Durango

by John Brendan Keane

Filled with colorful and unforgettable characters, an adventure novel by the author of The Bodhra+a7n Makers follows an eventful, sometimes hilarious cattle drive across rural Ireland during World War II. Tour. IP.

Genres: Irish Literature, Adventure

300 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1992

Reviews

[aela · Rating 5 out of 5]

a really fun and fast paced at a period in Irish history that is more or less glossed over in irish education. keane manages to paint 1940s kerry as this centre of cutthroat scheming and trading while also preserving the camaraderie and liveliness that never fades away.

[Bill Walsh · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely human story

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

For a 30 year old book it was ok

[Kirsten · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed this Irish classic. Lucky enough to read it while in Ireland, though and able to get some terms, some history, some customs clarified which was helpful.

[Rich · Rating 4 out of 5]

In 1939 and the shadow of Hitler's Germany threatening all of Europe and England, demand for cattle is at an all-time high, and beef prices are are skyrocketing. But the farmers of the Irish villages of Tubberlick and Ballybo aren't seeing any of it. The local cattle fair is controlled by a local businessman who is tight with his money. So local farmer, Mark Doran, gets several of the local farmers to boycott the local cattle fair in favor of the bigger one in the town of Trallock, some 35 miles away.

With that set-up, Irish writer John B. Keane, brings us into the lives of small Irish farmers. All of Keane's writings focus on rural Irish life. The people who populate his writings are fully human, sometime generous, sometimes petty, sometimes brave, sometimes lusty, and sometimes scared to death, but always human. Throughout, Keane shows genuine affection for the people. Here in Durango--the name of the bar they all meet at in Trallock--Keane deftly mixes humor, pathos, villainy, wit, sex and sensuality (but never puriently) beautiful slice of life.

This is not a fast moving book, it's full of detail, but it's full of life.

Keane's writings are a treasure for anyone who wants to view Ireland and Irish life through the eyes of a real Irishman.

[Terry Woods · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite book by John B. Keane. In county Kerry, land of the three-cow farm, gathering a herd and going on a cattle-drive is as heroic and epic as any tale from America's old west. Lonesome Dove in Ireland.