Carolan's Farewell

by Charles Foran

This is an alternate cover edition for this book.

Luminous and mischievous, Carolan’s Farewell is the story of a journey home and of changing times. In 18th-century Ireland, the legendary harper Carolanand his faithful companion Owen Connor make a final ride across a countryside ravaged by famine and the collapse of old traditions, but still alive with spirit and energy. Carolan’s Farewell is tender, sad and funny, a haunting novel filled withmusic and humour, the warmth of friendship and the lore of Ireland.

313 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2005

About the author

Charlie Foran was born and raised in Toronto. He holds degrees from the University of Toronto and the University College, Dublin, and has taught in China, Hong Kong, and Canada.

He has published eleven books, including five novels. His fiction, non-fiction, and journalism have all won awards.

Charlie has also made radio documentaries for the CBC program Ideas and co-wrote the TV documentary Mordecai Richler: The Last of the Wild Jews. A past president of PEN Canada, he is a senior fellow at Massey College, University of Toronto, and a member of the Order of Canada.

As of January, 2015, Charlie Foran is CEO of the Institute for Canadian Citizenship (ICC). He lives in Toronto with his family.

Reviews

[B · Rating 4 out of 5]

The final days of Terence Carolan, famous Irish bard and harpist as told by Terence and his guide Owen.
18th century
enjoyed- delightful

[Diane · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have long been intrigued by the legend of Turlough O'Carolan (or Toirdhealbhach Ó Cearbhalláin -- that gaelic is a bugger)the blind harpist who travelled through 17th/18th century Ireland. His major claim to fame is that he was one of the first folk musicians to have his name associated with the tunes he composed. Most everything prior to O'Carolan is credited to good ol'Anonymous. Like much of Irish culture it is difficult to discern where history stops and legend begins. He was blinded by smallpox as a young man. He was renowned more for his compositions than his virtuosity on the harp and he was an infamous drunk and womanizer. (Some things never change.) He was, however, a folk hero in his own time and over 220 songs have been attributed to him.

This novel by Canadian author Charles Foran is an account of the last few months of O'Carolan's life. It starts promisingly enough with the tale told from O'Carolan's point of view but the last half of the book switches to the point of view and story of Owen Connar, O'Carolan's guide and servant for the final twenty years of his life. And it is here is where the novel falls apart. This reader did not really care all that much about Connor and his view of the world and many things occur without adequate explanation. I also found the physical format of the book disconcerting for some reason, i.e. the hardcover edition has very narrow margins which I found claustrophobic.

O'Carolan died just prior to Ireland's Great Famine, a seven year period when one in every three Irish persons died of starvation or disease and many thousands more emigrated. Foran sets the stage for that disaster in this novel with discussion of the social and economic conditions of the time including the infamous Penal Laws which excluding Catholics from owning land, holding office, attending university, etc.

O'Carolan is an excellent subject but this could have been a much better book.

[Carol · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was looking forward to reading this book but sadly I had to give up on it. I very rarely do that but it did not hold my interest. I love historical fiction but this was a disappointment. Some of what I read was very interesting but then it lost me again. Not a book I would recommend unfortunately.