The End of the Hunt

The Thomas Flanagan Trilogy #3

by Thomas Flanagan

Volume 3 of Thomas Flanagan’s Irish History Trilogy This third volume of Thomas Flanagan’s best-selling Irish-history trilogy (which begins with The Year of the French and continues with The Tenants of Time) brings to epic life the events of the Irish War of Independence. Flanagan’s gaze is both world historical and intimate as he tells the story of Janice Nugent, a recent war widow who strikes up a romance with Christopher Blake, a historian and propagandist for the IRA; of Patrick Prentiss, discharged from the British army after losing an arm in World War I to find Dublin engulfed in civil turmoil; of a Virgil-toting gunman named Frank Lacy; and of a panorama of meticulously drawn historical figures on both sides of the conflict, from Winston Churchill and Lloyd George to Eamon de Valera and Michael Collins. While violence escalates and losses mount, the once-mighty British Empire shows signs of strain and Irish independence finally glimmers on the horizon.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Ireland, Fiction, Irish Literature, Literature, Collections, Historical

640 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1994

About the author

Thomas Flanagan (November 5, 1923 – March 21, 2002) was an American professor of English literature who specialized in Irish literature. He was also a successful novelist. Flanagan, who was born in Greenwich, Connecticut, graduated from Amherst College in 1945. He was a tenured full - Professor in the English Department at the University of California, Berkeley until his retirement. Flanagan died in 2002, at the age of 78, in Berkeley.

He won the National Book Critics Circle Award in 1979. The Archives and Special Collections at Amherst College holds his papers.

Reviews

[Dennis Weeks · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fine book that was a challenging read, partly because I had to check a history of Ireland and some web sites on the names of World war I era arms and vehicles for some background that the author assumes we know. That said, I am grateful to Thomas Flanagan for the vivid portrayal of the attitudes that propelled the Irish War of Independence and the Civil War.

Some folks have commented that Michael Collins is the central character in The End of the Hunt, but I have to disagree. Collins and to lesser degrees Brougha and De Valera provide the historical backbone of the work but the narration centers on several fictional characters who provide us with a range of points of view on the events of the period. Particularly interesting is the perspective of Janet Nugent, a member of the Irish Catholic gentry and a war widow, who often lets us see the disconnect between the passions of those directly involved in the conflicts and the desire on the part of most to simply get on with their lives.

I've read historical accounts of the period and remained confused. I can't claim to understand the complexities of the conflict now, but this work of fiction certainly helped me along the way.

[Elisabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought I'd never finish this book; it is very densely written and nearly every sentence is packed with information. It was well worth it.
The history of the English in Ireland is brutal and tragic. This novel takes place in the aftermath of the Easter Rebellion in Dublin 1916.It is largely about the signing of the treaty with the English in 1921 and the ensuing civil war between the freedom fighters wanting the free Irish Republic. One side, Sinn Fein, tries the political and diplomatic route; old warriors do tire of bloodshed. The other side becomes the notoriously violent Irish Republican Army. They eventually turn upon each other.
Sad story. Northern Ireland is the legacy of the British occupation. This is a worthy version of the history.

[Richard Wise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Over the years I've read both Year of The French and The Tenants of Time, books that tell the story of historical attempts by the Irish to wrest their small island from the tentacles of the British Empire. The End of The Hunt tells the final chapter, the successful uprising led by Michael Collins in the 1920s.

For those who have seen the film, Michael Collins, which was partially based on material from this excellent book, the territory will seem somewhat familiar.

Flanagan tells the story through the eyes of several of the participants. His writing style is intimate, biographical and poetic with wonderful descriptions and attention to detail. Highly recommended for those interested in a full sensory account of the fight for Irish freedom.

[Brendan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'd been waiting to read this book for years, and when I started, it's massive size argued against taking it overseas, so the reading process spanned a couple more years. The story of Ireland from the formation of IRA to the end of the civil war, as seen through the eyes of field officers sleeping in hedges waiting, historians in restaurants, and the aides around Michael Collins plotting assassinations and peace negotiations in hidden pubs. A beautiful scary book, but, given Flanagan's writing style (see my review of Year of the French) if you're really interested), only for the dedicated reader.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is one of three magnificent novels that clarify Irish history
during 3 watershed eras. This final book tells how the Irish finally
wrested limited Home Rule from the British and the parts played be
Michael Collins, Winston Churchill and a score of other participants.

[Mary L. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maybe it was because we were staying outside of Dublim for a month one summer, but all the history of the Troubles of 1919 came to life in this very readable novel. I recommend it highly if you wish to come to grips with Ireland's struggle for independence.

[Bill · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the third book in Flanagan's masterful trilogy on the Irish rebellion against British rule. Flanagan was a gifted writer, in my opinion, but his prose is seldom easy, and he is not a quick read. This was my favorite of the three books, although I read the first two so long ago that it's difficult to be sure. This was perhaps one of the saddest books that I've read in a long time. The personal tragedies of the characters are interwoven with the historical tragedy of Ireland's quest for independence and Britain's repression. I started the novel after returning from my first trip to Ireland and the book made me nostalgic for the country of my grandparents, although Flanagan does not spend a lot of time on the landscape. It's about the men and women who lives through the years from 1916 thru the end of the civil war. I wasn't sure at times which of the principals were fictional, aside from the historical figures like Collins and deValera. I would think it possible to read this book on its own but I would encourage potential readers to try the Year of the French.

[Jesse Patrick Sheehy · Rating 4 out of 5]

An intimate and raw retelling of Ireland’s early 20th century war against Britain, as well as its civil war with itself.
The closing book of Flanagan’s “trilogy” is his least poetic, but his most exciting. It depicts all sides of a people’s struggle for self determination from an author only slightly removed from his subjects.

I felt that the books’s seams began to come apart toward the end when Flanagan dropped the personalisation within his characters’ journaling chapters and instead fell back on them as mere framing devices.
It doesn’t have the grace and richness that The Year of the French carried subtly within every chapter, but I still enjoyed it as much, if not more, in different ways.
An important book that almost tricks you into believing you’re reading an airport thriller that is actually so much more.

[Robert Whelan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The last book of the trilogy; finally the English are beaten and the victors turn on each other.

Not an easy book to read but incredibly detailed. Most of the action happens 'off-screen' which can be disappointing.

After reading the trilogy, I know a lot more about the fight for indepence. Paints a vivid picture of life during each of the three periods detailed in the trilogy. It does force me to consider: what would I, an Irishman, have done had I lived through these turbulent times.

[Geo Forman · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's a shame the author did not write a fourth book to take Irish history beyond the civil war of the 1920's where this third volume ends. These books are dense, full of history, characters and emotion.

[Jim Curtin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would have made this half its length; there were some loose threads left amongst the narrators, the 600+ pages had uneven pacing, and the level of detail was often too much. The book is also showing its age with outdated and potentially offensive language

[Virginia · Rating 5 out of 5]

The 3rd in the series --- very helpful in understanding the civil war , etc. I liked it because the 'fictional friends' were also included, and made it easier to understand.

[Míceál Ó Gealbháin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding. Highly recommended.

[Greg]

A real bummer that there are no more of Flanagan’s novels to read. This was the least of the three, but still as gripping as the best historical fiction.

[Dan O'Meara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have just finished rereading this novel for what must be the fourth or fifth time since it was first published some 30 years ago. Each time I have read the last words of the novel with a profound sense of regret that the reading was done.

The End of the Hunt is a genuine masterpiece. For me, it compares with two very different, but exceptional historical novels: Tolstoy's War and Peace, and Hilary Mantel's recently completed trilogy on the life of Thomas Cromwell.

The novel's multi-perspective brilliantly unravels the complexities of the Irish War of Independence, the scission over the Treaty that ended it, and the bloody and tragic Civil War that followed. All the principal historical protagonists are brought to life in all their roundedness. The writing is sometimes dense, but lyrical. Some of the set pieces, and confrontations between Michael Collins and Cathal Brugha, bust off the page and almost overwhelm the reader with a sense of the tragedy of "The Troubles".

This is not a book for the faint-hearted, but richly rewards any who persist.

[Kevin Considine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well it took 31 years but I finally finished the Thomas Flanagan historical novel Trilogy covering the Rebellion of 1798 until the end of the Civil War in 1923. The third book; The End of the Hunt covered the War for Independence starting in 1916 and provided a very interesting take of the events from the viewpoints of various characters giving different insights. It is long but thoroughly engaging and worhwhile read for Irish history aficionados.

[Rosalie Riegle · Rating 3 out of 5]

What makes recent violence worse than that of years ago? I squirmed that those I rooted for were assassins. This was the first of the Flanagan trilogy with well developed women characters and I found myself wanting to hear even more from them. All three books were wonderful for giving me even more feeling for what I think of as my second country.

[Geoffrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Flanagan's three books of fictionalized modern Irish revolution are excellent. This is the weakest of the three - a little slack and loose-lipped, as if he were dictating it over a Guinness and no one felt like editing. Still a great read, though.

[Edie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thomas Flanagan's trilogy of Irish historical novels winds to its relentless close with the Free State established in the 1920's after the bloody civil war, and the stage set for the Troubles through the rest of the century. A vivid portraint of Michael Collins.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Engaging story of Irish history

Characters were well defined and their complex motivations were fully worked out. Having each section told in different characters voice I found effective.

[Mardelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fine book by Flanagan on the history of Ireland with his fictional characters woven into the story.

[Kelli Santistevan · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn't like it that much.

[Brian Mallon]

A great read. Like being present during the revolutionary upheaval in Ireland. Walking alongside the likes of Michael Collins. We see how the middle class people of the South Side were won over to the Independence movement. Very engaging characters.