.
The national mood is downtrodden; poverty, corruption, and a fledgling armed rebellion rattle the countryside, and although Ben wants no part of the upstart insurrection along the northern border, he unknowingly falls in with an IRA sympathizer and is compromised into running guns. Yet despite his perilous circumstances, all he can think about is finding his former wife and true love, the actress Venetia Kelly.
Parted forcibly from Ben years ago, Venetia has returned to Ireland with her new husband, a brutal man and coarse but popular stage performer by the name of Gentleman Jack. Determined not to lose Venetia again, Ben calls upon every bit of his love, courage, and newfound gun-running connections to get her back. And as Ben fights to recapture his halcyon days with Venetia, he must finally reconcile his violent and flawed past with his hopes for a bright and loving future.
Brimming with fascinating Irish history, daring intrigue, and the drama of legendary love, The Last Storyteller is an unforgettable novel as richly textured and inspiring as Ireland itself.
“Every legend and all mythologies exist to teach us how to run our days. In kind fashion. A loving way. But there’s no story, no matter how ancient, as important as one’s own. So if we’re to live good lives, we have to tell ourselves our own story. In a good way.” So says James Clare, Ben MacCarthy’s beloved mentor, and it is this fateful advice that will guide Ben through the tumultuous events of Ireland in 1956.
The national mood is downtrodden; poverty, corruption, and a fledgling armed rebellion rattle the countryside, and although Ben wants no part of the upstart insurrection along the northern border, he unknowingly falls in with an IRA sympathizer and is compromised into running guns. Yet despite his perilous circumstances, all he can think about is finding his former wife and true love, the actress Venetia Kelly.
Parted forcibly from Ben years ago, Venetia has returned to Ireland with her new husband, a brutal man and coarse but popular stage performer by the name of Gentleman Jack. Determined not to lose Venetia again, Ben calls upon every bit of his love, courage, and newfound gun-running connections to get her back. And as Ben fights to recapture his halcyon days with Venetia, he must finally reconcile his violent and flawed past with his hopes for a bright and loving future.
Brimming with fascinating Irish history, daring intrigue, and the drama of legendary love, The Last Storyteller is an unforgettable novel as richly textured and inspiring as Ireland itself.
400 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2012
347 people are currently reading
1786 people want to read
About the author
Frank Delaney
59 books606 followersFrank Delaney was an author, a broadcaster on both television and radio, journalist, screenwriter, playwright, lecturer, and a judge of many literary prizes. Delaney interviewed more than 3,500 of the world's most important writers. NPR called him 'The Most Eloquent Man in the World'. Delaney was born and raised in County Tipperary, Ireland, spent more than twenty-five years in England before moving to the United States in 2002. He lived in Litchfield County, Connecticut, with his wife, writer and marketer, Diane Meier.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 171 reviews
February 5, 2012
There were some notable things lacking in Frank Delaney’s The Matchmaker of Kenmare, which surprised me, because Delaney is capable of writing, and had already written a nearly perfect novel (Ireland). What I didn’t know back then, is that Delaney was holding back. He was saving the big punches for his newest book,the final in the Ben McCarthy trilogy, The Last Storyteller. This novel, like Ireland, is everything an Irish novel should be. It’s funny at times, tragic at times and always a tiny bit epic (can something be a tiny bit epic?). It is full of the Irish legends and folktales that were so noticeably lacking in the last book. Those who enjoyed the first two Ben McCarthy books, will be very pleased with the final installment. The only negative feeling I took away from the book, was a little bit of sadness that Ben’s story had to end.
March 9, 2025
Although I have thoroughly enjoyed this author before, this book just didn't grab me. Could be I'm trying to read too much this month, or perhaps it just wasn't the right time. I'll keep it on my shelf and try it again next year.
My second try still didn't leave me loving it. Although well written and much good to be said of it, I just can't wrap my mind around the horrors and bloodiness of Irish history. I love the romance of Ireland, not the gore ... and therefore have a hard time wrapping my mind around a story with so much of that bloody history.
My second try still didn't leave me loving it. Although well written and much good to be said of it, I just can't wrap my mind around the horrors and bloodiness of Irish history. I love the romance of Ireland, not the gore ... and therefore have a hard time wrapping my mind around a story with so much of that bloody history.
April 24, 2017
This book is kind of fun, it's a series of stories within a story. The narrator is the story teller sharing his stories and wisdom with his traveling companion. I enjoyed it.
February 6, 2012
It is time for Ben MacCarthy to face his past and defeat his worst enemy: his own pusillanimity. Every single aspect and person he comes into contact with seems to be telling him so, yet he remains a coward. But how can he risk rejection again, when life seems to be uncontrollably happening to him, and not at all in a pleasant way? His mentor is gone, the Irish Republican Army is rising and he got involved somehow, his parents are selling his childhood home and Venetia is back to Ireland.
It always comes down to Venetia, does it not?
In this new chapter of Ben’s life, Frank Delaney is, once again, a word master. His intense narrative takes the reader into a splendid atmosphere of opposites: history and myth, violence and poetry, love and hate, exhilaration and excruciating pain. Regardless of The Last Storyteller being a sequence, it works perfectly as a standalone. Any relevant information about Ben’s past is sprinkled about, always in perfect harmony with the passage it is part of, thus enabling a new reader to enjoy the book without missing some of the details that make it wonderful.
The Last Storyteller: A Novel Of Ireland takes place in 1957, about ten years after the events of The Matchmaker Of Kenmare: A Novel Of Ireland, in an Ireland divided between those grateful for the independence gained by the south counties and those angered that part of the island is still under the English power. Ben is dragged into the fray by Jimmy Bermingham, a sort of friend one has to be really, really trusting to make and even more understanding to keep. Ironically, it is also through Jimmy that Ben comes to know Marian Killeen, a single, rich woman who plays a vital role in Ben’s decision to take Venetia back from Gentleman Jack. It goes without saying that tales of Ireland’s past are part of each chapter, but this time such tales are more than a background to paint Ben’s job. They seem to illustrate what Ben is about to witness taking place, either in a secluded village in the countryside or with nation-wide repercussions. Such tales complement the narrative beautifully and reminded me of why I fell in love with Frank Delaney’s Ireland so many years ago. I am still looking for a source of information for one of them, actually, and I wonder how many of the Irish legends are still waiting to be told to the world at large.
The recurring characters show a natural development from the first two instalments, and it is no surprise how much this is more prominent in Ben and Venetia. He is more mature, more obstinate, and less wimpy. She is more reclusive, more fragile; attempting to deal with emotional scars accumulated during 25 years hoping Ben would come to her rescue. When he finally does, she struggles to overcome what has been ingrained in her soul: lack of confidence and trust. A highly delightful addition is the introduction of Ben and Venetia’s twins. Ben and Louise bring a gentle shift in the characters’ dynamics and in the narrative tone, not to mention it provided Ben with a new and definite quality of self-assurance. On the other hand, Marian Killeen has an important part to play and she comes out as independent and ahead of her time in some ways. However, I could not make myself like her. Her motives were seemingly less than altruist and her attitude somewhat vain.
All in all, it is an enchanting – there is no more accurate word to describe it, really – book. Not only it is recommended to readers who appreciate a bardic storytelling but also to those who can relish the writer’s choice of words and their impact on the whole. The title fits Frank Delaney himself and more than once I found myself wondering what aspects of his own life can be found between the lines. I make Frank Delaney’s words mine by describing my experience reading The Last Storyteller: “I ceased to exist in my body, because as he rose to the high and wild climax of his story, my spirit ascended with him”.
It always comes down to Venetia, does it not?
In this new chapter of Ben’s life, Frank Delaney is, once again, a word master. His intense narrative takes the reader into a splendid atmosphere of opposites: history and myth, violence and poetry, love and hate, exhilaration and excruciating pain. Regardless of The Last Storyteller being a sequence, it works perfectly as a standalone. Any relevant information about Ben’s past is sprinkled about, always in perfect harmony with the passage it is part of, thus enabling a new reader to enjoy the book without missing some of the details that make it wonderful.
The Last Storyteller: A Novel Of Ireland takes place in 1957, about ten years after the events of The Matchmaker Of Kenmare: A Novel Of Ireland, in an Ireland divided between those grateful for the independence gained by the south counties and those angered that part of the island is still under the English power. Ben is dragged into the fray by Jimmy Bermingham, a sort of friend one has to be really, really trusting to make and even more understanding to keep. Ironically, it is also through Jimmy that Ben comes to know Marian Killeen, a single, rich woman who plays a vital role in Ben’s decision to take Venetia back from Gentleman Jack. It goes without saying that tales of Ireland’s past are part of each chapter, but this time such tales are more than a background to paint Ben’s job. They seem to illustrate what Ben is about to witness taking place, either in a secluded village in the countryside or with nation-wide repercussions. Such tales complement the narrative beautifully and reminded me of why I fell in love with Frank Delaney’s Ireland so many years ago. I am still looking for a source of information for one of them, actually, and I wonder how many of the Irish legends are still waiting to be told to the world at large.
The recurring characters show a natural development from the first two instalments, and it is no surprise how much this is more prominent in Ben and Venetia. He is more mature, more obstinate, and less wimpy. She is more reclusive, more fragile; attempting to deal with emotional scars accumulated during 25 years hoping Ben would come to her rescue. When he finally does, she struggles to overcome what has been ingrained in her soul: lack of confidence and trust. A highly delightful addition is the introduction of Ben and Venetia’s twins. Ben and Louise bring a gentle shift in the characters’ dynamics and in the narrative tone, not to mention it provided Ben with a new and definite quality of self-assurance. On the other hand, Marian Killeen has an important part to play and she comes out as independent and ahead of her time in some ways. However, I could not make myself like her. Her motives were seemingly less than altruist and her attitude somewhat vain.
All in all, it is an enchanting – there is no more accurate word to describe it, really – book. Not only it is recommended to readers who appreciate a bardic storytelling but also to those who can relish the writer’s choice of words and their impact on the whole. The title fits Frank Delaney himself and more than once I found myself wondering what aspects of his own life can be found between the lines. I make Frank Delaney’s words mine by describing my experience reading The Last Storyteller: “I ceased to exist in my body, because as he rose to the high and wild climax of his story, my spirit ascended with him”.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 5, 2012
Original review posted at Layers of Thought.
This is a book for story-tellers and story readers. It’s the third stand alone book in Frank Delaney’s “Novel of Ireland” series. It includes Irish history, myth, and lore layered with its 1956 setting. It’s a book that will please those who wish a vicarious trip to Ireland and the oral traditions of its past.
About: This is a multi-layered story which is the third book of the series starting with Venetia Kelly’s Traveling Show and then The Matchmaker of Kenmare. In this latest novel, the main character Ben travels about Ireland recording the oral myths, stories, legends, paranormal sightings, and cures of the local residents to archive for the country.
He is emotionally battered and reeling from the loss of his enigmatic wife Venetia, who left him years before. Blaming himself, he tries to forget by burying himself in his important work. While doing so he is inadvertently caught between the police and the IRA, becoming indirectly sucked into extreme violence and narrowly escaping several horrific incidents. Combined with the drama and emotional upheaval, what evolves is a thriller of sorts where the reader is left wondering what heartbreaking event will happen next – whether emotional from Ben’s dramatic relationships or due to the warring sides.
Most importantly, interlaced through the realistic story are the tales which Ben records, and that mirror the “real life” incidences occurring for the characters. This creates a novel which has a special quality, affirming the importance of story telling and myth through the ages and their modern relevance.
Thoughts: This novel has a “magical realism” flavor which I liked a lot. I giggled, I cried, I wanted to skim quickly ahead to see what the next event in the continuing drama would be. But with this literary novel reading slowly is the best way to experience the subtle truisms and humor the author has hidden there.
The only niggle I had was that I found it hard to relate to Ben in the first 2/3rds of the novel. He is emotionally lost, depressed even, and pines for his lost love Venetia, who loves him still. Yet he lacks the gumption to step up and to win her back. It was difficult for me to deal with his vacillation. However, from reading other reviews of the previous novels in the series I know now that Ben’s attitude is built upon years of events which have affected him. I am thinking that it is important to read the other two books prior to this novel in order to completely “get” Ben.
Regardless, as a stand alone it does work. The story is well written, jammed packed with interesting events, and contains advanced writing techniques. I enjoyed this book a lot and think that many parts are exceptional. Highly recommend for anyone who tells or writes stories; and for literary fiction readers definitely. It has the trick of pushing the reader to work for the prize of each juicy dilemma and attests to the importance of the art of telling a good story. I give this novel 4 stars.
This is a book for story-tellers and story readers. It’s the third stand alone book in Frank Delaney’s “Novel of Ireland” series. It includes Irish history, myth, and lore layered with its 1956 setting. It’s a book that will please those who wish a vicarious trip to Ireland and the oral traditions of its past.
“Do you have room in your mind for a tale of life itself, a tale of wonder, wisdom, and delight?” (page 331)
About: This is a multi-layered story which is the third book of the series starting with Venetia Kelly’s Traveling Show and then The Matchmaker of Kenmare. In this latest novel, the main character Ben travels about Ireland recording the oral myths, stories, legends, paranormal sightings, and cures of the local residents to archive for the country.
He is emotionally battered and reeling from the loss of his enigmatic wife Venetia, who left him years before. Blaming himself, he tries to forget by burying himself in his important work. While doing so he is inadvertently caught between the police and the IRA, becoming indirectly sucked into extreme violence and narrowly escaping several horrific incidents. Combined with the drama and emotional upheaval, what evolves is a thriller of sorts where the reader is left wondering what heartbreaking event will happen next – whether emotional from Ben’s dramatic relationships or due to the warring sides.
Most importantly, interlaced through the realistic story are the tales which Ben records, and that mirror the “real life” incidences occurring for the characters. This creates a novel which has a special quality, affirming the importance of story telling and myth through the ages and their modern relevance.
Thoughts: This novel has a “magical realism” flavor which I liked a lot. I giggled, I cried, I wanted to skim quickly ahead to see what the next event in the continuing drama would be. But with this literary novel reading slowly is the best way to experience the subtle truisms and humor the author has hidden there.
The only niggle I had was that I found it hard to relate to Ben in the first 2/3rds of the novel. He is emotionally lost, depressed even, and pines for his lost love Venetia, who loves him still. Yet he lacks the gumption to step up and to win her back. It was difficult for me to deal with his vacillation. However, from reading other reviews of the previous novels in the series I know now that Ben’s attitude is built upon years of events which have affected him. I am thinking that it is important to read the other two books prior to this novel in order to completely “get” Ben.
Regardless, as a stand alone it does work. The story is well written, jammed packed with interesting events, and contains advanced writing techniques. I enjoyed this book a lot and think that many parts are exceptional. Highly recommend for anyone who tells or writes stories; and for literary fiction readers definitely. It has the trick of pushing the reader to work for the prize of each juicy dilemma and attests to the importance of the art of telling a good story. I give this novel 4 stars.
February 6, 2012
A sigh of satisfaction escaped my lips as I finally put this book down. With a plot as meandering as an Irish country road, this final book in the Venetia Kelly trilogy is deeply satiating read. From the first page Delaney pulls you into the old Ireland — the humor, the poetry of the vernacular, the poverty, the ability to always pull through and laugh at everyone.
This book goes deeper into Ben’s personal struggles, and throughout the book he examines and questions his actions over the years. We follow him around the Irish countryside and meet those closest to him — those he has allowed to come close — and get to know them better. We also find out what happens when he meets Venetia again, and how that emotional mess of a love story ends.
As in the other books, fiction lives within fiction, almost like a dream within a dream, and we are fortunate enough to hear some of the secrets of the seanchaí, the Irish storyteller. The reader is caught up in the mystical, mythical quality of the legends as they are told, and then wonders how the story of Ben will play out if/when told by the seanchaí.
Delaney’s writing, yet again, reaches deep into the soul and he produces words from his mind that allow the story to dance and sing and mourn and weep. I wanted to stop and highlight some of his words, but didn’t want to stop reading — “I was shivering like a wet child,” “the long, quiet lane ended at his house,” and “and still came the rain, so heavy that I could have sucked it off the windshield” — just wonderful heart-warming writing that makes a hungry reader happy. If you have to choose between buying this and your next meal, buy this — it’s more of a meal and far more filling.
This book goes deeper into Ben’s personal struggles, and throughout the book he examines and questions his actions over the years. We follow him around the Irish countryside and meet those closest to him — those he has allowed to come close — and get to know them better. We also find out what happens when he meets Venetia again, and how that emotional mess of a love story ends.
As in the other books, fiction lives within fiction, almost like a dream within a dream, and we are fortunate enough to hear some of the secrets of the seanchaí, the Irish storyteller. The reader is caught up in the mystical, mythical quality of the legends as they are told, and then wonders how the story of Ben will play out if/when told by the seanchaí.
Delaney’s writing, yet again, reaches deep into the soul and he produces words from his mind that allow the story to dance and sing and mourn and weep. I wanted to stop and highlight some of his words, but didn’t want to stop reading — “I was shivering like a wet child,” “the long, quiet lane ended at his house,” and “and still came the rain, so heavy that I could have sucked it off the windshield” — just wonderful heart-warming writing that makes a hungry reader happy. If you have to choose between buying this and your next meal, buy this — it’s more of a meal and far more filling.
February 7, 2012
I was fortunate enough to receive an ARC copy to read, but “The Last Storyteller” is available at a bookstore near you (or online, etc. etc. etc.) If you’re a fan of Frank Delaney, if you love a good story, then move “The Last Storyteller” to the top of your “to read” list.
“The Last Storyteller” is a beautifully written, wonderful, Magical Love story from Frank Delaney to the world.
Ben MacCarthy, working for the Irish Folklore Commission, returns once more in the final book of the Venetia Kelly trilogy. While the continuing story of Ben MacCarthy and his long lost love, Venetia, figure prominently in this book, interwoven throughout the book, through all of Ben’s trials and tribulations are the legends and myths and history of Ireland. Ben’s travels brings us slightly closer to a more modern era with the 1950s as the Uprising in Ireland begins with “The Last Storyteller.” Ben’s close friend James Clare returns with more insight for Ben through the telling of these tales, mythologies and stories. As James tells Ben that “every legend and all mythologies exist to teach us how to run our days. In kind fashion. A loving way. But there’s no story, no matter how ancient, as important as one’s own. So if we’re to live good lives, we have to tell ourselves our own story. In a good way. A way that’s decent to ourselves.”
“The Last Storyteller” is a beautifully written, wonderful, Magical Love story from Frank Delaney to the world.
Ben MacCarthy, working for the Irish Folklore Commission, returns once more in the final book of the Venetia Kelly trilogy. While the continuing story of Ben MacCarthy and his long lost love, Venetia, figure prominently in this book, interwoven throughout the book, through all of Ben’s trials and tribulations are the legends and myths and history of Ireland. Ben’s travels brings us slightly closer to a more modern era with the 1950s as the Uprising in Ireland begins with “The Last Storyteller.” Ben’s close friend James Clare returns with more insight for Ben through the telling of these tales, mythologies and stories. As James tells Ben that “every legend and all mythologies exist to teach us how to run our days. In kind fashion. A loving way. But there’s no story, no matter how ancient, as important as one’s own. So if we’re to live good lives, we have to tell ourselves our own story. In a good way. A way that’s decent to ourselves.”
February 16, 2012
"The Last Storyteller - A Novel Of Ireland" is a book of enduring beauty, suspense and heartbreak.
Ben MacCarthy is a flawed, but idealistic hero, searching for his purpose as a father, and learning to overcome cowardice to reconnect with his long lost wife. The complex characters of this book, endure emotional and often brutal realities, which Delaney concisely depicts with carefully chosen words and phrases. He is a true word master, whose narrative skills create memorable and compelling scenes. MacCarthy's imperfections are mirrored in the flaws of a fledgling nation and her people, struggling to find their own identity. This book lyrically recounts MacCarthy's journey of self-discovery as he evolves into the next great storyteller or seanachie.
The book begins slowly. The mystical, mythical quality of stories within stories creates a meandering plot. My love of Ireland and her ancient tales, and especially Delaney's masterful story telling, helped me to overcome my usual desire for uninterrupted, plot-driven fiction, to truly enjoy this rambling, yet compelling tale.
Ben MacCarthy is a flawed, but idealistic hero, searching for his purpose as a father, and learning to overcome cowardice to reconnect with his long lost wife. The complex characters of this book, endure emotional and often brutal realities, which Delaney concisely depicts with carefully chosen words and phrases. He is a true word master, whose narrative skills create memorable and compelling scenes. MacCarthy's imperfections are mirrored in the flaws of a fledgling nation and her people, struggling to find their own identity. This book lyrically recounts MacCarthy's journey of self-discovery as he evolves into the next great storyteller or seanachie.
The book begins slowly. The mystical, mythical quality of stories within stories creates a meandering plot. My love of Ireland and her ancient tales, and especially Delaney's masterful story telling, helped me to overcome my usual desire for uninterrupted, plot-driven fiction, to truly enjoy this rambling, yet compelling tale.
November 8, 2016
It's always risky reading the last book of a trilogy as a stand-alone without first having read the previous titles, but that's what we did in our group with this book. As it turned out, several of the group abandoned Storyteller before finishing because of character and plot confusion. Those of us who actually stuck it out to the end agreed that although it started out slowly and was hard to follow, things became clearer and more engaging in the second half. But one thing that everyone agreed on was that Frank Delaney's other book that dealt with storytelling, Ireland, was a much better read. For me, this was a *** 1/2 novel.
April 9, 2025
A random pick. I couldn’t find the first 2 of the series to read but this 3rd caught me up. (It would be best to read them in order). I sometimes got confused. It took me a while to get to where I was really enjoying it. I’m glad I didn’t give up.
March 27, 2012
I was offered a free copy of this book to review, being the outspoken fan of Delaney’s that I am, and would like to offer my thanks for that opportunity. That being said, this book made me nervous. I normally tear through Delaney’s books, but this one was slow going for me. I was actually convinced about halfway through that I wouldn’t like it, and then dramatically changed course when I got to the superb last third of the book. As others have mentioned, this is the third book in a trilogy, and while I wouldn’t necessarily recommend this as a standalone novel, it is a wonderful conclusion to the story of Ben MacCarthy and Venetia Kelly.
I must admit that I still haven’t ready Venetia Kelly’s Travelling Show, despite enthusiastically seeking out Delaney’s other works. This is what allowed me to view (and love) the previous book, The Matchmaker of Kenmare, as a standalone novel. Accordingly, I was a little more prepared for the continuity this time around; as with the previous books, this book is told from Ben MacCarthy’s point of view as a thorough, winding memoir. The story is written as a chronicle of his life, left for his twin children.
After finding Venetia married to another man in Florida, Ben MacCarthy returns home to Ireland and attempts to puzzle out what he should do with his life. He inherits the mantle of his venerable folklore-collecting mentor, and begins interview the famous storyteller John Jacob O’Neill. The stories he hears in O’Neill’s house seem eerily prophetic, as they parallel events in Ben’s life. Since returning to Ireland, he has managed to fall in with an IRA gun-runner, which puts him squarely in the sights of both his dubious new friends’ colleagues and some unfriendly police detectives. When Venetia shows up in Ireland again, touring with her abusive new husband’s illusion show, Ben is compelled to act in order try and salvage the happily ever after that he has ached for since Venetia’s disappearance. This compulsion, combined with Ben’s tendency towards dark moodiness and reckless decisions, leads to an act that threatens to drown Ben in remorse and self-hatred. The only thing that can bring peace to his life is its one true constant: the stories he seeks out, dutifully records, and has all along been preparing himself to transform and tell to others.
The first few parts of this book proceed in a meandering, piecemeal fashion that is a hallmark of Delaney’s warm style of prose. This time around, though, things seemed a lot more disconnected. As usual, we are treated to a cast of layered, interesting characters, which rise out of the mythic tapestry of Ireland’s countryside. The various situations that Ben finds himself tossed into (since, for all of his charm, Ben MacCarthy has always been a somewhat hapless protagonist) are a treat to read, but they never quite intersect in a meaningful way, as far as plot goes. At least, not at first. The story really picks up with the return of Venetia, and Ben’s daring plot to reunite with her. Once that gets going, though, the scenes before seem even less important.
It’s not until near the very end of the book that the big payoff comes, where Delaney connects Ben’s adventures with the rebels, his attempt to reclaim Venetia, and the journey to redemption he must take. True to form, the best part of the book is the suite of folk tales that are interspersed in the narrative, told with the lyrical bombast of an ancient seanchaí. Beyond their intrinsic loveliness, they serve as the glue that binds the story’s action to its theme, and lend a bit of more concrete mysticism as Ben’s story draws to a close. The epilogue, a matter-of-fact postscript written by Ben’s children, rounds out an ending that is enormously satisfying, regardless of whether the reader is familiar with the previous two books (and doubly satisfying if they are).
I suppose it takes a more observant reader than I am to see these things coming together before the last sections of the book. I was flailing for a while, there. Things came together in a subtly beautiful way at the end, but to me, the first half felt a bit disjointed. Once Venetia enters the picture again, there are a lot of callbacks to the first book in the trilogy. Between my unfamiliarity with that book and the slow burn Delaney uses to tie everything together, I didn’t really feel invested in the story until I neared the end. For that reason, I’d be wary of reading this book without first reading the previous two. However, if you are a reader with a taste for wistfulness and clever writing, this book is definitely worth your time. The characters alone are worth the price of admission, and taken as a whole it tells a beautiful story. It goes without saying that this is a must-read for those that have read Venetia Kelly’s Traveling Show and The Matchmaker of Kenmare; I can’t think of a better way to end Ben’s story.
I must admit that I still haven’t ready Venetia Kelly’s Travelling Show, despite enthusiastically seeking out Delaney’s other works. This is what allowed me to view (and love) the previous book, The Matchmaker of Kenmare, as a standalone novel. Accordingly, I was a little more prepared for the continuity this time around; as with the previous books, this book is told from Ben MacCarthy’s point of view as a thorough, winding memoir. The story is written as a chronicle of his life, left for his twin children.
After finding Venetia married to another man in Florida, Ben MacCarthy returns home to Ireland and attempts to puzzle out what he should do with his life. He inherits the mantle of his venerable folklore-collecting mentor, and begins interview the famous storyteller John Jacob O’Neill. The stories he hears in O’Neill’s house seem eerily prophetic, as they parallel events in Ben’s life. Since returning to Ireland, he has managed to fall in with an IRA gun-runner, which puts him squarely in the sights of both his dubious new friends’ colleagues and some unfriendly police detectives. When Venetia shows up in Ireland again, touring with her abusive new husband’s illusion show, Ben is compelled to act in order try and salvage the happily ever after that he has ached for since Venetia’s disappearance. This compulsion, combined with Ben’s tendency towards dark moodiness and reckless decisions, leads to an act that threatens to drown Ben in remorse and self-hatred. The only thing that can bring peace to his life is its one true constant: the stories he seeks out, dutifully records, and has all along been preparing himself to transform and tell to others.
The first few parts of this book proceed in a meandering, piecemeal fashion that is a hallmark of Delaney’s warm style of prose. This time around, though, things seemed a lot more disconnected. As usual, we are treated to a cast of layered, interesting characters, which rise out of the mythic tapestry of Ireland’s countryside. The various situations that Ben finds himself tossed into (since, for all of his charm, Ben MacCarthy has always been a somewhat hapless protagonist) are a treat to read, but they never quite intersect in a meaningful way, as far as plot goes. At least, not at first. The story really picks up with the return of Venetia, and Ben’s daring plot to reunite with her. Once that gets going, though, the scenes before seem even less important.
It’s not until near the very end of the book that the big payoff comes, where Delaney connects Ben’s adventures with the rebels, his attempt to reclaim Venetia, and the journey to redemption he must take. True to form, the best part of the book is the suite of folk tales that are interspersed in the narrative, told with the lyrical bombast of an ancient seanchaí. Beyond their intrinsic loveliness, they serve as the glue that binds the story’s action to its theme, and lend a bit of more concrete mysticism as Ben’s story draws to a close. The epilogue, a matter-of-fact postscript written by Ben’s children, rounds out an ending that is enormously satisfying, regardless of whether the reader is familiar with the previous two books (and doubly satisfying if they are).
I suppose it takes a more observant reader than I am to see these things coming together before the last sections of the book. I was flailing for a while, there. Things came together in a subtly beautiful way at the end, but to me, the first half felt a bit disjointed. Once Venetia enters the picture again, there are a lot of callbacks to the first book in the trilogy. Between my unfamiliarity with that book and the slow burn Delaney uses to tie everything together, I didn’t really feel invested in the story until I neared the end. For that reason, I’d be wary of reading this book without first reading the previous two. However, if you are a reader with a taste for wistfulness and clever writing, this book is definitely worth your time. The characters alone are worth the price of admission, and taken as a whole it tells a beautiful story. It goes without saying that this is a must-read for those that have read Venetia Kelly’s Traveling Show and The Matchmaker of Kenmare; I can’t think of a better way to end Ben’s story.
February 9, 2012
Frank Delaney’s latest novel, The Last Storyteller: A Novel Of Ireland, is a book to be savored, an unforgettable story of love, joy, loss, danger. THE LAST STORYTELLER is a history of Ireland told in bits and broken pieces, bitter fact, story, and myth. I read it through once, then flipped back and forth, re-reading underlined passages, all the while basking in its spell. For make no mistake, Delaney is a prodigious weaver of words.
It is 1956 and Ireland is again in upheaval, the nation, downtrodden. The mood is deep as Ben MacCarthy returns to the land of his birth in search of his love, the actress and mother of his twins, Venetia Kelly. While Ben searches for Venetia, he quests for truth, finds and helps his friends, learns the art of storytelling.
Ben’s journey takes him from town to town, from pub to pub, through danger and gun running, to Limerick, through floods, to Dublin. The Shannon overflows; the stories do, too. Scenes explode with action and meaning. At times we think Ben succeeds in his quest only to have La Belle Dame flee. Forever?
What better way to understand oneself, especially in times extreme, but through story? And it is through the telling of tales that meaning exists for Ben MacCarthy, not just in the words, but more importantly, in the poetry of his spoken story. As the author spins the story, the reader is caught up, fascinated. And the story becomes, in some inexplicable way, our story, too.
Each reader will have her favorites, and for me this book is packed with poignant scenes, flesh and blood characters, major and minor—Randall Duff, “head like a hawk, eyes of fire,” Marian Killeen with her “complexion of cream linen,” John Jacob O’Neill, the sometime baker who “sifted, letting it flow like powdered fog through his fingers,” James Clare, and, of course, Gentleman James Stirling, the villain we love to hate.
Do something memorable for yourself today: read this book.
It is 1956 and Ireland is again in upheaval, the nation, downtrodden. The mood is deep as Ben MacCarthy returns to the land of his birth in search of his love, the actress and mother of his twins, Venetia Kelly. While Ben searches for Venetia, he quests for truth, finds and helps his friends, learns the art of storytelling.
Ben’s journey takes him from town to town, from pub to pub, through danger and gun running, to Limerick, through floods, to Dublin. The Shannon overflows; the stories do, too. Scenes explode with action and meaning. At times we think Ben succeeds in his quest only to have La Belle Dame flee. Forever?
What better way to understand oneself, especially in times extreme, but through story? And it is through the telling of tales that meaning exists for Ben MacCarthy, not just in the words, but more importantly, in the poetry of his spoken story. As the author spins the story, the reader is caught up, fascinated. And the story becomes, in some inexplicable way, our story, too.
Each reader will have her favorites, and for me this book is packed with poignant scenes, flesh and blood characters, major and minor—Randall Duff, “head like a hawk, eyes of fire,” Marian Killeen with her “complexion of cream linen,” John Jacob O’Neill, the sometime baker who “sifted, letting it flow like powdered fog through his fingers,” James Clare, and, of course, Gentleman James Stirling, the villain we love to hate.
Do something memorable for yourself today: read this book.
February 9, 2012
As in the novel most feel was his masterpiece, "Ireland," in The Last Storyteller, the craft of storytelling is not only celebrated, it's gift-wrapped and presented in ways that feel important, and yet, personal and intimate.
For those who love the idea of Once Upon a Time... this is the book for you!
Like all of Frank's books, the language is gorgeous. No doubt you expect me to say something like that. But really -- listen. This book is something...
The story is compelling and moving and full of all the things I hope to experience when reading - to be delighted and thrilled, taken over and moved. At least for me - and clearly for many of you, no one does it better.
And if Frank delivers that punch while also showing us to a time "when the geese were barefoot" or the "pigs ate apples off the trees"; if he recalls a time on earth that was created - "when God was in his twenties.." so much the better.
'The Last Storyteller' is, as you may have read, the culmination of what he calls his Venetia Trilogy, the thirty-year, three-book saga of Ben McCarthy and his lost-and-found beloved wife, Venetia Kelly (Venetia Kelly's Traveling Show, The Matchmaker of Kenmare). That this story was designed, as myth, to reflect the passionate, difficult, often misguided quest- for-civility of Ireland itself, during those turbulent years, may be lost on some. I hope not. But the beauty of the books themselves should be lost on no one. The miracle to me is that each of the novels is a kind of triumph on their own. One doesn't need to read them all, I suppose. But what a joy to do so.
On every level, 'The Last Storyteller' delivers the goods. As a stand alone; as the natural resolution to Ben's story; as a window to the more recent history of Ireland; as an example of The Voice that began in an oral tradition and became what we know as literature; and as a fully-expressed, beautifully crafted and well designed myth that shows us the power of desire, the need to move forward in life, and the redemption of love over all evil. It's a heck of a book.
For those who love the idea of Once Upon a Time... this is the book for you!
Like all of Frank's books, the language is gorgeous. No doubt you expect me to say something like that. But really -- listen. This book is something...
The story is compelling and moving and full of all the things I hope to experience when reading - to be delighted and thrilled, taken over and moved. At least for me - and clearly for many of you, no one does it better.
And if Frank delivers that punch while also showing us to a time "when the geese were barefoot" or the "pigs ate apples off the trees"; if he recalls a time on earth that was created - "when God was in his twenties.." so much the better.
'The Last Storyteller' is, as you may have read, the culmination of what he calls his Venetia Trilogy, the thirty-year, three-book saga of Ben McCarthy and his lost-and-found beloved wife, Venetia Kelly (Venetia Kelly's Traveling Show, The Matchmaker of Kenmare). That this story was designed, as myth, to reflect the passionate, difficult, often misguided quest- for-civility of Ireland itself, during those turbulent years, may be lost on some. I hope not. But the beauty of the books themselves should be lost on no one. The miracle to me is that each of the novels is a kind of triumph on their own. One doesn't need to read them all, I suppose. But what a joy to do so.
On every level, 'The Last Storyteller' delivers the goods. As a stand alone; as the natural resolution to Ben's story; as a window to the more recent history of Ireland; as an example of The Voice that began in an oral tradition and became what we know as literature; and as a fully-expressed, beautifully crafted and well designed myth that shows us the power of desire, the need to move forward in life, and the redemption of love over all evil. It's a heck of a book.
February 7, 2012
I was fortunate to receive an advance review copy of Frank Delaney’s The Last Storyteller. It was my first introduction to his work, and even though the book is part of a continuing series, it works wonderfully as a stand-alone novel.
While the beginning is just a tad slow, it was soon easy to be lost in Ben and Venetia’s story while still being captivated by the interweaving of the legends and mythos of Ireland too – not an easy feat, and one that shows off Delaney’s considerable narrative skills.
Delany is both a lyrical writer and a master of pacing. He draws characters with a few deft strokes and makes them seem complex and believable. I was taken by the contrast of beautiful description and the casual brutality of many of the scenes. It really captures a time period in Irish history and brings it to life. And in segments where a love story could have been somewhat self-indulgent, it speaks to the way we mythologize our own lives and how we pass down our memories to future generations, how we can't escape our own histories and how we draw on the past to fill out our lives.
While historical in nature, that history never seems rote or boring – it’s a breathing, living thing that is just as compelling as any piece of action or intrigue. It’s a beautiful and exciting book, full of memorable scenes, and I highly recommend it.
While the beginning is just a tad slow, it was soon easy to be lost in Ben and Venetia’s story while still being captivated by the interweaving of the legends and mythos of Ireland too – not an easy feat, and one that shows off Delaney’s considerable narrative skills.
Delany is both a lyrical writer and a master of pacing. He draws characters with a few deft strokes and makes them seem complex and believable. I was taken by the contrast of beautiful description and the casual brutality of many of the scenes. It really captures a time period in Irish history and brings it to life. And in segments where a love story could have been somewhat self-indulgent, it speaks to the way we mythologize our own lives and how we pass down our memories to future generations, how we can't escape our own histories and how we draw on the past to fill out our lives.
While historical in nature, that history never seems rote or boring – it’s a breathing, living thing that is just as compelling as any piece of action or intrigue. It’s a beautiful and exciting book, full of memorable scenes, and I highly recommend it.
March 7, 2012
Venetia has traveled back to Ireland. She is joined by her new husband. A man that is cruel and nothing like Ben. No matter where Venetia is, Ben always has her on his mind. Ben would go to the ends of the Earth for her. That is why; Ben goes on his last trip to reclaim Venetia as his forever.
The Last Storyteller is the last book about couple, Ben MacCarthy and his true love, Venetia Kelly. I have enjoyed reading these books. I instantly fell in love with Ben, Venetia and author, Delaney, when I picked up and read Venetia Kelly’s Traveling Show.
One of the things I enjoyed the most about these books was that Mr. Delaney was not only a great story teller but he had kind of a poetic way about him. He just brought all of the characters alive. The second book, The Matchmaker of Kenmare, I found to be a bit lacking but still a good book. This book made up for it. As I read these books, I am instantly transported back in time and it is like I am walking in Ben’s shoes. Ben may be soft spoken but he is a great narrator and he meets such interesting people. Ben and Venetia’s love is a time less one. They are meant for each other. I really felt like I got to know Ben and Venetia “the couple” versus Ben and Venetia. I am sad to see this trilogy come to an end but excited to see what Mr. Delaney will come out with next.
The Last Storyteller is the last book about couple, Ben MacCarthy and his true love, Venetia Kelly. I have enjoyed reading these books. I instantly fell in love with Ben, Venetia and author, Delaney, when I picked up and read Venetia Kelly’s Traveling Show.
One of the things I enjoyed the most about these books was that Mr. Delaney was not only a great story teller but he had kind of a poetic way about him. He just brought all of the characters alive. The second book, The Matchmaker of Kenmare, I found to be a bit lacking but still a good book. This book made up for it. As I read these books, I am instantly transported back in time and it is like I am walking in Ben’s shoes. Ben may be soft spoken but he is a great narrator and he meets such interesting people. Ben and Venetia’s love is a time less one. They are meant for each other. I really felt like I got to know Ben and Venetia “the couple” versus Ben and Venetia. I am sad to see this trilogy come to an end but excited to see what Mr. Delaney will come out with next.
March 21, 2017
I actually gave up on this book at page 50. The timeline was confusing to me and I had to constantly think about whether the chapter I was reading was in the present, the near past, the distant past, or even the future. Also I found some of the violence very disturbing to read about. I'm sure the Irish history would have been interesting but I just couldn't get into the story enough to continue with it. I did not realize this was the 3rd book in a trilogy until reading some other reviews here, so maybe I would have enjoyed it more if I had read the previous books first. As a side note, I think books should clearly state "book 3 in the Whatever Trilogy" so the reader won't unknowingly pick something that may not make as much sense as it would if read in order. I did enjoy reading the Irish tales but it just wasn't enough to overcome all the other challenges for me.
July 8, 2019
All of the romantic/sexual/nonplatonic attention spent on women other than Ben's ex-wife seemed unnecessary and distracted from the IRA/historical plot line. Also, I felt that Venetia was one of the weakest female characters I've ever read about in a book. I don't believe she would've stayed with her abuser as long as she did, and especially not because she was waiting for Ben to recover her. I credit the extensive amount of time it took me to read to this to the fact that it couldn't keep my attention; I lost interest and couldn't bring myself to read it for a month-month and a half.
June 30, 2013
I loved this book! I loved his writing. It's hard to find books these days that are well-written, have an interesting story-line but don't have a lot of junk in them. I'm looking forward to reading his other books.
August 17, 2024
A rather disappointing effort. I’ve read a few books by this author, and I’ve enjoyed his works, but this one was substantially subpar. The author, from what I can tell, writes about Ireland; exclusively Ireland. Although natives of the country probably would enjoy reading anything about their homeland, past or present, the rest of us, well, you really need to make it something special for a dense native tale to really sink in.
Part of the problem with this book is that it’s a story about a storyteller who tells us stories. And within these stories are other stories. Now, I confess that I’m one of those readers who prefers reading a straightforward tale. This effort, though, seems to really want to focus on the "storyteller" part and thinks that it is an advantage to have several stories overlapping each other within the main tale. All this did was confuse and distract me. Again, part of the issue is that "main" story really wasn't that interesting. The author seemed to want to emphasize key features indigenous to his homeland rather than tell an engaging narrative.
Now, all of us have a special bond with our upbringing, our surroundings and our struggles as they relate to the world overall. If we're honest, though, the rest of the world doesn't really care that much. Think about a very special family vacation that you once journeyed. If you were to tell someone else about your experience, I would recommend limiting your reflections to about 5 minutes. If you talk about your holiday for several hours to anyone, you'll probably bore them to tears. Sadly, this is exactly what this book did to me. It was the equivalent of a neighbor forcing me to watch several hours of mundane home videos.
As I stated, I've read a few other books by this author (one, unsurprisingly, called "Ireland") and I've enjoyed them. This one, though, is too personal. If an author is going to spend so much page space devoted to anything other than an interesting story (such as a geography and its history) the real challenge is making the reader fall in love with such a place. This is isn't easy, but it is possible. Think of James Michener or Edward Rutherford. Sadly, this book fails in this effort. It was a relief to finally finish the thing. I think this book was one of his earlier efforts. Perhaps he simply got better over time? If so, I haven't been turned off by him just yet. I would recommend this author; just not his particular book.
Part of the problem with this book is that it’s a story about a storyteller who tells us stories. And within these stories are other stories. Now, I confess that I’m one of those readers who prefers reading a straightforward tale. This effort, though, seems to really want to focus on the "storyteller" part and thinks that it is an advantage to have several stories overlapping each other within the main tale. All this did was confuse and distract me. Again, part of the issue is that "main" story really wasn't that interesting. The author seemed to want to emphasize key features indigenous to his homeland rather than tell an engaging narrative.
Now, all of us have a special bond with our upbringing, our surroundings and our struggles as they relate to the world overall. If we're honest, though, the rest of the world doesn't really care that much. Think about a very special family vacation that you once journeyed. If you were to tell someone else about your experience, I would recommend limiting your reflections to about 5 minutes. If you talk about your holiday for several hours to anyone, you'll probably bore them to tears. Sadly, this is exactly what this book did to me. It was the equivalent of a neighbor forcing me to watch several hours of mundane home videos.
As I stated, I've read a few other books by this author (one, unsurprisingly, called "Ireland") and I've enjoyed them. This one, though, is too personal. If an author is going to spend so much page space devoted to anything other than an interesting story (such as a geography and its history) the real challenge is making the reader fall in love with such a place. This is isn't easy, but it is possible. Think of James Michener or Edward Rutherford. Sadly, this book fails in this effort. It was a relief to finally finish the thing. I think this book was one of his earlier efforts. Perhaps he simply got better over time? If so, I haven't been turned off by him just yet. I would recommend this author; just not his particular book.
February 8, 2017
I think the best way to sum up this story is to call it a fictional memoir of a storyteller who confesses to doing things he's not proud of.
Ben MacCarthy was born and raised in Ireland. He falls in love with and marries the one love of his life, Venetia Kelly. Their happiness is short lived when she is taken away from him. He later finds her, and watches her from a distance. He also discovers that he has two children, twins, with Venetia, that he didn't know existed. But he feels inadequate in his power to take her away from her second husband, a man who is abusive towards her. His guilt and his love consume him, filling his days and nights with pain and angst about his beloved Venetia.
Decades later he finds Venetia again and succeeds in taking her away from her husband. But he can't seem to fill the void in Venetia's life that her second husband, Jack, created. One night she leaves Ben without any warning. He is then bent on revenge, knowing the only way to rid Venetia of Jack's abuse is to get rid of Jack.
But, the story is so much more than that. It's told from Ben's point of view. Ben becomes a storyteller. As such, he travels around Ireland, hearing and recording the country's rich tradition of oral storytelling. He is inspired by his friend, mentor and fellow storyteller, John Jacob O'Neil, a legend in the field of stories and legends. Ben's love for gathering stories leads Ben to collect his life's story so his children can read it when he dies.
The main story is set in Ireland during the 1950's, a time when the country was undergoing major tumult and upheaval, as it divided itself into Ireland and Northern Ireland. Author Frank Delaney enhances the tale with retellings of old Irish stories, rich in history and nostalgia. Then, he brings it back to the present as Ben records his life's story, interwoven with history and folktales.
I've read a lot of memoirs and a lot of history books and a lot of love stories, but I've never read a book that did such a masterful job of combining these three elements. Delaney also manages to touch on love and friendship and betrayal and religion and folklore, all the while keeping the story going with rich narrative.
Ben MacCarthy was born and raised in Ireland. He falls in love with and marries the one love of his life, Venetia Kelly. Their happiness is short lived when she is taken away from him. He later finds her, and watches her from a distance. He also discovers that he has two children, twins, with Venetia, that he didn't know existed. But he feels inadequate in his power to take her away from her second husband, a man who is abusive towards her. His guilt and his love consume him, filling his days and nights with pain and angst about his beloved Venetia.
Decades later he finds Venetia again and succeeds in taking her away from her husband. But he can't seem to fill the void in Venetia's life that her second husband, Jack, created. One night she leaves Ben without any warning. He is then bent on revenge, knowing the only way to rid Venetia of Jack's abuse is to get rid of Jack.
But, the story is so much more than that. It's told from Ben's point of view. Ben becomes a storyteller. As such, he travels around Ireland, hearing and recording the country's rich tradition of oral storytelling. He is inspired by his friend, mentor and fellow storyteller, John Jacob O'Neil, a legend in the field of stories and legends. Ben's love for gathering stories leads Ben to collect his life's story so his children can read it when he dies.
The main story is set in Ireland during the 1950's, a time when the country was undergoing major tumult and upheaval, as it divided itself into Ireland and Northern Ireland. Author Frank Delaney enhances the tale with retellings of old Irish stories, rich in history and nostalgia. Then, he brings it back to the present as Ben records his life's story, interwoven with history and folktales.
I've read a lot of memoirs and a lot of history books and a lot of love stories, but I've never read a book that did such a masterful job of combining these three elements. Delaney also manages to touch on love and friendship and betrayal and religion and folklore, all the while keeping the story going with rich narrative.
June 29, 2024
Ireland is a place I’ve always wanted to visit. Before World War I, my paternal grandparents came to the US from County Sligo. I belong to an awesome book group on Facebook, Sara’s Book Shelf. Every month there is a reading challenge. One of the two challenges was to read a book set in a location I wanted to visit.
I’d already read Ireland and enjoyed Delaney’s writing, so I tried The Last Storyteller. I enjoyed it but soon realized it was part of a series revolving around Ben McCarthy and his tragic love for Venetia Kelly. I will have to go back and read the first two although this book did provide details of what had gone before.
Ben is a traveling collector of stories for the Irish folklore organization. On his travels, he sometimes dropped in on a retired storyteller named John Jacob O’Neill. I enjoyed those sections of the story most because of the magic in the tales O’Neill told. Ben wanted to learn from him and become a storyteller, too, rather than just a collector of stories.
Ben was something of a sad sack in this book. He kept getting himself into messes, drawn unwittingly in a gun-running operation by members of the Irish Republican Army (IRA). When he wasn’t on the run, he was mooning about the wife he hadn’t seen in 20 years, Venetia Kelly.
He left her and their twin babies in Florida for reasons unexplained in this book. He spent the intervening years pining for her and trying to decide whether or not to go back to her.
Meanwhile, she’d married an entertainer and was traveling with him. The little troupe came to Ireland for some performances, and Ben was wishy-washy about trying to seek her out until he learned she was being brutalized by her second husband.
Even though I struggled a little to understand the whole story, I found it to be a page-turner. I want to go back and read the first two books in the series.
I’d already read Ireland and enjoyed Delaney’s writing, so I tried The Last Storyteller. I enjoyed it but soon realized it was part of a series revolving around Ben McCarthy and his tragic love for Venetia Kelly. I will have to go back and read the first two although this book did provide details of what had gone before.
Ben is a traveling collector of stories for the Irish folklore organization. On his travels, he sometimes dropped in on a retired storyteller named John Jacob O’Neill. I enjoyed those sections of the story most because of the magic in the tales O’Neill told. Ben wanted to learn from him and become a storyteller, too, rather than just a collector of stories.
Ben was something of a sad sack in this book. He kept getting himself into messes, drawn unwittingly in a gun-running operation by members of the Irish Republican Army (IRA). When he wasn’t on the run, he was mooning about the wife he hadn’t seen in 20 years, Venetia Kelly.
He left her and their twin babies in Florida for reasons unexplained in this book. He spent the intervening years pining for her and trying to decide whether or not to go back to her.
Meanwhile, she’d married an entertainer and was traveling with him. The little troupe came to Ireland for some performances, and Ben was wishy-washy about trying to seek her out until he learned she was being brutalized by her second husband.
Even though I struggled a little to understand the whole story, I found it to be a page-turner. I want to go back and read the first two books in the series.
September 6, 2021
Frank Delaney definitely has a way with words - a true Irishman. I especially loved some of his descriptions of people, for example, "she was a thin woman in every way," and "street dogs on hind legs." The beginning of this book is very confusing and I was about to give up on it when suddenly it grabbed me. Still, there is deliberate confusion throughout the book as Delaney makes oblique references, some of which are not cleared up until the final pages. Even then, some sense of mystery and questions remain as it appears the fictional story is actually non-fiction. The overall story is complex, involving the IRA, a cruel "Gentleman Jack" mesmerizer and complex family relationships all of which center around a woman who drives the protagonist, yet, appears somewhat ethereal.
February 2, 2020
Intriguing realistic tale about storytellers in Ireland where there still is a strong oral storytelling tradition. This is the third in a series of which I have not read the others but it was excellent as a stand-alone. It starts rather disjointedly and difficult for me to follow (I kept going back to figure out who was who, and when, etc.) but it all comes together later on as Frank Delaney weaves in and out. Well worth sticking with and now I want to read more in the series and other works by Delaney. He apparently had a popular Irish Literature podcast and is somewhat of a James Joyce specialist- hmm... did I mention intriguing?
May 8, 2025
This one took me a minute to get into--I had a hard time tracking the characters and timelines right off the bat. This very well could be due to having not read the other novels in this series. The book will work as a stand-alone but it may be a struggle at the start. Once I got the motion of it, it was a wonderous read. The legends and stories of Ireland and its people are expertly woven into the current timeline of the novel. You will be able to hear the lilt of the people and learn some of their complicated histories. Delaney does a beautiful job of illustrating the magic of Ireland while not ignoring it's complicated political and religious violence.
August 10, 2018
The late Frank Delaney was a master storyteller in his own right (write). This is a mix of mythical legend mixed with history, including IRA tensions, and peppered with Irish wit and wisdom. I found this story about a committed son of Ireland mesmerizing (a term referenced in the story and an apt description).
"...The most important thing is: history is what's happening to all of us all the time, and it happens
again and again, to each and every one of us"
"...there's no story, no matter how ancient, as important as one's own."
"...The most important thing is: history is what's happening to all of us all the time, and it happens
again and again, to each and every one of us"
"...there's no story, no matter how ancient, as important as one's own."
March 28, 2012
I love this book! It took me a while to get into it, but once I did, I couldn’t put it down.
The book is so layered that it’s impossible to absorb or even notice everything Delaney is doing on the first reading. I haven’t read the other books in the series; I suspect that familiarity with the characters would help a bit, but there’s still so much going on that I recommend multiple readings. Read it the first time to get acclimated, the second time to savor every word, every story, every nuance. You might even need a third and a fourth time for all that, actually.
I finished reading this book for the first time a couple of weeks ago, and I am still pondering its messages. I’ve gone over parts of it again and again. I know it’s about the redemptive power of story, and I know it’s also about the dangers of story. I know that the storyteller is shaman, magician, entertainer, cultural messenger, and at times demagogue. In 1956 Ireland, there are few storyteller-bards left, but those who survive still wield enormous power. And so Delaney’s protagonist, Ben MacCarthy, learns how to claim that power by studying the art with the most powerful storyteller in the country, John Jacob Farrell O’Neill.
I know that the storyteller, like the writer and the actor, must stand apart from society, in order to preserve his mystique. And this Ben does, partly because of his longing for his ex-wife, Venetia, who has gone to America with another man and borne the children Ben has never seen, and partly because of his role as itinerant gatherer of stories for the Irish Folklore Commission.
Ben’s life is a mess, and it doesn’t get any better when he’s forced into helping the IRA run guns. For the first half of the book or so, Ben comes across as a victim: he’s lost his beloved wife, has never met his children, is caught up in a dangerous political situation, and is alienated from his parents because he hasn’t forgiven his father for leaving his mother to take up with the same Venetia Ben ended up marrying. Oh, what a tangled web, and accordingly, the narrative is all over the place, veering into tale and legend from time to time.
But then Venetia returns to Ireland with her cruel husband, Gentleman Jack, an entertainer who hypnotizes audience members and makes fools of them, then degrades his partner-wife onstage in front of them. Ben witnesses Jack’s cruel routine at the theater one night and steals an almost comatose Venetia away from him. At that point in the story, Ben transforms from victim to avenger, and the pace picks up. He does something terrible, which he regrets immediately, and is devastated. He must redeem himself, but nothing works until at the end of the story, Ben goes back to study intensively with his mentor and learns to take up where O’Neill leaves off. In becoming the last storyteller in Ireland, Ben learns what he must do.
In so doing, Ben learns that you must tell the story of your own life and perceive it as myth. O’Neill says, "One day you have to tell the story of your own life…and perceive it as myth. When you can do that—that’s when you’ve finally grown up." The implication is partly that turning your life into a story functions as therapy, and in fact, Ben acknowledges that literature works that way when he says that he built a library in order to "re-right my life and stabilize.” Then he says, "…although the world knows a great deal about self-healing today, we hadn’t a clue back then; I was flying blind.”
In fact, stories can heal only so much. What I don’t think Ben says, although I wouldn’t swear to it, is that by turning your life into a story, you distance yourself from the pain. You see that you’re not the only one with troubles because suddenly, your story resembles the others you’ve heard and read. But this is a valuable exercise because it allows you to dull the pain enough to do the real work of healing: the people part.
At the end of the book, Ben says:
And at the end of the story, he does the people work, and he does heal.
So what am I confused about? Now that I’ve written this review, nothing. The process of writing about my confusion has alleviated it. Life is messy. Creating a story out of one’s life can give that life shape and order, at least enough that we can go on to whatever we need to do next in order to move on. We’re all flawed. We all have demons. You can’t avoid them. You can’t avoid making mistakes, sometimes terrible ones, and in fact, if you don’t do that, you don’t grow. Meandering is necessary; it creates the stuff you’ll use to build story one day.
Actually, I lied. I’m still a bit confused about the ending, which I won’t describe because you should experience it for yourself. I feel it, but I can’t grasp it. I’ve thought and thought and tried to figure it out, but you know what? It’s beautiful the way it is, and I’m going to leave the mystery intact. I’m not Irish, but I suspect that’s what the Irish would do.
For the sake of full disclosure, I want to report that I received a free review copy of the book from the author’s publicist.
The book is so layered that it’s impossible to absorb or even notice everything Delaney is doing on the first reading. I haven’t read the other books in the series; I suspect that familiarity with the characters would help a bit, but there’s still so much going on that I recommend multiple readings. Read it the first time to get acclimated, the second time to savor every word, every story, every nuance. You might even need a third and a fourth time for all that, actually.
I finished reading this book for the first time a couple of weeks ago, and I am still pondering its messages. I’ve gone over parts of it again and again. I know it’s about the redemptive power of story, and I know it’s also about the dangers of story. I know that the storyteller is shaman, magician, entertainer, cultural messenger, and at times demagogue. In 1956 Ireland, there are few storyteller-bards left, but those who survive still wield enormous power. And so Delaney’s protagonist, Ben MacCarthy, learns how to claim that power by studying the art with the most powerful storyteller in the country, John Jacob Farrell O’Neill.
I know that the storyteller, like the writer and the actor, must stand apart from society, in order to preserve his mystique. And this Ben does, partly because of his longing for his ex-wife, Venetia, who has gone to America with another man and borne the children Ben has never seen, and partly because of his role as itinerant gatherer of stories for the Irish Folklore Commission.
Ben’s life is a mess, and it doesn’t get any better when he’s forced into helping the IRA run guns. For the first half of the book or so, Ben comes across as a victim: he’s lost his beloved wife, has never met his children, is caught up in a dangerous political situation, and is alienated from his parents because he hasn’t forgiven his father for leaving his mother to take up with the same Venetia Ben ended up marrying. Oh, what a tangled web, and accordingly, the narrative is all over the place, veering into tale and legend from time to time.
But then Venetia returns to Ireland with her cruel husband, Gentleman Jack, an entertainer who hypnotizes audience members and makes fools of them, then degrades his partner-wife onstage in front of them. Ben witnesses Jack’s cruel routine at the theater one night and steals an almost comatose Venetia away from him. At that point in the story, Ben transforms from victim to avenger, and the pace picks up. He does something terrible, which he regrets immediately, and is devastated. He must redeem himself, but nothing works until at the end of the story, Ben goes back to study intensively with his mentor and learns to take up where O’Neill leaves off. In becoming the last storyteller in Ireland, Ben learns what he must do.
In so doing, Ben learns that you must tell the story of your own life and perceive it as myth. O’Neill says, "One day you have to tell the story of your own life…and perceive it as myth. When you can do that—that’s when you’ve finally grown up." The implication is partly that turning your life into a story functions as therapy, and in fact, Ben acknowledges that literature works that way when he says that he built a library in order to "re-right my life and stabilize.” Then he says, "…although the world knows a great deal about self-healing today, we hadn’t a clue back then; I was flying blind.”
In fact, stories can heal only so much. What I don’t think Ben says, although I wouldn’t swear to it, is that by turning your life into a story, you distance yourself from the pain. You see that you’re not the only one with troubles because suddenly, your story resembles the others you’ve heard and read. But this is a valuable exercise because it allows you to dull the pain enough to do the real work of healing: the people part.
At the end of the book, Ben says:
Still, I hear you say, and it’s accurate, "That reading of books and poetry—that was all impersonal. What about people? Isn’t it the case that it’s people who heal people?"
I smile at that. Some whom I’ve met could be seen as living proof of the opposite. But it’s true, and that’s where I had the most work to do.
And at the end of the story, he does the people work, and he does heal.
So what am I confused about? Now that I’ve written this review, nothing. The process of writing about my confusion has alleviated it. Life is messy. Creating a story out of one’s life can give that life shape and order, at least enough that we can go on to whatever we need to do next in order to move on. We’re all flawed. We all have demons. You can’t avoid them. You can’t avoid making mistakes, sometimes terrible ones, and in fact, if you don’t do that, you don’t grow. Meandering is necessary; it creates the stuff you’ll use to build story one day.
Actually, I lied. I’m still a bit confused about the ending, which I won’t describe because you should experience it for yourself. I feel it, but I can’t grasp it. I’ve thought and thought and tried to figure it out, but you know what? It’s beautiful the way it is, and I’m going to leave the mystery intact. I’m not Irish, but I suspect that’s what the Irish would do.
For the sake of full disclosure, I want to report that I received a free review copy of the book from the author’s publicist.
April 27, 2020
When I purchased this book, I did not realize it was book 3 of a trilogy. I spent the first 2/3rds trying to figure out the story and the final third wanting it to be over. This obviously is a great example of you should read all trilogies from the beginning. That being said, I think if I had read book 1, I would never have read the others. Rambles a lot throughout. I finished it finally and the best I can tell you is the cover artwork is nicely done.
March 4, 2021
I enjoyed this book and its manner of telling the story of storytelling. Some of the descriptive writing gave me goosebumps. At times I could imagine myself sitting among a small audience in a tiny venue weaving a beautiful tale. On the other hand, I was hoping it would clear up my confusion about the situation in Ireland in the 50's; but I still don't have a handle on that aspect. Perhaps I didn't immerse myself enough as I just wanted to enjoy the story as told.
May 6, 2017
So very different from Ireland that I was not sure it was the same author. I think the challenge might have come from accidentally skipping book 2 in the series, which is not clearly marked as sequential. But I learned a great deal about the IRA of the 1950s, as well as more about the Storyteller himself.
February 18, 2023
I was gifted this novel for christmas by my godmother who is from Ireland. I didn't read the first two novels of the series but it didn't impact the experience much. I'm not a native speaker so I might not be able to tell whether the writing itself is very good but I enjoyed the story a lot. It's not a book to rush through but it was a pleasant companion through a very hard month in my life.
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