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The Dublin Saga #2
The Rebels of Ireland
The Princes of Ireland, the first volume of Edward Rutherfurd’s magisterial epic of Irish history, ended with the disastrous Irish revolt of 1534 and the disappearance of the sacred Staff of Saint Patrick. The Rebels of Ireland opens with an Ireland transformed; plantation, the final step in the centuries-long English conquest of Ireland, is the order of the day, and the subjugation of the native Irish Catholic population has begun in earnest.
Edward Rutherfurd brings history to life through the tales of families whose fates rise and fall in each generation: Brothers who must choose between fidelity to their ancient faith or the security of their families; a wife whose passion for a charismatic Irish chieftain threatens her comfortable marriage to a prosperous merchant; a young scholar whose secret rebel sympathies are put to the test; men who risk their lives and their children's fortunes in the tragic pursuit of freedom, and those determined to root them out forever. Rutherfurd spins the saga of Ireland's 400-year path to independence in all its drama, tragedy, and glory through the stories of people from all strata of society--Protestant and Catholic, rich and poor, conniving and heroic.
His richly detailed narrative brings to life watershed moments and events, from the time of plantation settlements to the "Flight of the Earls," when the native aristocracy fled the island, to Cromwell's suppression of the population and the imposition of the harsh anti-Catholic penal laws. He describes the hardships of ordinary people and the romantic, doomed attempt to overthrow the Protestant oppressors, which ended in defeat at the Battle of the Boyne in 1690, and the departure of the "Wild Geese." In vivid tones Rutherfurd re-creates Grattan's Parliament, Wolfe Tone's attempted French invasion of 1798, the tragic rising of Robert Emmet, the Catholic campaign of Daniel O'Connell, the catastrophic famine, the mass migration to America, and the glorious Irish Renaissance of Yeats and Joyce. And through the eyes of his characters, he captures the rise of Charles Stewart Parnell and the great Irish nationalists and the birth of an Ireland free of all ties to England.
A tale of fierce battles, hot-blooded romances, and family and political intrigues, The Rebels of Ireland brings the story begun in The Princes of Ireland to a stunning conclusion.
Edward Rutherfurd brings history to life through the tales of families whose fates rise and fall in each generation: Brothers who must choose between fidelity to their ancient faith or the security of their families; a wife whose passion for a charismatic Irish chieftain threatens her comfortable marriage to a prosperous merchant; a young scholar whose secret rebel sympathies are put to the test; men who risk their lives and their children's fortunes in the tragic pursuit of freedom, and those determined to root them out forever. Rutherfurd spins the saga of Ireland's 400-year path to independence in all its drama, tragedy, and glory through the stories of people from all strata of society--Protestant and Catholic, rich and poor, conniving and heroic.
His richly detailed narrative brings to life watershed moments and events, from the time of plantation settlements to the "Flight of the Earls," when the native aristocracy fled the island, to Cromwell's suppression of the population and the imposition of the harsh anti-Catholic penal laws. He describes the hardships of ordinary people and the romantic, doomed attempt to overthrow the Protestant oppressors, which ended in defeat at the Battle of the Boyne in 1690, and the departure of the "Wild Geese." In vivid tones Rutherfurd re-creates Grattan's Parliament, Wolfe Tone's attempted French invasion of 1798, the tragic rising of Robert Emmet, the Catholic campaign of Daniel O'Connell, the catastrophic famine, the mass migration to America, and the glorious Irish Renaissance of Yeats and Joyce. And through the eyes of his characters, he captures the rise of Charles Stewart Parnell and the great Irish nationalists and the birth of an Ireland free of all ties to England.
A tale of fierce battles, hot-blooded romances, and family and political intrigues, The Rebels of Ireland brings the story begun in The Princes of Ireland to a stunning conclusion.
896 pages, Audio CD
First published February 1, 2004
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9343 people want to read
About the author
Edward Rutherfurd
31 books5,676 followersFrancis Edward Wintle, best known under his pen name Edward Rutherfurd, was born in the cathedral city of Salisbury. Educated locally, and at the universities of Cambridge, and Stanford, California, he worked in political research, bookselling and publishing. After numerous attempts to write books and plays, he finally abandoned his career in the book trade in 1983, and returned to his childhood home to write SARUM, a historical novel with a ten-thousand year story, set in the area around the ancient monument of Stonehenge, and Salisbury. Four years later, when the book was published, it became an instant international bestseller, remaining 23 weeks on the New York Times Bestseller List. Since then he has written five more bestsellers: RUSSKA, a novel of Russia; LONDON; THE FOREST, set in England's New Forest which lies close by Sarum, and two novels which cover the story of Ireland from the time just before Saint Patrick to the twentieth century. His books have been translated into twenty languages.
Edward has lived in London, New York, New Hampshire and Ireland. He currently divides his time between New England and Europe. He has two children.
Edward Rutherfurd is a Life Member of the Friends of Salisbury Cathedral, the Salisbury Civic Society, and the Friends of Chawton House, which is located in Jane Austen's village and dedicated to the study of women writers. He is also a Patron of the National Theatre of Ireland (the Abbey Theatre) in Dublin.
In 2005, the City of Salisbury commemorated his services to the city by naming one of the streets leading off its medieval market place 'Rutherfurd Walk'.
Edward has lived in London, New York, New Hampshire and Ireland. He currently divides his time between New England and Europe. He has two children.
Edward Rutherfurd is a Life Member of the Friends of Salisbury Cathedral, the Salisbury Civic Society, and the Friends of Chawton House, which is located in Jane Austen's village and dedicated to the study of women writers. He is also a Patron of the National Theatre of Ireland (the Abbey Theatre) in Dublin.
In 2005, the City of Salisbury commemorated his services to the city by naming one of the streets leading off its medieval market place 'Rutherfurd Walk'.
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June 20, 2018
Religious wars are rampant throughout history. They are still happening today, even though they are subtler in some ways. None of our countries in the world will experience real peace until people and governments can agree to live and let live.
In this second of the two books Edward Rutherfurd wrote about Dublin, we are invited to visit many other areas of Ireland as well. Some of these were touched on in the previous book, and this is expanded into a bigger picture point of view that takes in more of the country in The Rebels of Ireland. The book picks up roughly where the first left off; it is 1597 and the time of “Plantation”. The idea being, if enough Protestants from England and Scotland were to transplant themselves in Ireland, eventually the country would be taken over and peace would reign.
As history has taught us, that is not a viable nor a desirable solution. During the 1640’s when Cromwell’s armies were called upon to settle the situation using force if necessary, many of his soldiers refused to go to Ireland. ”A man’s religion is a matter of personal conscience. Why should we force the Irish to be Protestants?” Interestingly, while the Catholic population of Ireland were dismissed as ignorant, lazy, and adversarial in all things, they were far better educated than their Protestant “overseers”. Education was considered a birthright by Catholics – for both boys and girls.
All the highlights of the decades and centuries are covered in this novel, and the impact of the times upon the people of Ireland is brought into our hearts through the families we meet along the way. The traces of many of these families – both Catholic and Protestant, both English and Irish, and every combination of these imaginable – are tied back to the very beginnings of recorded history, which was so well done in the first book. Some of these families were descended from the Vikings (Scandinavia in general), some from the Welsh, some from the Mediterraneans, some from the Scottish and of course, the English.
As more time passes the complexities grow. There is even a time when families would have some sons raised Protestant and others raised Catholic in an attempt to ensure that the family would survive no matter who was in power. We travel through the time of King James, William of Orange, Queen Ann, and King George, noticing as we go the loss of power for the Kings and Queens to change anything as power becomes transferred to Parliament.
We meet Doctor Thomas Sheridan and the Dean of Saint Patrick’s, Jonathan Swift, along with many other fascinating historical figures. We witness how the American War of Independence and the French Revolution splintered Irish politics yet again. During these times, roughly four-fifths of the Irish population were Catholic, yet they had no part in politics except experiencing the wrong side of crippling penal laws.
Over time various Acts of Parliament were passed to mitigate the problem as Ireland kept up the pressure. At times, it seemed as though the English Parliament just wanted them to go away. The Irish Ascendancy was yet another blow where self-appointed aristocrats and the Troika took over to run the country. Two steps forward and one and three-quarters back; reversal after reversal continued to plague the small island.
The early 1800’s brought a devastating famine where easily a million souls died. The ones who survived were so weakened that many of them didn’t make it either. Mass migrations, especially to America, began at this time. Evictions from property ran rampant and the homeless were a multitude. Workhouses and soup kitchens couldn’t keep up to the need, and even the Quakers had to give up.
This book and the people’s stories within it continues through to the 1920’s, and although tragedy marks so many of the decades in one way or another, the author always writes from a position of hope. Ireland is not a country that gives up easily, and as each generation makes heroic attempts to leave it a better place for their children we can’t help but cheer them on and hope that sooner or later peace will reign in this ancient and beautiful land.
In my review of the first book, The Princes of Ireland, I posted an excerpt from Mr. Rutherfurd’s website regarding his views of the responsibility of historical authors to be as accurate as they can be via research from as many sources as possible. In this second book, his integrity continues to shine brightly and I recommend these two books to anyone who is interested in learning more of Ireland’s history and its path of evolution throughout centuries of time.
In this second of the two books Edward Rutherfurd wrote about Dublin, we are invited to visit many other areas of Ireland as well. Some of these were touched on in the previous book, and this is expanded into a bigger picture point of view that takes in more of the country in The Rebels of Ireland. The book picks up roughly where the first left off; it is 1597 and the time of “Plantation”. The idea being, if enough Protestants from England and Scotland were to transplant themselves in Ireland, eventually the country would be taken over and peace would reign.
As history has taught us, that is not a viable nor a desirable solution. During the 1640’s when Cromwell’s armies were called upon to settle the situation using force if necessary, many of his soldiers refused to go to Ireland. ”A man’s religion is a matter of personal conscience. Why should we force the Irish to be Protestants?” Interestingly, while the Catholic population of Ireland were dismissed as ignorant, lazy, and adversarial in all things, they were far better educated than their Protestant “overseers”. Education was considered a birthright by Catholics – for both boys and girls.
All the highlights of the decades and centuries are covered in this novel, and the impact of the times upon the people of Ireland is brought into our hearts through the families we meet along the way. The traces of many of these families – both Catholic and Protestant, both English and Irish, and every combination of these imaginable – are tied back to the very beginnings of recorded history, which was so well done in the first book. Some of these families were descended from the Vikings (Scandinavia in general), some from the Welsh, some from the Mediterraneans, some from the Scottish and of course, the English.
As more time passes the complexities grow. There is even a time when families would have some sons raised Protestant and others raised Catholic in an attempt to ensure that the family would survive no matter who was in power. We travel through the time of King James, William of Orange, Queen Ann, and King George, noticing as we go the loss of power for the Kings and Queens to change anything as power becomes transferred to Parliament.
We meet Doctor Thomas Sheridan and the Dean of Saint Patrick’s, Jonathan Swift, along with many other fascinating historical figures. We witness how the American War of Independence and the French Revolution splintered Irish politics yet again. During these times, roughly four-fifths of the Irish population were Catholic, yet they had no part in politics except experiencing the wrong side of crippling penal laws.
Over time various Acts of Parliament were passed to mitigate the problem as Ireland kept up the pressure. At times, it seemed as though the English Parliament just wanted them to go away. The Irish Ascendancy was yet another blow where self-appointed aristocrats and the Troika took over to run the country. Two steps forward and one and three-quarters back; reversal after reversal continued to plague the small island.
The early 1800’s brought a devastating famine where easily a million souls died. The ones who survived were so weakened that many of them didn’t make it either. Mass migrations, especially to America, began at this time. Evictions from property ran rampant and the homeless were a multitude. Workhouses and soup kitchens couldn’t keep up to the need, and even the Quakers had to give up.
This book and the people’s stories within it continues through to the 1920’s, and although tragedy marks so many of the decades in one way or another, the author always writes from a position of hope. Ireland is not a country that gives up easily, and as each generation makes heroic attempts to leave it a better place for their children we can’t help but cheer them on and hope that sooner or later peace will reign in this ancient and beautiful land.
In my review of the first book, The Princes of Ireland, I posted an excerpt from Mr. Rutherfurd’s website regarding his views of the responsibility of historical authors to be as accurate as they can be via research from as many sources as possible. In this second book, his integrity continues to shine brightly and I recommend these two books to anyone who is interested in learning more of Ireland’s history and its path of evolution throughout centuries of time.
June 8, 2022
This was the sequel to the powerful book The Princes of Ireland and what a sweeping and epic tale it was by Edward Rutherfurd bringing The Dublin Saga to a stunning and fitting conclusion. I loved the book. Following the conclusion of the disastrous Irish Revolt of 1534 resulting in the loss of life and the disappearance of the sacred Staff of St. Patrick, this picks up in a transformed Ireland, basically the last step in the long conquest of the English for Ireland with the suppression of their Irish history, their Catholic religion and their Gaelic language.
With a book just shy of 1000 pages, it was very helpful to refer to Rutherfurd's maps of Ireland and of Dublin, but my main reference and lifesaver was the outstanding Family Tree outlining all of the key families over those generations corresponding to the various sections of the book. One of the delights of the book was following the families of O'Byrne, Fitzgerald Smith, MacGowan, Doyle, Walsh, Tidy, Law, and Budge over the centuries. Beginning in 1597 and concluding in 1916, it was a page-turner as we are witness to history as Ireland attempts to regain its independence and come to terms with the different factions throughout the country. The people who waged these wars in so many different ways as the faced their circumstances and tried to prevail, not only for their families but for their country.
With a book just shy of 1000 pages, it was very helpful to refer to Rutherfurd's maps of Ireland and of Dublin, but my main reference and lifesaver was the outstanding Family Tree outlining all of the key families over those generations corresponding to the various sections of the book. One of the delights of the book was following the families of O'Byrne, Fitzgerald Smith, MacGowan, Doyle, Walsh, Tidy, Law, and Budge over the centuries. Beginning in 1597 and concluding in 1916, it was a page-turner as we are witness to history as Ireland attempts to regain its independence and come to terms with the different factions throughout the country. The people who waged these wars in so many different ways as the faced their circumstances and tried to prevail, not only for their families but for their country.
"The fate of Ireland will be decided by men not a single one of whom gives a damn about her. That is her tragedy."
"Dublin after London, would soon be the most glorious European capital in the north."
"And yet, in that colder season, even the gentle Wexford countryside seemed to have changed, as though the troubles of Ireland, like chill winds, were exposing under the green fields and groves another landscape that was bleak and harsh."
December 18, 2017
Book II of The Dublin Saga begins in 1597 with introduction of plantation by English. “Colonies of English settlers were established to act as a sort of military garrison for the area. The process was known as plantation (…) in the hope that the settlers might teach the Irish how to live as sturdy English yeomen.” This book brings the turbulent time of Irish Catholics fighting for their religious and political independence.
The saga starts with two families of Walsh and Smith, which are intertwined by love of the daughter of Walsh and younger son of Smith; and Dr. Simeon Pincher, who arrives in Ireland “to do God’s work” as he is a follower of Calvin. “But the special gift that Dr. Pincher brought to Ireland was his belief that the mere Irish were not only an inferior people, but that God had deliberately marked them out (…) to be cast into eternal hellfire.”
“Over in England the situation was different but even more tense. There, the Puritans were so disgusted with Charles’s Church that they were starting to leave for the new American colonies…”
At the islands, the division forms among King Charles, Protestant Parliament, Covenanters in Scotland, and the Catholic Confederation in Ireland.
In 1647 Dublin is handed over to the English Parliament.
In 1649 King Charles is executed and England is declared a Commonwealth.
Cromwell, a Member of Parliament who turns soldier, invades Ireland. Soldiers in all ranks under
Cromwell’s command argued, “A man’s religion is a matter of personal conscience (…) Why should we force the Irish to be Protestants? (…) The idea was shocking both in its novelty and its blinding simplicity.”
Further devastation for Irish Catholics continues with transplantation – relocation of resources – a process full of corruption and bribery. Irish families under English rule are to relocate from their estates to reduced poverty. Catholics are denied education, membership of a city guild, ownership of land. It is to destroy Catholicism in Ireland.
The word of rebellious colonies of America wanting to break away from England gives power to Irish Patriots who are advocating for Ireland to fight for its independence.
Even though, the Irish Rebellion of 1803 lead by Robert Emmet turns out disastrous, the history remembers him as a hero.
In 1843 fungal infestation of potato crop plaques NE coast of US. In 1845 potato blight strikes Ireland, followed by major starvation. In June 1847 Irish Famine ends.
The end of the 19th century brings some changes and gives hope to the Irish people. In 1891 with government encouragement of tenants buying their own land, there is a shift of land ownership, “changing hands from Protestant landlord to Catholic tenant at a remarkable rate.”
From the beginning of the 20th century London Parliament pushes toward the Home Rule to give Ireland its freedom to be rejected by the House of Lords three times. Finally the Bill is passed in May 1914 at the brink of WWI. This however doesn’t end the turbulent history of Ireland.
The well-written book full of history is filled with interesting and quite memorable characters. Loved the character of Faithful Tidy, a smart young man, well directed by his father to attend Trinity College (first in the family to attend college) and to not be afraid to think freely despite religious turmoil. His opinion of Dr. Simeon Pincher is quite humorous. Another great young character, William Walsh, from privileged family, who is asked by his Protestant father to spy on his friends at Trinity College, where some students are part of the United Irishmen fighting for Independent Ireland. Despite his early political confusion, he forms his own conclusion which party to follow.
@FB: Best Historical Fiction
The saga starts with two families of Walsh and Smith, which are intertwined by love of the daughter of Walsh and younger son of Smith; and Dr. Simeon Pincher, who arrives in Ireland “to do God’s work” as he is a follower of Calvin. “But the special gift that Dr. Pincher brought to Ireland was his belief that the mere Irish were not only an inferior people, but that God had deliberately marked them out (…) to be cast into eternal hellfire.”
“Over in England the situation was different but even more tense. There, the Puritans were so disgusted with Charles’s Church that they were starting to leave for the new American colonies…”
At the islands, the division forms among King Charles, Protestant Parliament, Covenanters in Scotland, and the Catholic Confederation in Ireland.
In 1647 Dublin is handed over to the English Parliament.
In 1649 King Charles is executed and England is declared a Commonwealth.
Cromwell, a Member of Parliament who turns soldier, invades Ireland. Soldiers in all ranks under
Cromwell’s command argued, “A man’s religion is a matter of personal conscience (…) Why should we force the Irish to be Protestants? (…) The idea was shocking both in its novelty and its blinding simplicity.”
Further devastation for Irish Catholics continues with transplantation – relocation of resources – a process full of corruption and bribery. Irish families under English rule are to relocate from their estates to reduced poverty. Catholics are denied education, membership of a city guild, ownership of land. It is to destroy Catholicism in Ireland.
The word of rebellious colonies of America wanting to break away from England gives power to Irish Patriots who are advocating for Ireland to fight for its independence.
Even though, the Irish Rebellion of 1803 lead by Robert Emmet turns out disastrous, the history remembers him as a hero.
In 1843 fungal infestation of potato crop plaques NE coast of US. In 1845 potato blight strikes Ireland, followed by major starvation. In June 1847 Irish Famine ends.
The end of the 19th century brings some changes and gives hope to the Irish people. In 1891 with government encouragement of tenants buying their own land, there is a shift of land ownership, “changing hands from Protestant landlord to Catholic tenant at a remarkable rate.”
From the beginning of the 20th century London Parliament pushes toward the Home Rule to give Ireland its freedom to be rejected by the House of Lords three times. Finally the Bill is passed in May 1914 at the brink of WWI. This however doesn’t end the turbulent history of Ireland.
The well-written book full of history is filled with interesting and quite memorable characters. Loved the character of Faithful Tidy, a smart young man, well directed by his father to attend Trinity College (first in the family to attend college) and to not be afraid to think freely despite religious turmoil. His opinion of Dr. Simeon Pincher is quite humorous. Another great young character, William Walsh, from privileged family, who is asked by his Protestant father to spy on his friends at Trinity College, where some students are part of the United Irishmen fighting for Independent Ireland. Despite his early political confusion, he forms his own conclusion which party to follow.
@FB: Best Historical Fiction
January 7, 2016
I loved this book! In fact, I loved the two book series. As one who studies Irish culture and history, I found this series of books to be not only entertaining, but educational, as well. Though not as dearly loved as Trinity by Leon Uris (lets face it, no one can beat Conor Larkin as an Irish hero,)this book covers that same period of time with a few additional centuries thrown in. I did find that I had to review the family tree on several occasions, as the multiple family connections became complicated, but not untenable. It is this intermingling of families that makes the history of the Irish people come alive.
December 4, 2015
This was a terribly sad but fascinating novel regarding a number of families, Protestant, Catholic, and Quaker on the Emerald Island. It covers nearly five centuries of tumultuous history from the Age of Elizabeth until the Irish Civil War. This is the first Edward Rutherford book I have read and because of its epic nature and focus on specific times and places, I can only compare him to James Michenar. That is high praise. I do wish that Rutherford would have included some of the main historical personalities in the story line. For example, Oliver Cromwell, Roger Emmet and Eamon DeValera are only sketched out as part of the background. Even Ben Franklin as a character is more developed in this novel! Still, it is a worthy read and truly heartbreaking in parts. It is hard to watch the seemingly endless succession of Irish Rebels and Patriots, both Catholic and Protestant, fail so miserably and create such confusion and hardship. The chapters on the Potato Famine was particularly difficult to read. It was also interesting to read about how all the rebels, Catholic, Socialist, Protestant, were devoted idealists, only differing in their causes and the degrees of ruthlessness in achieving their ends. The British are not demonized in this book and, more often than not, they appear as a moderating power as Ireland descended into the sectarian violence of The Troubles. This is an amazing and complicated story and it is an excellent book.
December 28, 2021
Read this book in 2007, and its the 2nd volume of the wonderful two-part series about Dublin and Ireland.
This book is set from the 16th Century colonization of Ireland by the English under Queen Elizabeth I.
We follow the lives and destinies from several families of Ireland, whether they are Catholic or Protestant, from all kinds of society, and we will relive their happiness and hardship during these times of Irish history.
From the time of Queen Elizabeth I of England towards the failed Rebellion of AD 1798, to the Great Famine, until finally to the founding of the Irish Free State of 1922.
What is to follow is a remarkable retelling of the Irish history by this author, and one that will keep you gripped from start to finish about the hard struggle to a hopefully completely Free Ireland.
Highly recommended, for this is a magnificent sequel to the Princes, and that's why I like to call this amazing second episode: "A Marvellous Rebels Of Ireland"!
This book is set from the 16th Century colonization of Ireland by the English under Queen Elizabeth I.
We follow the lives and destinies from several families of Ireland, whether they are Catholic or Protestant, from all kinds of society, and we will relive their happiness and hardship during these times of Irish history.
From the time of Queen Elizabeth I of England towards the failed Rebellion of AD 1798, to the Great Famine, until finally to the founding of the Irish Free State of 1922.
What is to follow is a remarkable retelling of the Irish history by this author, and one that will keep you gripped from start to finish about the hard struggle to a hopefully completely Free Ireland.
Highly recommended, for this is a magnificent sequel to the Princes, and that's why I like to call this amazing second episode: "A Marvellous Rebels Of Ireland"!
August 5, 2016
On one hand, I really like Rutherfurd's style of telling history. By following the same families through hundreds of years, it's possible to see how the country changed over time and how those changes affected generations of real people from different backgrounds. On the other hand, it is so frustrating to start feeling close to a character only to suddenly shift 40 years in the future, where that character is dead and his children are middle-aged. There were also many characters I wanted to know so much more about, particularly Garret, Conall, Deirdre, Brigid, Patrick... okay, just about everyone, really. I grew fond of the Smiths and Walshes especially. I also wanted more about many events, such as the Famine (though that part was really well written and depressing) and the Easter Rebellion. Strange to want more from such a huge book, but there you go.
I do have to also say that I didn't like this one as much as I liked The Princes of Ireland, and I think there's an easy explanation for that. There is something magical and fascinating about the Druids, Celts, Vikings, Welshmen, and others of 430-1533 who populate the first book. Compared to 1000 years of such diversity, I guess 325 years of Catholics and Protestants, Irish and English bickering with each other is just not quite the same. (It's not that the book isn't good, because it certainly is. My personal preference just leans toward the earlier history; religious bickering has always irritated me, I suppose. So I could see myself rereading Princes but probably not Rebels.)
Thank goodness for the detailed family tree at the front of the book. I probably flipped to it every 20 pages or so, at least! It really helps keep things straight. I also loved how often characters stopped at Glendalough on their way between Dublin and Rathconan because of the meditative peace of the place. Besides Dublin, that is the only place in Ireland that I've visited, and it was one of the most, if not the most, special days in my life. It is an incredible place, and it really got me that others felt the same connection to it 400 and more years ago, and it was already ancient then. Just wow.
So good book. I came to love and hate many of the characters, and I felt bereft when many of them passed on, until I came to know their descendants and the cycle started again. :)
I do have to also say that I didn't like this one as much as I liked The Princes of Ireland, and I think there's an easy explanation for that. There is something magical and fascinating about the Druids, Celts, Vikings, Welshmen, and others of 430-1533 who populate the first book. Compared to 1000 years of such diversity, I guess 325 years of Catholics and Protestants, Irish and English bickering with each other is just not quite the same. (It's not that the book isn't good, because it certainly is. My personal preference just leans toward the earlier history; religious bickering has always irritated me, I suppose. So I could see myself rereading Princes but probably not Rebels.)
Thank goodness for the detailed family tree at the front of the book. I probably flipped to it every 20 pages or so, at least! It really helps keep things straight. I also loved how often characters stopped at Glendalough on their way between Dublin and Rathconan because of the meditative peace of the place. Besides Dublin, that is the only place in Ireland that I've visited, and it was one of the most, if not the most, special days in my life. It is an incredible place, and it really got me that others felt the same connection to it 400 and more years ago, and it was already ancient then. Just wow.
So good book. I came to love and hate many of the characters, and I felt bereft when many of them passed on, until I came to know their descendants and the cycle started again. :)
March 1, 2021
"The Rebels of Ireland" is the sequel to the excellent "Princes of Ireland". Covering the periods 1597 to 1919, the style is the same as the previous novel. It is the descendants of that original brood that are carrying on in this volume- from Obyrne to MacGowan, those original families are still here in Ireland.
The times have changed though. Ireland, in this book, goes through several "rebellions" against the ruling British. Ireland has become a Protestant plantation, this causes severe local problems and has the Irish looking overseas for succor- from the French, usually. Other "big" events range from the American Revolution and the French Revolution to the devastating Potato Famine and ends with the Post Office Siege in Dublin.
The vehicle for these historical events is the various families and their offspring, through their eyes we see the story of Ireland play out. We have heroes and villains. Rutherford tells a fine tale, backed up with interesting parts of history to give us a history of Ireland.
A very entertaining read. It is very similar to "Pillars of the Earth" by Ken Follett.
The times have changed though. Ireland, in this book, goes through several "rebellions" against the ruling British. Ireland has become a Protestant plantation, this causes severe local problems and has the Irish looking overseas for succor- from the French, usually. Other "big" events range from the American Revolution and the French Revolution to the devastating Potato Famine and ends with the Post Office Siege in Dublin.
The vehicle for these historical events is the various families and their offspring, through their eyes we see the story of Ireland play out. We have heroes and villains. Rutherford tells a fine tale, backed up with interesting parts of history to give us a history of Ireland.
A very entertaining read. It is very similar to "Pillars of the Earth" by Ken Follett.
August 2, 2018
Nice chronicle covering three centuries of Ireland's past right up to the Easter uprising in 1916 and the island's independence in 1921.
Rutherfurd's history sweepers are engrossing and challenging (Sarum, Russka). This one is no exception. I knew about the Catholic and Protestant divide over the centuries, but had no idea just how convoluted, murky, and ultimately intertwined it was. Family landlords, Old English Gentry, the Ascendancy, name changes, families deliberately deciding to make some children catholic and others protestant so they will have one member at least in the "good" whatever the future holds - all playing out in Ireland as secondary effects from the same ebbs and flows on center stage in England itself.
Rutherfurd also provides some geographic context of the island itself, and adds the international impact of Ireland's "wild geese" (Irish who have fled or deported to other countries where a brighter future is possible - America, France, Australia.)
The most disconcerting aspect of his narratives when sweeping through 3-4 centuries, is this reader's comfort level settling in with a set of characters only to see them move quickly from young adults to grandparents, then on only in memories soon forgotten. Rutherfurd can develop characters but one must enjoy them for the fleeting time one has with them, as the lineages move on. Rather unsettling to see oneself in that process ...
Rutherfurd's history sweepers are engrossing and challenging (Sarum, Russka). This one is no exception. I knew about the Catholic and Protestant divide over the centuries, but had no idea just how convoluted, murky, and ultimately intertwined it was. Family landlords, Old English Gentry, the Ascendancy, name changes, families deliberately deciding to make some children catholic and others protestant so they will have one member at least in the "good" whatever the future holds - all playing out in Ireland as secondary effects from the same ebbs and flows on center stage in England itself.
Rutherfurd also provides some geographic context of the island itself, and adds the international impact of Ireland's "wild geese" (Irish who have fled or deported to other countries where a brighter future is possible - America, France, Australia.)
The most disconcerting aspect of his narratives when sweeping through 3-4 centuries, is this reader's comfort level settling in with a set of characters only to see them move quickly from young adults to grandparents, then on only in memories soon forgotten. Rutherfurd can develop characters but one must enjoy them for the fleeting time one has with them, as the lineages move on. Rather unsettling to see oneself in that process ...
May 25, 2017
Much more gripping than the first book in the series. I appreciated getting a solid view of Ireland’s history and the causes behind much of their strife.
February 1, 2026
4th book read in 2026
Some years ago, 2018 to be exact, I read a Penguin Classics edition of the selected poems of W B Yeats. I had purchased the book while on a trip to Ireland in 2005 after visiting Ben Bulben in County Sligo. I had also visited a reconstruction of W B Yeats’s office. You will notice that it took me 13 years to get around to reading the poems.
Still, I was quite blown away by his poetry. I bought a biography of the poet but was immediately lost in my ignorance of Irish history when I started to read it. All readers know that when we need a good long overview of a country’s history we should reach for either James Michener or Edward Rutherfurd. Thus, I purchased Rutherfurd’s two volume Dublin Saga. I finished the first volume, The Princes of Ireland in 2020. Then I wandered off again.
In January our internet went down and stayed down for an unbelievable seven days! My revenge was to pick the biggest book on my TBR shelves: The Rebels of Ireland. I read it every day for that strange week and finally felt I had at least begun to gain an understanding of the era during which Yeats wrote.
One of these days I will give the Yeats biography another go.
Some years ago, 2018 to be exact, I read a Penguin Classics edition of the selected poems of W B Yeats. I had purchased the book while on a trip to Ireland in 2005 after visiting Ben Bulben in County Sligo. I had also visited a reconstruction of W B Yeats’s office. You will notice that it took me 13 years to get around to reading the poems.
Still, I was quite blown away by his poetry. I bought a biography of the poet but was immediately lost in my ignorance of Irish history when I started to read it. All readers know that when we need a good long overview of a country’s history we should reach for either James Michener or Edward Rutherfurd. Thus, I purchased Rutherfurd’s two volume Dublin Saga. I finished the first volume, The Princes of Ireland in 2020. Then I wandered off again.
In January our internet went down and stayed down for an unbelievable seven days! My revenge was to pick the biggest book on my TBR shelves: The Rebels of Ireland. I read it every day for that strange week and finally felt I had at least begun to gain an understanding of the era during which Yeats wrote.
One of these days I will give the Yeats biography another go.
March 18, 2023
This book was 863 pages, spanned 319 years of history, covered the political intricacies of nine Irish risings, and had absolutely zero female characters who weren’t defined by either their looks or their relationships with men.
I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to understand the brutal impact of English occupation in Ireland, with the caveat that Edward Rutherfurd is a painfully limited writer. While he did succeed in bringing to life the suffering endured during the famine and the repeated heartbreak of so many failed rebellions, this book was riddled with subtle sexism that couldn’t be overlooked.
The worst part is — I’m sure he *thought* he was centering women in his storylines when he wrote Caitlin, Georgiana, and Maureen. But both Caitlin and Georgiana are defined by their looks first (why is Caitlin referred to as “strikingly beautiful” by her future love interest when she’s literally 6 and he’s 14?) and then by the dealings of their husbands/sons/uncles/lovers/grandsons second. Any independent agency they have is tertiary. Maureen, as well, is defined by her looks. Her future husband notes that she is “unfortunately plain” during their first meeting, which takes place when she’s just a child and he’s in his 20s. He then continues to reference how plain she is every time he interacts with her. All of her noble resilience, goodness, and stability is very nearly disregarded because Maureen is, before anything else, ugly.
Rutherfurd wants to be James Michener so bad and it’s embarrassing. Apparently he lives part-time in Dublin and if I ever catch him in the streets it’ll be on sight ❤️
I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to understand the brutal impact of English occupation in Ireland, with the caveat that Edward Rutherfurd is a painfully limited writer. While he did succeed in bringing to life the suffering endured during the famine and the repeated heartbreak of so many failed rebellions, this book was riddled with subtle sexism that couldn’t be overlooked.
The worst part is — I’m sure he *thought* he was centering women in his storylines when he wrote Caitlin, Georgiana, and Maureen. But both Caitlin and Georgiana are defined by their looks first (why is Caitlin referred to as “strikingly beautiful” by her future love interest when she’s literally 6 and he’s 14?) and then by the dealings of their husbands/sons/uncles/lovers/grandsons second. Any independent agency they have is tertiary. Maureen, as well, is defined by her looks. Her future husband notes that she is “unfortunately plain” during their first meeting, which takes place when she’s just a child and he’s in his 20s. He then continues to reference how plain she is every time he interacts with her. All of her noble resilience, goodness, and stability is very nearly disregarded because Maureen is, before anything else, ugly.
Rutherfurd wants to be James Michener so bad and it’s embarrassing. Apparently he lives part-time in Dublin and if I ever catch him in the streets it’ll be on sight ❤️
May 5, 2023
Excellent
Excellent but harrowing history of Ireland and Dublin through the last five centuries. Great detail and research probably went into this considering it's fiction
Excellent but harrowing history of Ireland and Dublin through the last five centuries. Great detail and research probably went into this considering it's fiction
July 9, 2014
Simply magnificent. The convoluted, tragic history of Ireland is done justice in this epic book. Impossible to summarize so just read it.
March 20, 2014
I'd set this aside several times, and was determined that I'd read it this year for St. Patrick's Day. I think it's safe to say that this is my second-favourite Rutherfurd, after Sarum. The characters' stories that we follow through the river of Ireland's history are good ones; they are compelling enough to keep you coming back even through the darker historic times.
Still, this is an intense book. I recommend it for anyone interested in brushing up on Ireland's history from 1500-1900, yet I caution you these are not the best and brightest years for Ireland. Turbulent wars and famine and ever-present politics take center stage, while the romances and life dramas of fictional bloodlines serve as the sugar that makes the bitter history easier to swallow.
The book is better in the first two-thirds; by the time we get to the Irish Potato Famine much of the narrative consists of political lectures and diatribes against the British. Which, don't get me wrong, the racism toward the Irish led the British government to make some AWFUL decisions regarding food and aid. Still, the book dwells on them to a depressing degree.
Still, this is an intense book. I recommend it for anyone interested in brushing up on Ireland's history from 1500-1900, yet I caution you these are not the best and brightest years for Ireland. Turbulent wars and famine and ever-present politics take center stage, while the romances and life dramas of fictional bloodlines serve as the sugar that makes the bitter history easier to swallow.
The book is better in the first two-thirds; by the time we get to the Irish Potato Famine much of the narrative consists of political lectures and diatribes against the British. Which, don't get me wrong, the racism toward the Irish led the British government to make some AWFUL decisions regarding food and aid. Still, the book dwells on them to a depressing degree.
July 25, 2011
Rating: 7/10. The second book of 'The Dublin Saga; the first was 'The Princes of Ireland' which I read in Feb./06. I also read Rutherfurd's 'London' which was excellent. In this fictional account the English take over Ireland lock, stock, and barrel. After reading the accounts of British oppression you can understand completely why the Irish hate the English so much. Rutherfurd's style is like Micheners...a story at each level or time period. Very effective. I enjoyed both books in this series although I rated the first one higher.
September 4, 2017
After reading hundreds of pages in a sprawling, unhurried hand, the ending seemed rushed and jerky. It almost seemed that the book could have been longer (Did I really just say that about an eight hundred page book?). I've thoroughly enjoyed my time wandering through Rutherfurd's Dublin. I learned so much about Irish history and mindset. They are to be greatly admired, and I count myself lucky that I am of Irish descent.
November 4, 2015
Finally finished! This was another fantastic look at over 500 years of history. The first book, The Princes of Ireland, starts in 430AD, and follows six Irish families through the reign of King Henry VIII. This was the second book in the series, following the same six families from the the 1500s through the Easter Rising of 1916. Highly recommended!
January 14, 2022
Yay! I finished!!! This was the last remaining unread book on my shelves from 2012. It was also excellent and much easier to read than I anticipated. Glad to start 2022 with a bang.
May 29, 2024
The breadth of this book is staggering. A story of Irelands history told through the lives of a handful of families. Spanning the period from the reign of James 1st and the plantations to the early 20th century and the civil war following the split from the UK and the partitioning of Ireland.
It is a historical novel that succeeds on both counts, it is full of historical detail and brilliantly researched, while also spinning the stories of characters whose lives and fortunes are moulded by the tumultuous events that unfold.
This is the first book I have read by Edward Rutherford, but I look forward to the next.
It is a historical novel that succeeds on both counts, it is full of historical detail and brilliantly researched, while also spinning the stories of characters whose lives and fortunes are moulded by the tumultuous events that unfold.
This is the first book I have read by Edward Rutherford, but I look forward to the next.
May 31, 2021
This is my second Rutherfurd book, the first was the companion to this one The Princes of Ireland. Book 1 ended in 1534 and book 2 picks up in 1597 and takes the reader through the Easter rising in 1916 and into the 1920's. I enjoyed both. Rutherfurd is a true historian and I love this type of saga. The lives, generation after generation of eight families and their fight for religious and governmental power.
Rutherford's book are tombs and they are not for everyone, but I am looking forward to reading more by this author.
Rutherford's book are tombs and they are not for everyone, but I am looking forward to reading more by this author.
December 7, 2025
Reads like a miniseries from the 80s - i can even guess what role Richard Chamberlain would have (Patrick Walsh).
April 29, 2009
This sweeping (and I mean sweeping) epic of Irish history is the 2nd in a series. It's very ambitious covering a period from the late 16th century to the early 20th century. Great writing and interesting history make it an enjoyable read but it's almost too ambitious! I'm in the last 50 pages and am looking forward to being done! The most interesting angle of this history - one which I never fully understood -is how and why the religious rifts occurred in Ireland. I also learned the "old English" families or those that settled in Ireland in the 1600's really considered themselves Irish and were champions for the Irish Catholics through the years of Cromwell, William or Orange, King George, etc. A great historical romp that gets a bit dry at times.
April 18, 2015
Rutherfurd is fair and historically accurate -- even sensitive, I would say -- but the centuries-long scope of the book is too broad to support anything terribly profound. Generations come and go, and characters who are developing nicely are quickly snuffed out by time. I suppose this is simply the nature of a history-based novel that takes place over a long span of time, and I suppose I was unreasonably hoping for something with a little more depth. It's not a bad read, given the parameters Rutherford is working with, but the result is watered-down and a tad bland.
May 11, 2018
Důstojné pokračování Dublinu, tentokrát s přesahem do celého Irska, byť Ulsteru se dotkneme jen okrajově. Psáno v Ruthefordově klasickém stylu, zábavně a čtivě. Je to opravdu román, ne učebnice irské historie a tak je potřeba to brát. Historické události vidíte z pohledu lidí, kteří se jich účastní, ne jako historik, který zná celé pozadí a souvislosti. O nic důležitého ale přesto nepřijdete.
Jediná věc mě trošku mrzela, a to, že autor nedotáhl děj třeba až do 70. let 20. století, ke Krvavé neděli, IRA, bojům v Severním Irsku atd.
Jediná věc mě trošku mrzela, a to, že autor nedotáhl děj třeba až do 70. let 20. století, ke Krvavé neděli, IRA, bojům v Severním Irsku atd.
March 6, 2009
Tells the peculiar history of Ireland through 2 long books. The first, Princes of Ireland, is fabulous, old tribes, princes feuds and the obligatory pair of flashing green eyes that threads through both books and centuries! I listened to this one, very entertaining and informative. I understand more of the "troubles".
April 15, 2017
At times the characters' stories and interactions seemed a bit forced to be able to fit into the timeline but other than that, great stuff. Also, not as descriptive of settings/characters as I'd like.
July 21, 2017
Fictional account of Irish History
The book leads you through time with stirring events that take place in the lives of several fictional families. The historical content is concise. The elements of relationships make Irish history come to life.
The book leads you through time with stirring events that take place in the lives of several fictional families. The historical content is concise. The elements of relationships make Irish history come to life.
January 15, 2011
It was a very good read indeed. It defines both the chartacter of the Irish and the duplicity of the English with a balanced point of view and a good story sense.
May 28, 2018
These books are long, but so so good.
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