While Rivers Run

by Maurice Walsh

1960. Reprinted. 352 pages. No dust jacket. Red cloth boards with lettering. Clean pages with light tanning and mild foxing throughout. More pronounced to free endpapers and pastedowns. Pencil markings to front free endpaper. Hinges are noticeably cracked with exposed netting. Binding is slightly loose. Boards have mild edge wear with slight rubbing to surfaces and bumping to corners. Minor sunning to spine and edges with crushing to spine ends. Lettering is darkened. Visible wear marks to boards.

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1928

About the author

Maurice Walsh was an Irish novelist best known for the short story The Quiet Man which was later made into an Oscar-winning movie directed by John Ford and starring John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara. Walsh was born in 1879 in Ballydonoghue near Listowel, Co. Kerry, Ireland. He was one of Ireland's best-selling authors in the 1930s.

Reviews

[Tweety · Rating 4 out of 5]

3 1/2

Before I start, I've got to mention I love these old covers!

Maurice Walsh is as good at his characterization as he is with painting a scene. In this cozy highland tale of fishing and romance we have the occasional poacher Aleac, his fiery redhead niece Margaret, Norray, the actress who has bewitched all the young gentlemen, but hasn't been captured herself, Paddy Joe Long, and Irishman whose lively personality brightens the book up and who knows Norray to her core. Then there's Alistair, the American young laird and his jealous cousin Don.

The story starts with the two cousins having a petty fight over Norray, the loser is left on the rocks and Aleac who has been poaching, brings him home to be nursed by Margaret. The unfortunate, Alistair, starts things off on the wrong foot with Margaret when he wakes up, by telling her, "I never did like red hair."

So it all begins. As we get to know them all more, we notice things the characters don't, we even see the insufferable Don acting heroic.

It started off good, slow and steady. It was more focused on the romance than in some of his other books. I liked watching things play out, but halfway the romance hits us, and it stays right there till the last chapter. It doesn't DO anything.

This is a case of terrible time management. Walsh has done better, (The Dark Rose, for example which also had two romances going, but it was a quicker pace and had a plot other than the couples). Why did we waste the second half of the book not going anywhere and adding another suitor for the fun of it?

The end was wonderful, there's a nice twist that I didn't expect, but hoped for. I would still have like to see a bit more of that end, though. Thus the 3 1/2 stars.

PG a few swears, some fighting and that's it.

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not so good as expected...

3* The Spanish Lady
3* Danger under the moon
3* The Hill is Mine
4* The Key above the Door
4* And No Quarter
2* While Rivers Run
TR Green Rushes
TR Nine Strings to Your Bow
TR The Small Dark Man
TR The Road to Nowhere
TR TRouble in the Glen

[Sarah W · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book because my Naana once told me it was her favourite. It was written in 1928 when she was about 20. It’s been 30 years since she died and I was curious to see if reading this book would give me any insights into her. I read it whilst in holiday in the Scottish Highlands, which is where the book is set.

I liked that there was a strong female character with a career and her own opinions - Margaret - although she still wanted the men in her life to be in control. I thought the story of the group of friends was convincing and I’m glad it ended the way I wanted - with both women deciding to marry the men best suited to them. The very end seemed intentionally very abrupt.

However I found the writing very dated (as expected) particularly in the way it depicted what makes a man a man. There weren’t all positive attributes by today’s standards, for example Margaret seemed to like Alistair more when he was frustrated with her and wanted to “give her a shake”.

There was a bit too much description of hunting and fishing for my taste and the dialects were at times difficult to understand every word. But I think my Naana would have enjoyed that.

[Frank Daub · Rating 5 out of 5]

Twisting Classical Romance

Walsh is awfully good at constructing intertwined characters, rich expository settings and deep realism in his novels about Scotland and Ireland from the perspective of the people who bring life to his stories. I am hooked on work.

[Eleanor · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very much of its period (late 1920s) - set mainly in Scotland. Not a lot happens, but the appropriate males finish up with the appropriate females and they presumably all live happily ever after. Enjoyable fluff.

[P.S. Winn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This author knows how to tell a tale of life, that adds in spirited characters and fun adventure. I think if you want a great wholesome tale you have to check out this author.