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The House of Gold
The first novel to be banned in Ireland, The House of Gold is a rare perspective on the Irish at a major turning point in their history. The House of Gold in a turbulent post-Civil War town in the West of Ireland where the old ascendancy has been replaced by a corrupt native elite headed by the avaricious Ramon Mor Costello and his clerical accomplices. His exotically beautiful wife is the catalyst for a series of violent events that lead to an unexpected climax. Greed, priestly lusts, sexual frustration, alcoholism, and murder are themes woven together in this compelling tale by Liam O'Flaherty, one of Ireland's most acclaimed writers.
- GenresBanned Books
259 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 13, 2013
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51 people want to read
About the author
Liam O'Flaherty
124 books74 followersPeople know Irish writer Liam O'Flaherty especially for his short stories, collected in
Two Lovely Beasts
(1948) and
The Pedlar's Revenge
(1976).
This significant novelist, a major figure in the literary renaissance, also wrote short stories. Left-wing politics involved him as was his brother Tom Maidhc O'Flaherty (also a writer), and their father, Maidhc Ó Flaithearta, for a time.
This significant novelist, a major figure in the literary renaissance, also wrote short stories. Left-wing politics involved him as was his brother Tom Maidhc O'Flaherty (also a writer), and their father, Maidhc Ó Flaithearta, for a time.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
May 26, 2022
I read this book for the Linen Hall Library Book Club in Belfast, Northern Ireland, which I attend monthly via Zoom. This book is the first book banned by the Irish Censorship of Publications Board in 1929. Liam O'Flaherty was born on the Aran Islands. He left for England and then America, where he joined the Communist Party.
This is the story of Ramon Mor, an avaricious landlord, who rules over Barra (a fictionalized version of Galway City) by terrorizing the residents. He is married to beautiful Nora, who is determined to leave him. The action takes place in a day. Things don't end well.
I will be interested to learn more at our meeting the reasons the book was banned. I have several ideas - infidelity, accusations of rape against a priest, rants against the government, and radical rantings. The prose is often overwrought, but that is likely due to the time period when it was written. It was interesting to read as a banned book, and for insights into Ireland as a new government was formed.
This is the story of Ramon Mor, an avaricious landlord, who rules over Barra (a fictionalized version of Galway City) by terrorizing the residents. He is married to beautiful Nora, who is determined to leave him. The action takes place in a day. Things don't end well.
I will be interested to learn more at our meeting the reasons the book was banned. I have several ideas - infidelity, accusations of rape against a priest, rants against the government, and radical rantings. The prose is often overwrought, but that is likely due to the time period when it was written. It was interesting to read as a banned book, and for insights into Ireland as a new government was formed.
September 14, 2021
As one of the biggest O'Flaherty fans, I can not fantom that this was published, or allowed to be published by him. It does not feel like a 'written' book by O'Flaherty, in story, yes, but wow, this version is full of typos, mistakes, grammar wise all over the shop. Surely, this is the first draft?
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews