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Fingal's Quest
Ages 9-15; a story set in the 6th century concerning some of the great Irish monasteries and the challenges they faced due to barbarian invasions;
190 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1961
5 people are currently reading
88 people want to read
About the author
Madeleine A. Polland
33 books9 followersMadeleine Polland (who also wrote as Frances Adrian) was born in Kinsale, County Cork, Ireland, on May 31, 1918.
Madeleine was educated at Hitchin Girls' Grammar School, Herfordshire, from 1929 to 1937.
After leaving school, she served in the Women's Auxiliary Air Force, and shortly after leaving married Arthur Joseph Polland in 1946.
Madeleine Polland has written several books for children and many novels for adults. Her first book for young readers, CHILDREN OF THE RED KING, was published in the UK by Constable in 1960.
Madeleine was educated at Hitchin Girls' Grammar School, Herfordshire, from 1929 to 1937.
After leaving school, she served in the Women's Auxiliary Air Force, and shortly after leaving married Arthur Joseph Polland in 1946.
Madeleine Polland has written several books for children and many novels for adults. Her first book for young readers, CHILDREN OF THE RED KING, was published in the UK by Constable in 1960.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
April 3, 2025
Read aloud to my boys. This was such a great story on many levels. Before reading this I had never heard of St Columban or of Bangor Abbey in Ireland. The story follows a young boy who secretly leaves Bangor to follow Columban to Gaul (modern day France) where he feels called to convert the people back to Christianity after being taken over by barbarians. The boy was so captured by Columban that he had to follow him and find him. Sure, there were probably a couple of made up story lines, but the over-arching theme is about our hearts, and how sometimes we can follow people instead of God. But also that all is not lost if we go the wrong direction. And that God can bring so much good out of our small attempts to follow Him.
August 12, 2023
I was surprised by the spiritual depth of this book. Based on my limited experience with Polland, I didn't know she had it in her. The story is far ranging and unpredictable, with many things remaining unresolved until the final pages. Just 15 chapters, it could be a quick read but holds great potential for substantial reflection.
More than most of the "boy-in-a-monastery" books out there, this gives a better, fuller picture of the monastic life, with more on the underlying faith and reason behind how things were done and why decisions were made. It was great to have examples that contrast with the outside world (and often our own world) about what really matters. I think this could be of great value for young readers in helping to consider that the message they get all day every day is not the only one out there. It is Fingal's inner conflict that helps to move the story along, though readers might not even realize it at the time.
Names are a little confusing - we have Columcille, Comgall, Columban (the elder, also called Columbanus), Columban the Younger (also called Columbanus), also Charles and Cahal. Were no other initials available?
I really wish there had been a page or three of historical notes and a bibliography of sources consulted wouldn't have hurt.
The chapter head illustrations by W.T. Mars are serviceable, not exceptional by any means.
More than most of the "boy-in-a-monastery" books out there, this gives a better, fuller picture of the monastic life, with more on the underlying faith and reason behind how things were done and why decisions were made. It was great to have examples that contrast with the outside world (and often our own world) about what really matters. I think this could be of great value for young readers in helping to consider that the message they get all day every day is not the only one out there. It is Fingal's inner conflict that helps to move the story along, though readers might not even realize it at the time.
Names are a little confusing - we have Columcille, Comgall, Columban (the elder, also called Columbanus), Columban the Younger (also called Columbanus), also Charles and Cahal. Were no other initials available?
I really wish there had been a page or three of historical notes and a bibliography of sources consulted wouldn't have hurt.
The chapter head illustrations by W.T. Mars are serviceable, not exceptional by any means.
December 23, 2024
My 13-year-old daughter read this for a book club and found it quite dull. The premise interested me so I read it after she was finished. It was very slow in parts but I found it interesting and thought provoking. It centers on a young many living in an Irish monastery that was a follower of (Saint) Columban, and quite literally followed him to Gaul (as a stowaway). I went to a Catholic school named St, Columban and knew nothing of the Saint. I didn’t get a clear picture of him through this book, but I found the connection of interest.
June 27, 2013
Great historical fiction about the spread and demise of Christianity in the Middle Ages in Ireland and Gaul. Gives a great perspective on what Christians (and more directly, Catholics) had to go through in order to learn and love their faith.
January 12, 2024
I appreciate my Goodreads friend, Michael for all the reading of vintage books for youngsters and his great reviews. His reviews have led me to some real gems and this is one of them. He warned me in his review that this one appears to be a slim volume that you can dash through quickly, but it has some meat to it and so one has to slow down and contemplate some of the strong spiritual messages contained in the story. Some of these messages are exactly what I needed to hear right now so the book came into my life in a timely fashion. I learned a great deal about the effect that Attila had on Gaul and the religious repercussions of Attila's conquering of this part of the world. I also gained a lot of knowledge about the early monasteries and their practices. There were two passages in particular that grabbed my interest.
"In Ireland, alone of all the world, Christianity had come without the sword. Patrick had come with no conquering armies, but almost alone; walking in peace, through the green fields and picking the small shamrock to teach his wide-eyed listeners of the Holy Trinity. He had kindled the Pascal (Paschal) fires opposite the pagan hills of Tara, and with them kindled a faith which was the heart and foundation of the Irish way of life. Nor yet, since then, had their religion known destruction or the devastation of the unbeliever, and the faith of Ireland was still whole."
"Beauty is dead in Gaul and the love of it. Not only is religion lost - oh, yes, they are Christians, but they have forgotten what it means - but except among a few, culture is lost also. Art, literature, sculpture, music, the fine art of building - they all mean less than nothing to these children of Attila. There is a dark night over Gaul."
"In Ireland, alone of all the world, Christianity had come without the sword. Patrick had come with no conquering armies, but almost alone; walking in peace, through the green fields and picking the small shamrock to teach his wide-eyed listeners of the Holy Trinity. He had kindled the Pascal (Paschal) fires opposite the pagan hills of Tara, and with them kindled a faith which was the heart and foundation of the Irish way of life. Nor yet, since then, had their religion known destruction or the devastation of the unbeliever, and the faith of Ireland was still whole."
"Beauty is dead in Gaul and the love of it. Not only is religion lost - oh, yes, they are Christians, but they have forgotten what it means - but except among a few, culture is lost also. Art, literature, sculpture, music, the fine art of building - they all mean less than nothing to these children of Attila. There is a dark night over Gaul."
September 15, 2017
This Catholic book is inspirational and I highly recommend it to every Christian (not only Catholic) out there.
It shows a young poor boy named Fingal. He travels to a monastery where he begins free school there, although he works for it. Fingal grows an attachment to a very holy monk there, his master. This monk and another heal people miraculously. When his master is sent away to convert Gaul, Fingal stows away and follows him.
His quest is far more difficult than he could have imagined, and the monk at the end Fingal learns of how he followed a man instead of God. The monk wished him to have stayed in school and learned there, but Fingal followed wordly things.
An easy but delightful read.
It shows a young poor boy named Fingal. He travels to a monastery where he begins free school there, although he works for it. Fingal grows an attachment to a very holy monk there, his master. This monk and another heal people miraculously. When his master is sent away to convert Gaul, Fingal stows away and follows him.
His quest is far more difficult than he could have imagined, and the monk at the end Fingal learns of how he followed a man instead of God. The monk wished him to have stayed in school and learned there, but Fingal followed wordly things.
An easy but delightful read.
December 10, 2018
Great snapshot of Ireland and France during the 6th century. I liked the spiritual dimension to the story as well, but...it just wasn't very engaging. Good history, mediocre fiction.
September 20, 2020
It was good. Found it weird that he was so attached to Brother Columbian.
October 22, 2024
3+3/4⭐️
It is mid-500 AD; after a series of barbarian invasions facilitated by the withdrawal of Roman forces, Christianity has died in Gaul. Irish monks, knowing they have little chance of success or protection, endeavor to bring Christianity back to Gaul.
Fingal's Quest focuses on young Fingal, an orphan who enters the abbey in Ireland as a poor scholar to become a monk. Fatherless and lonely, he clings to those who show him any degree of kindness or warmth. This devotion causes Fingal to make poor decisions and to prolong the achievement of his goals. Though I did not love the entire arc of this story, I did love the overall theme: Love God more than anyone or anything on Earth. Be careful not to put any other religious authority/figure in the place of God or you may find yourself led astray. Now, the book is old and allowances must be made for old texts, but the obsessive behavior and fanaticism was uncomfortable for me. However- I do think that is the author's point. A proper middle grade read, I definitely recommend it for the reader who can discern the overall theme and understands that no human, no matter their position, is perfect.
"Take care Fingal- take care- of the chains of human love" (60).
Age recommendation: 13+ due to quality of writing and maturity of content/theme
Content: bullying, violence, corporal punishment/beatings/discipline (not descriptive but threatened or aftermath described), "bad" character takes the Lord's name in vain, fighting, mild cursing, "God is dead" reference to Godless Gaul, young girl married to a much older man
It is mid-500 AD; after a series of barbarian invasions facilitated by the withdrawal of Roman forces, Christianity has died in Gaul. Irish monks, knowing they have little chance of success or protection, endeavor to bring Christianity back to Gaul.
Fingal's Quest focuses on young Fingal, an orphan who enters the abbey in Ireland as a poor scholar to become a monk. Fatherless and lonely, he clings to those who show him any degree of kindness or warmth. This devotion causes Fingal to make poor decisions and to prolong the achievement of his goals. Though I did not love the entire arc of this story, I did love the overall theme: Love God more than anyone or anything on Earth. Be careful not to put any other religious authority/figure in the place of God or you may find yourself led astray. Now, the book is old and allowances must be made for old texts, but the obsessive behavior and fanaticism was uncomfortable for me. However- I do think that is the author's point. A proper middle grade read, I definitely recommend it for the reader who can discern the overall theme and understands that no human, no matter their position, is perfect.
"Take care Fingal- take care- of the chains of human love" (60).
Age recommendation: 13+ due to quality of writing and maturity of content/theme
Content: bullying, violence, corporal punishment/beatings/discipline (not descriptive but threatened or aftermath described), "bad" character takes the Lord's name in vain, fighting, mild cursing, "God is dead" reference to Godless Gaul, young girl married to a much older man
June 30, 2015
I was hoping for more from this book, but wasn't entirely disappointed. My intent in reading this book was to see if it would hold the interest of sooner of my kids for independent reading. I don't think it will. The story is quite subtle, more suitable to young readers who like religious historical fiction.
May 1, 2012
I was a good history book
February 15, 2015
Some theological issues and it could be better written, but I really like the overall theme and it was an interesting read.
September 15, 2015
it was boring untill the last like 70 pages, but those 70 pages were really good
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews