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Irish Century Novels #1
1916: A Novel of the Irish Rebellion
Ned Halloran has lost both his parents--and almost his own life--to the sinking of the Titanic . Determined to keep what little he has, he returns to his homeland in Ireland and enrolls at Saint Enda's school in Dublin. Saint Enda's headmaster is the renowned scholar and poet, Patrick Pearse--who is soon to gain greater fame as a rebel and patriot. Ned becomes totally involved with the growing revolution...and the sacrifices it will demand.
Through Ned's eyes, 1916 examines the Irish fight for freedom--inspired by poets and schoolteachers, fueled by a desperate desire for independence, and played out in the historic streets of Dublin against the backdrop of World War I. It is the story of the brave men and heroic women who, for a few unforgettable days, managed to hold out against the might of the British Empire to realize an impossible dream.
Through Ned's eyes, 1916 examines the Irish fight for freedom--inspired by poets and schoolteachers, fueled by a desperate desire for independence, and played out in the historic streets of Dublin against the backdrop of World War I. It is the story of the brave men and heroic women who, for a few unforgettable days, managed to hold out against the might of the British Empire to realize an impossible dream.
576 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1998
322 people are currently reading
6638 people want to read
About the author
Morgan Llywelyn
80 books1,015 followersMorgan Llywelyn (born 1937) is an American-born Irish author best known for her historical fantasy, historical fiction, and historical non-fiction. Her fiction has received several awards and has sold more than 40 million copies, and she herself is recipient of the 1999 Exceptional Celtic Woman of the Year Award from Celtic Women International.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 336 reviews
March 6, 2019
With her debut novel in the Irish independence series, Morgan Llywelyn impresses readers with an attention to detail and easy narrative style. Aboard the Titanic, Ned Halloran and his family are on their way to America for a family wedding. When the boat hits an iceberg and sinks, many perish, leaving Ned an orphan. Ned arrives in New York to the astonishment of his sister, Kathleen, whose nuptials are overshadowed by the tragedy. As Ned is still a strapping teenager, he chooses to leave Kathleen and her new husband behind, returning to Ireland to finish his education. Sent to an Irish boarding school, Ned learns the ins and outs of his family ancestry, as well as the core values of the Irish people, including their history and language. All the while, the British House of Commons is dragging its feet around Irish Home Rule, keeping the citizens of the Emerald Isle in limbo. While being educated about the power of the Irish people, Ned discovers a passion for independence, willing to do whatever it takes to bring it to fruition. As he becomes friendly with those within the Volunteers, a group dedicated to Irish Independence, Ned becomes more passionate about an Ireland without Britain’s intervention. Irish Home Rule becomes a rallying cry on both sides of the Atlantic, where Kathleen has come to find herself feeling trapped with her American husband. After a scandalous encounter with the local Catholic priest, Kathleen is miserable and facing the wrath of her husband, who will not be made a fool. With the outbreak of the Great War, Irish nationals seek not to fight for King and Country, but would rather toss off British shackles and fight for their own homeland. Planning to take drastic action, an uprising is set in Dublin for April 1916. Ned aligns himself with others and hopes that the violence will be minimal to claim Ireland as an independent state, but the British are not yet ready to walk away and will use their own form of force to keep the Irish in line. Blood will be shed and Dublin will see its share of violence to ensure that Ireland’s future falls into the hands of its rightful owners. The question remains as to who that might be. A stellar beginning to the series by Llywelyn, which is sure to impress readers with an interest in historical fiction.
I enjoyed Llywelyn’s work a while back and thought that there would be no better time to reacquaint myself with Irish independence than the month in which its patron saint is celebrated. While there is little that can be simply explained surrounding Irish independence, Morgan Llywelyn does her best to pull the reader into the middle of this violent confrontation, offering an expected Irish leaning in her writing. Ned Halloran is a wonderful character whose importance rose throughout the novel. Coming of age with the death of his parents and formal education, Ned will surely remain a key player in the Irish rebellions, having already embedded himself into the core of the narrative. His sister, Kathleen, is sure to also have an ongoing role in the novels, working on the side of women’s rights and will likely play a role in exploring how they can help the Irish push for independence at a time when suffrage is gaining momentum. The narrative pulled me in from the opening pages, as the Hallorans found themselves in the middle of major historical events. It is likely that Llywelyn will use historical events as ongoing backdrops to help the reader contrast the ongoing rise of Irish independence sentiment through the series. I am eager to discover what else she has in store for the Hallorans and others who graced the pages of this series. With a mix of short and mid-length chapters, the reader is treated to a wonderful story that builds the further it progresses. Those who seek the full experience will want to get all fives novels ready, as the addictive nature all but demands a binge read.
Kudos, Madam Llywelyn, for a wonderful beginning to the series. I am intrigued where you will take things as you have history guiding us throughout the century. Let’s see which twists you have in store for us next.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
I enjoyed Llywelyn’s work a while back and thought that there would be no better time to reacquaint myself with Irish independence than the month in which its patron saint is celebrated. While there is little that can be simply explained surrounding Irish independence, Morgan Llywelyn does her best to pull the reader into the middle of this violent confrontation, offering an expected Irish leaning in her writing. Ned Halloran is a wonderful character whose importance rose throughout the novel. Coming of age with the death of his parents and formal education, Ned will surely remain a key player in the Irish rebellions, having already embedded himself into the core of the narrative. His sister, Kathleen, is sure to also have an ongoing role in the novels, working on the side of women’s rights and will likely play a role in exploring how they can help the Irish push for independence at a time when suffrage is gaining momentum. The narrative pulled me in from the opening pages, as the Hallorans found themselves in the middle of major historical events. It is likely that Llywelyn will use historical events as ongoing backdrops to help the reader contrast the ongoing rise of Irish independence sentiment through the series. I am eager to discover what else she has in store for the Hallorans and others who graced the pages of this series. With a mix of short and mid-length chapters, the reader is treated to a wonderful story that builds the further it progresses. Those who seek the full experience will want to get all fives novels ready, as the addictive nature all but demands a binge read.
Kudos, Madam Llywelyn, for a wonderful beginning to the series. I am intrigued where you will take things as you have history guiding us throughout the century. Let’s see which twists you have in store for us next.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
July 27, 2013
If you want to understand the road to Irish Independence, I think this book is an excellent choice. Although it is a book of historical fiction, the historical facts are clear and correctly presented. A small group of fictional characters are added to the many known historical figures. The book begins with a list of characters, clearly stating which are fictional and which are real. It even states which of the historical figures died in the 1916 Rising. There are maps and a long biography. In every chapter there are footnotes that state the source for the given statement; these are numerous! So if you want the history this is a great book to choose. It is the start of a series, this being the first. I find the Irish controversy complicated. There are so many different factions. I appreciated that the details are clearly presented and footnoted. I also appreciated learning how this conflict was tied to WW1.
The fictional characters add love stories and children and simply making it a fun read. You get history in a pleasant easily digested manner. I wouldn't say the writing was all that special though. You can kind of guess beforehand what will happen, who will end up with who, for example. It is the fictional aspects of the book and the writing style that don't really shine, and for this reason I have only given the book three stars, but I am very glad I read it.
**********************
Through chapter 14:
I love how Morgan Llywelyn has history tied in on every page. Between each chapter there are newspaper headlines. Ned, the primary fictional character returns to Ireland after surviving the sinking of the Titanic. Now an orphan, he is sent to the boarding school Saint Enda. It really existed. Its headmaster (Pádraic Pearse 1879-1916) played a role in the following fight for Irish Independence. I love that the many, many historical details are footnoted. The school is right outside of Dublin. So wonderful to hear of a g-o-o-d Catholic boarding school! You can guess what I was expecting to be thrown at me! What a pleasant surprise! I am really impressed with how the author had fitted fictional characters into basically a non-fiction description of the times. Great review also of Irish history; all is so clearly explained.
There are clear maps, those footnotes mentioned above and a long bibliography. I don't like books where you are not sure what exactly is historical fact and what is fiction. With this book you can forget that worry!
The fictional characters add love stories and children and simply making it a fun read. You get history in a pleasant easily digested manner. I wouldn't say the writing was all that special though. You can kind of guess beforehand what will happen, who will end up with who, for example. It is the fictional aspects of the book and the writing style that don't really shine, and for this reason I have only given the book three stars, but I am very glad I read it.
**********************
Through chapter 14:
I love how Morgan Llywelyn has history tied in on every page. Between each chapter there are newspaper headlines. Ned, the primary fictional character returns to Ireland after surviving the sinking of the Titanic. Now an orphan, he is sent to the boarding school Saint Enda. It really existed. Its headmaster (Pádraic Pearse 1879-1916) played a role in the following fight for Irish Independence. I love that the many, many historical details are footnoted. The school is right outside of Dublin. So wonderful to hear of a g-o-o-d Catholic boarding school! You can guess what I was expecting to be thrown at me! What a pleasant surprise! I am really impressed with how the author had fitted fictional characters into basically a non-fiction description of the times. Great review also of Irish history; all is so clearly explained.
There are clear maps, those footnotes mentioned above and a long bibliography. I don't like books where you are not sure what exactly is historical fact and what is fiction. With this book you can forget that worry!
May 16, 2008
I loved this book. Of course, I am passionately interested in Irish history and, especially, Irish Nationalism. The fictional characters in the book are compelling enough to keep you reading, and the history is colorful, fascinating, and accurate. I appreciate the fact that she references all of her facts so that you feel you're getting "the real story." Of course, me being me, I still went online to compare the author's version with what was available in other books and was happy to find that she was very accurate.
I definitely look forward to reading the rest of the books in this series.
I definitely look forward to reading the rest of the books in this series.
January 15, 2014
Over 500 pages, this is a hefty read. Even though the book is a fictional novel, it has a whole cast of historical characters. It has details that you want to slowly absorb and embrace. I paced myself at 25 pages a night at bedtime. Those who have pledged to read 3,000 books by year end will laugh at me. I think if you have experienced 1916: A Novel of the Irish Rebellion you will agree with me, this work should be cherished at a leisurely pace.
That being said, even at a leisurely pace I would find myself confused by the host of historical characters at times. I don’t think this is the author’s fault, more likely the fault of the reader who had worked long hours, ate a giant dinner, then tucked into her super warm bed with heated mattress cover. This was an amazing rebellion and it took the efforts of many people. Shame on my pea brain not to remember this angry poet from that angry poet when I’m drowsy.
I adored the main character, Ned Halloran. You are introduced to him as he is taking a voyage with his parents on a grand ship! This ship is heading to America and they will be attending his sister’s wedding in New York. Oh, but why did the buy tickets for the Titanic?
I never thought I was going to get to the actual ass kicking! Call me a girl who loves some action, blame it on my Irish pride. I was ready for the boys to get out there and take back what was theirs. You must be patient though. If not you’ll find yourself feeling like Scarlet on the steps of Tara.
There was one thing that was keeping me going when the ass kicking seemed to never come.
Father Paul O’Shaughnessy. A good looking priest holding up the faith, no matter how hard that may be at times. Father Paul has himself in an awkward situation. A damsel of the congregation is in distress and she is asking for house calls. Holy Temptation!
You good Catholics are probably saying, ‘Not a man of God! He couldn’t.’ I’m not religious, so I can say … Tap that religious ass, girlfriend!
That was probably too much.
An enjoyable aspect of the book for me was the Irish slang. I have promised to incorporate the saying, ‘Funnier looking that a fish with three ears.’
All fun, games and erotic priest aside, I loved this book. I agree with those readers who enjoyed the historical lesson without the classroom feel. There’s enough emotional storyline to keep you drawn in, even if the war comes or not. There were some unanswered questions in the end, but none that were uncalled for. The end of a book isn’t always supposed to spell out every little detail for you. Some books leave you to imagine all the endless possibilities on your own.
www.melaniejomoore.com
That being said, even at a leisurely pace I would find myself confused by the host of historical characters at times. I don’t think this is the author’s fault, more likely the fault of the reader who had worked long hours, ate a giant dinner, then tucked into her super warm bed with heated mattress cover. This was an amazing rebellion and it took the efforts of many people. Shame on my pea brain not to remember this angry poet from that angry poet when I’m drowsy.
I adored the main character, Ned Halloran. You are introduced to him as he is taking a voyage with his parents on a grand ship! This ship is heading to America and they will be attending his sister’s wedding in New York. Oh, but why did the buy tickets for the Titanic?
I never thought I was going to get to the actual ass kicking! Call me a girl who loves some action, blame it on my Irish pride. I was ready for the boys to get out there and take back what was theirs. You must be patient though. If not you’ll find yourself feeling like Scarlet on the steps of Tara.
There was one thing that was keeping me going when the ass kicking seemed to never come.
Father Paul O’Shaughnessy. A good looking priest holding up the faith, no matter how hard that may be at times. Father Paul has himself in an awkward situation. A damsel of the congregation is in distress and she is asking for house calls. Holy Temptation!
You good Catholics are probably saying, ‘Not a man of God! He couldn’t.’ I’m not religious, so I can say … Tap that religious ass, girlfriend!
That was probably too much.
An enjoyable aspect of the book for me was the Irish slang. I have promised to incorporate the saying, ‘Funnier looking that a fish with three ears.’
All fun, games and erotic priest aside, I loved this book. I agree with those readers who enjoyed the historical lesson without the classroom feel. There’s enough emotional storyline to keep you drawn in, even if the war comes or not. There were some unanswered questions in the end, but none that were uncalled for. The end of a book isn’t always supposed to spell out every little detail for you. Some books leave you to imagine all the endless possibilities on your own.
www.melaniejomoore.com
February 22, 2020
hot priest cinematic universe
April 13, 2010
I never expected a book on a rebellion to be slow. It started off well, but kept slipping from there as it dragged on with little of importance or interest actually happening. Most of the book was leading up to the Rising, and even the Rising itself was a bit peripheral. The main problem was that I wasn't attached to any of the characters. They just seemed a bit lifeless, which I was actually appreciative of at the end. (It is not happy and would have been much, much worse had I cared about the characters.)
It had its good points though. It described early twentieth-century Dublin well, and appeared to be well-researched without reading like a history lesson. It is after all a historical novel, and in that regard it fulfilled its purpose quite well. Maybe I was just expecting too much from the characters. 2 1/2 stars, maybe 3.
It had its good points though. It described early twentieth-century Dublin well, and appeared to be well-researched without reading like a history lesson. It is after all a historical novel, and in that regard it fulfilled its purpose quite well. Maybe I was just expecting too much from the characters. 2 1/2 stars, maybe 3.
Want to read
February 10, 2024I can’t. I think I’m at something like 8% but I’m just not clicking with it. I can tell by the author’s writing that I would enjoy this series if I read it at a different time. So I’m goin to put this back on my want to read shelf for now and give it a better shot some other time because it deserves my attention.
June 18, 2020
There's some personal red flags I have in movies in literature.... like when moody characters hiding a dramatic past open up about it starting with "It was back when I was stationed in X..." I don't know why, it just tells me we're about to get something less.
Another one is when an author tries to get you to buy-in by putting the MC, inexplicably, in the middle of a disaster that is unrelated to the rest of the plot. Especially if it's the Titanic. I didn't like it when "Downtown Abbey" did it. I didn't like it here, and it's not good to start with a red flag.
"1916" is historical fiction... but not in an original way. It's more or less a timeline of who's who and events of the Easter Rising in Ireland, chained together by the life of a bland protagonist. Ned is just an empty shell ready to be filled with whatever the author wants, and in this case, it's to blindly follow along real-life dramatic events. He's got very little personality, and it doesn't help that the author has a habit of having him express months of activity and character development through letters to his sister, which is a great example of why it's better to SHOW than TELL, in this case, in a letter. I don't want to read "I really like it here. It was hard at first, but now I've got a lot of friends. The guys are all great." I want to read about character development and experiences. The author uses this book mainly to tell the story of the rebellion. So why doesn't she just make it a history, instead of a stitched together novel?
Also, why throw in all the sex? It comes out of nowhere and connects little to the plot. Do we need to know, in a book about the Easter Rising, that our otherwise personality-less MC has "rutting dreams" about a girl he met? Or that his married sister in America wants to cheat on her distant husband with the local priest?
Skip.
Another one is when an author tries to get you to buy-in by putting the MC, inexplicably, in the middle of a disaster that is unrelated to the rest of the plot. Especially if it's the Titanic. I didn't like it when "Downtown Abbey" did it. I didn't like it here, and it's not good to start with a red flag.
"1916" is historical fiction... but not in an original way. It's more or less a timeline of who's who and events of the Easter Rising in Ireland, chained together by the life of a bland protagonist. Ned is just an empty shell ready to be filled with whatever the author wants, and in this case, it's to blindly follow along real-life dramatic events. He's got very little personality, and it doesn't help that the author has a habit of having him express months of activity and character development through letters to his sister, which is a great example of why it's better to SHOW than TELL, in this case, in a letter. I don't want to read "I really like it here. It was hard at first, but now I've got a lot of friends. The guys are all great." I want to read about character development and experiences. The author uses this book mainly to tell the story of the rebellion. So why doesn't she just make it a history, instead of a stitched together novel?
Also, why throw in all the sex? It comes out of nowhere and connects little to the plot. Do we need to know, in a book about the Easter Rising, that our otherwise personality-less MC has "rutting dreams" about a girl he met? Or that his married sister in America wants to cheat on her distant husband with the local priest?
Skip.
July 15, 2021
The historical information in this book is interesting. However, the writing style when dealing with Ned's and Kathleen's personal stories is clunky and the plotline predictable. It might be a much better idea to read a non-fiction, history book on this subject. I have 1921 by Morgan Llywelyn on my bookshelf, but I think I'll skip it.
December 29, 2015
Llywelyn's four books on modern Ireland starting with 1916 and finishing with 1972 is perhaps the best overall introduction to Erie's sad and glorious history. You fall in love with her characters and she fleshes out the bones of history with story-telling second to none. I would recommend these four books to anyone who wants to understand Ireland and enjoys a deep, emotional reading experience.
April 24, 2018
such a heartbreaking story but told in a really tender way. this is historical fiction at its finest.
4.5 stars
4.5 stars
December 28, 2021
4.5 Stars
June 28, 2022
I read the 2nd book first because I couldn't for the life of me find a physical copy of 1916 until two months ago. But I'm so glad I did because I really enjoyed Ned's perspective and narration.
Find out more via my book review on my BookTube channel, linked below!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNqkH...
Find out more via my book review on my BookTube channel, linked below!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNqkH...
January 16, 2022
1916 by Morgan Llywelen
This was a re-read of one of my favourite books of all time which I originally read when I was 12 I think. It’s the first in a series of historical fiction novels chronicling the 20th century in Ireland. This first instalment follows a fictional character called Ned Halloran. In the early chapters, Ned survives the Titanic disaster and then moves to Padraic Pearse’s school for boys, Scoil Eanna. The rest of the novel follows Ned and some other fictional characters’ interactions with major figures in the 1916 Rising such as Thomas J Clarke, Joseph Redmond and others.
.
An excellent novel that should be a lot more popular than it is and probably should have received more attention in for the 2016 anniversary. I hope to read/re-read the rest of the books in the series this year.
.
I think anyone that is new to Irish history, can learn a lot about our history in these novels. While it is a work of fiction, the fictional and historical characters are clearly distinguishable throughout. The story of Ned alone is worth a read for those not interested in learning about Irish history.
.
Five stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This was a re-read of one of my favourite books of all time which I originally read when I was 12 I think. It’s the first in a series of historical fiction novels chronicling the 20th century in Ireland. This first instalment follows a fictional character called Ned Halloran. In the early chapters, Ned survives the Titanic disaster and then moves to Padraic Pearse’s school for boys, Scoil Eanna. The rest of the novel follows Ned and some other fictional characters’ interactions with major figures in the 1916 Rising such as Thomas J Clarke, Joseph Redmond and others.
.
An excellent novel that should be a lot more popular than it is and probably should have received more attention in for the 2016 anniversary. I hope to read/re-read the rest of the books in the series this year.
.
I think anyone that is new to Irish history, can learn a lot about our history in these novels. While it is a work of fiction, the fictional and historical characters are clearly distinguishable throughout. The story of Ned alone is worth a read for those not interested in learning about Irish history.
.
Five stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
September 8, 2009
Llywellyn has done it to me again!! Taken a period in time and so intricately woven a fictional character into it that at some point the two blurr together! The time she takes to research the history and know every detail allowed me to learn even more about a subject I thought I already knew! And of coarse the fictional story line has you swept up in terror and panic, first love and experiences, tears and heartbreak and cheering on the "heros" even though you know the outcome!
I have to admit that I didn't want this one to end!! While, of coarse, the history was tied up as fate would have it, the fictional story line tied up one end in the last few sentences and totally threw me for a happy loop but another end is left hanging, the reader is left wanting to know what, if anything was resolved!
All in all, another triumph for me, as well as another testimony for why Morgan Llywelyn was, is, and always will be my favorite author of all time!!!
I have to admit that I didn't want this one to end!! While, of coarse, the history was tied up as fate would have it, the fictional story line tied up one end in the last few sentences and totally threw me for a happy loop but another end is left hanging, the reader is left wanting to know what, if anything was resolved!
All in all, another triumph for me, as well as another testimony for why Morgan Llywelyn was, is, and always will be my favorite author of all time!!!
November 21, 2012
Young Ned Halloran is angry....really angry.
First his parents die on the Titanic. Next his sister marries a jerk. Then he finds out that his country has been occupied for hundreds of years. Followed by the fact that he dates a jerk...then falls in love with a prostitute...its amazing he hasn't boiled over with rage before.
Seriously, 1921 is an historical novel about the Easter uprising, with the vast part of the book setting the scene.
In this book, Llywelyn believably mixes history and fiction and creates a drama that makes the reader care about what is happening. The only major problem with this is that at times she is too painfully historic and the book reads more like a history textbook than an historical novel.
This is the first book in Llywelyn's Irish century trilogy and it sets the stage for action yet to come.
While not a perfect book, it still has a certain charm that keeps people reading.
First his parents die on the Titanic. Next his sister marries a jerk. Then he finds out that his country has been occupied for hundreds of years. Followed by the fact that he dates a jerk...then falls in love with a prostitute...its amazing he hasn't boiled over with rage before.
Seriously, 1921 is an historical novel about the Easter uprising, with the vast part of the book setting the scene.
In this book, Llywelyn believably mixes history and fiction and creates a drama that makes the reader care about what is happening. The only major problem with this is that at times she is too painfully historic and the book reads more like a history textbook than an historical novel.
This is the first book in Llywelyn's Irish century trilogy and it sets the stage for action yet to come.
While not a perfect book, it still has a certain charm that keeps people reading.
April 14, 2008
Yawn. Who would have thought the Easter Rising would be so boring? Then again, I never got as far as the Rising. Perhaps it picked up when the fighting started, but young Ned's early years put me straight to sleep. Normally I like Llywelyn, but I suspect that here she decided to trade on her reputation rather than go to the extra work of making the opening of this novel interesting.
March 31, 2025
I loved this book and am quite surprised by the number of 1 and 2 star reviews. I'm reading more Irish books this year, so some historical fiction seemed fitting. I listened on Audible and just found out there are maps and footnotes. There is no PDF of those for my audiobook. I need to look at a paper or ebook before I move on to the next book. The narration was excellent.
The story starts with the main character boarding the Titanic with his parents for a visit to his sister in America. Most Irish passengers are in steerage, and this shows the treatment of the Irish from the start.
A few years later comes the Rising of 1916. We have been following the main character Ned through the years. You'll need to pay attention as there are quite a lot of characters. The book is fairly long as it needs to be with so many historical events and the lives of the characters as well.
The story starts with the main character boarding the Titanic with his parents for a visit to his sister in America. Most Irish passengers are in steerage, and this shows the treatment of the Irish from the start.
A few years later comes the Rising of 1916. We have been following the main character Ned through the years. You'll need to pay attention as there are quite a lot of characters. The book is fairly long as it needs to be with so many historical events and the lives of the characters as well.
April 9, 2023
This begins the five book series “The Irish Century”, a fictionalized account of the Halloran family as they interact with the major events in 20th century Irish history. “1916” covers the two years before and up to the Easter Rising in Dublin. Despite being a work of fiction, the author draws strongly and accurately on people and events that changed the course of Ireland, bringing it all vividly to life. I learned so much from this book but I was disappointed in the choice of narrator who is English, which seemed insulting considering the subject matter. Her ‘voices’, particularly those of Irish women, were very annoying. To make matters worse, she mispronounced so many basic words (a hard ‘ch’ in ‘chandelier’; ‘detritus’ pronounced as ‘duh-TREE-tus). I looked up alternate British pronunciations but even that didn’t clear her. Despite all that, I heartily recommend this book as well as the entire series (a “re-read” from about 14 years ago).
April 3, 2026
576 pages and not a single fleshed-out three-dimensional character that you could make an emotional connection with. All characters were one-dimensional tropes, each with a single obvious motivation. The fictional as well as the historical characters suffered the same fate - I didn't get to know any of them.
The fictional characters were only there to serve as observers of the historical action...and the ridiculous coincidences necessary to put the right character in the right place to observe the right thing got very tiresome.
I wanted to feel immersed in the 1916 Rising. Unfortunately, I will need to look elsewhere.
Rating for the first 80% of the book: 1
Rating for the last 20% of the book: 3.5
Overall rating: 1.5...rounding up (I flipped a coin) to 2.
The fictional characters were only there to serve as observers of the historical action...and the ridiculous coincidences necessary to put the right character in the right place to observe the right thing got very tiresome.
I wanted to feel immersed in the 1916 Rising. Unfortunately, I will need to look elsewhere.
Rating for the first 80% of the book: 1
Rating for the last 20% of the book: 3.5
Overall rating: 1.5...rounding up (I flipped a coin) to 2.
December 4, 2021
Decent book, at times a little slow. Filled with a lot more romance than I was expecting and way too many battle scenes for my taste. I get that this is a book about a rebellion and as such there will be battles and skirmishes on screen, as it were, but they seemed to go on forever at times and most battle scenes are quite similar. Once you've read one, you've read them all. But I liked the ending and it taught me a lot about a subject I knew very little about.
Did not finish
July 15, 2024Sad to say I couldn’t even get to page 40. The dialogue and internal monologues are both very clunky with too much historic detail, I assume, in an attempt to set the stage, but it just reads like a more creative textbook. I’m a little obsessed with the Easter Rising in general and Patrick Pearse specifically, so this was a disappointment.
June 6, 2021
Beautifully written, and indeed “a soul’s song for Ireland.” I thought I knew a lot about the Easter Rising, but there was so much in this book that I didn’t know, and the historical characters were incorporated really well into the fictional story
July 14, 2024
Great historical references and I learned a lot that I didn't know about Ireland particularly during WWI. It did drag though. Some of it reads a bit like a textbook
May 4, 2019
What a fantastic book!
1916 is about the Easter Rebellion of 1916 in Dublin, Ireland. A volunteer army led by noble men took advantage of Britain's military involvement elsewhere in Europe to proclaim Ireland's independence and take back their city and country.
This is a truly historical novel. The main character, and others, are fictional, but a great many characters really existed. The most fascinating of these is Patrick Pearse, one of the foremost leaders of the 1916 revolution. He was a scholar, poet, and headmaster of Saint Enda's School for Boys. This school really existed and is now a park and museum dedicated to Pearse and his family.
The plot centers on Ned Halloran, a student at Saint Enda's. Ned gets caught up in revolution fever and gets to know the players in the conflict quite well. We see the whole event unfold through his eyes. We also see what Dublin was like back in the turn of the 20th century. This is a book about Dublin as much as it is about the 1916 rising.
I was constantly fascinated that most of the characters I was reading about were living, breathing people. Putting them in a novel made them far more real than if I had read about them in a history book or encyclopedia. Of course, the author can only speculate what these men and women were like and how they would have acted, but I suspect the author tried to get it right. There are extensive notes throughout the text, and we have the words of Pearse and others to fill in the blanks.
Not only is this a fascinating novel, but it's well-written too. We care about these characters and what happens to them. You get to know them almost as if they were your own friends. Also, there is a truly great love story. I don't usually go for love stories, but this one got to me. This book really portrays young love quite well.
The one thing I don't like about this novel is that some of the characters are little more than names on the page. However, I can understand that the author needed to fit in a great number of characters to really get the facts across. Some of the characters we get to know quite well, others we don't know so well. But those we do know become very special.
I really, really enjoyed the ending. It was almost everything I hoped it would be and it wrapped up the story quite well. It is truly a happy ending, at least for three people. I don't know if there is a sequel, but I hope that Ned, Síle and Precious had a happy life together after all the struggle.
1916 is about the Easter Rebellion of 1916 in Dublin, Ireland. A volunteer army led by noble men took advantage of Britain's military involvement elsewhere in Europe to proclaim Ireland's independence and take back their city and country.
This is a truly historical novel. The main character, and others, are fictional, but a great many characters really existed. The most fascinating of these is Patrick Pearse, one of the foremost leaders of the 1916 revolution. He was a scholar, poet, and headmaster of Saint Enda's School for Boys. This school really existed and is now a park and museum dedicated to Pearse and his family.
The plot centers on Ned Halloran, a student at Saint Enda's. Ned gets caught up in revolution fever and gets to know the players in the conflict quite well. We see the whole event unfold through his eyes. We also see what Dublin was like back in the turn of the 20th century. This is a book about Dublin as much as it is about the 1916 rising.
I was constantly fascinated that most of the characters I was reading about were living, breathing people. Putting them in a novel made them far more real than if I had read about them in a history book or encyclopedia. Of course, the author can only speculate what these men and women were like and how they would have acted, but I suspect the author tried to get it right. There are extensive notes throughout the text, and we have the words of Pearse and others to fill in the blanks.
Not only is this a fascinating novel, but it's well-written too. We care about these characters and what happens to them. You get to know them almost as if they were your own friends. Also, there is a truly great love story. I don't usually go for love stories, but this one got to me. This book really portrays young love quite well.
The one thing I don't like about this novel is that some of the characters are little more than names on the page. However, I can understand that the author needed to fit in a great number of characters to really get the facts across. Some of the characters we get to know quite well, others we don't know so well. But those we do know become very special.
I really, really enjoyed the ending. It was almost everything I hoped it would be and it wrapped up the story quite well. It is truly a happy ending, at least for three people. I don't know if there is a sequel, but I hope that Ned, Síle and Precious had a happy life together after all the struggle.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 2, 2014
The best part of the book is the last 50 pages, so hang in there through the sections that are more difficult. This novel is a great example of historical fiction that is more historical than fiction. Llywelyn includes copious endnotes and builds this story upon the real people who led the Irish Rebellion of 1916. Ned Halloran is technically the main character but is really just her method of telling the stories of those leaders. Ned himself is an idealistic young Irishman who finds himself a student of Padraic Pearse and takes all of his teachings to heart.
Don't make the mistake that I did and glaze over while Pearse's friends are being introduced as characters. I found myself going back and rereading who was who as the details of the rebellion were opening up. This book causes one to question the validity of one country having power over another. Should the American colonies have remained faithful servants of Britian? We quickly answer, "No." However, we just as quickly defend the decision of the North to force the Southern states to remain a part of the Union not even 100 years later. What gives a people the right to govern themselves?
Though Llywelyn is clearly writing from the Irish point of view, she also does not villianize the British or put the Irish on a pedestal. There are sympathetic British characters and Irish characters who do not value the sacrifices being made for them. The attitude of "just stick to the status quo" is very present.
Throughout the story, we also get glimpses of the life of Kathleen Halloran, Ned's sister, but with no real resolution to her story. I assume this is continued in the next book in the series. I felt as though Kathleen's and even Ned's story were really secondary to the true story of the rebellion in this novel. Though I appreciate Llywelyn's accuracy and level of detail, it was difficult to connect to these major characters. Still, if you are a fan of historical fiction that is honest and not just romance during a different time period, I highly recommend this book.
Don't make the mistake that I did and glaze over while Pearse's friends are being introduced as characters. I found myself going back and rereading who was who as the details of the rebellion were opening up. This book causes one to question the validity of one country having power over another. Should the American colonies have remained faithful servants of Britian? We quickly answer, "No." However, we just as quickly defend the decision of the North to force the Southern states to remain a part of the Union not even 100 years later. What gives a people the right to govern themselves?
Though Llywelyn is clearly writing from the Irish point of view, she also does not villianize the British or put the Irish on a pedestal. There are sympathetic British characters and Irish characters who do not value the sacrifices being made for them. The attitude of "just stick to the status quo" is very present.
Throughout the story, we also get glimpses of the life of Kathleen Halloran, Ned's sister, but with no real resolution to her story. I assume this is continued in the next book in the series. I felt as though Kathleen's and even Ned's story were really secondary to the true story of the rebellion in this novel. Though I appreciate Llywelyn's accuracy and level of detail, it was difficult to connect to these major characters. Still, if you are a fan of historical fiction that is honest and not just romance during a different time period, I highly recommend this book.
March 16, 2025
I never normally write GoodReads reviews, let alone negative ones, but the many very positive reviews on here are the reason why I bought this book and so I feel the need to redress the balance a bit! I bought this book because I am extremely interested in learning about this period in Irish history, and I thought it would be good to get a sense of it all via an engaging and interesting story. So I was extremely willing to overlook the fact that the main character is slap bang in the middle of every major historical event of the period, or a little bit of clunky exposition about the historical context. But after trying so hard to persevere, I'm finally giving up at 46%. Because it's just really, really hard to read. The constant exposition of historical information via dialogue pulls me out of the story and renders the characters unrealistic and uninteresting. As a Brit, the way that some aspects of life (such as going to the pub!!) are treated as exotic and surprising feels really weird, and shatters any illusion that you're getting insight from the point of view of the Irish characters. All the characters feel extremely two dimensional - I think the final straw for me was realising that the two love interests of the main character were being set up as the Madonna and - LITERALLY - the whore. And even when the dialogue is not showing off the obviously extensive research, it's totally unrealistic - this is very a much a book in which the author tells you everything she thinks you're supposed to know (and think), and everyone sums up their own perspective in a nice, neat paragraph. I think I feel extra deceived because I got the sample before I bought it and that seemed promising!! But as soon as the action gets back to Ireland and involved in politics, the writing just really deteriorated. I've seen people say that the others in the series are better so maybe start with those to give the author a chance, but I won't be bothering personally!
June 7, 2021
Llywelyn drew me in to not only her characters' lives but into the fraught time in history when hopeful Irish republicans planning a "rising" hoped to take advantage of Britain's commitment of soldiers to fight in WW I. In graphic detail, she describes the development of these plans against the backdrop of ongoing poverty and mistreatment by the English. As Ned (the main character) writes to his sister in New York, "Anything to do with Ireland provokes British politicians in to the worst excesses of imperialism... England justifies her behavior by depicting the Irish as ignorant, impoverished barbarians. We are ignorant because educating ourselves was, until recent times, against English law. We are impoverished because the natural resources of this island have been thoroughly looted. As for being barbarians, it was Ireland which kept the lamp of literacy alight when the Dark Ages descended on the rest of Europe--England included" (pp 207-208).
Llewelyn ascribes to Neville Grantham, a British official in Dublin Castle, the following reflection:
"Try as he might, he could not condemn the rebels for wanting independence from a foreign power that had served them so badly for so long. He found himself wondering how he would feel if Germany won the war and reduced England from a prosperous country to an impoverished one; if the English language was forbidden and German substituted; if English people were driven out to make room for Germans. Would he not fight back? Of course he would--to the death if necessary. Nor would he hesitate to take any advantage he could" (p. 335).
How tragic that Grantham's historical superiors saw the Easter Rising as only a rebellion to be squashed, at whatever cost. A true tragedy not only for Ireland, but for the soul of England.
Llewelyn ascribes to Neville Grantham, a British official in Dublin Castle, the following reflection:
"Try as he might, he could not condemn the rebels for wanting independence from a foreign power that had served them so badly for so long. He found himself wondering how he would feel if Germany won the war and reduced England from a prosperous country to an impoverished one; if the English language was forbidden and German substituted; if English people were driven out to make room for Germans. Would he not fight back? Of course he would--to the death if necessary. Nor would he hesitate to take any advantage he could" (p. 335).
How tragic that Grantham's historical superiors saw the Easter Rising as only a rebellion to be squashed, at whatever cost. A true tragedy not only for Ireland, but for the soul of England.
May 24, 2012
This is a story set in the early 1900s culminating with the Easter Uprising in Ireland in 1916. I really enjoyed this book. To me, this is the textbook example of a historical novel, good fictional characters and a good plot whose tale is woven through significant historical events. While Llewelyn's story maybe doesn't rival those of Leon Uris, the Godfather of Historical Novels, it was good enough to keep me turning the pages. I also think of Uris because his novel "Trinity" was also about struggles between England and the Irish people, an important book that in the 1970s help me understand the conflict then occurring in England and Northern Ireland. The book "1916" was a natural progression from "Trinity", Chapter Two in my understanding of Irish history. I appreciate the research that went in to writing this book. It's obvious from reading that Llewelyn delved deep into the actual events, even without the notes and citations at the end of the book. Also I really appreciated the List of Characters, fictional and real, that she put in the beginning. So many times I find myself writing my own list, or more often wishing that I'd started a list when I'm halfway through a book.
November 24, 2008
The title of this book is fairly self-explanatory. The rebellion is seen through the eyes of young Ned Halloran who becomes entranced with the idea of Ireland's freedom as taught to him by none other than Padraic Pearse. Ned joins in the fight and while this book remains fictional, his eyewitness account paints an accurate and vivid picture of the fateful months leading up to the revolution.
This book was a re-read for me. I found it on my shelf at home and since I'm poor, I decided to give it another go. I love anything to do with Ireland and this was a fun read, but ML got bogged down with too many detailed descriptions of the logistics of the rebellion. Plus, she built up the actual event to such a degree that the end of the book was really kind of anti-climactic.
Furthermore, it's pretty unbelievable that Ned just happened to be around for every single major event leading up to the rebellion. One of those ploys that historical fiction writers use that is generally annoying.
This book was a re-read for me. I found it on my shelf at home and since I'm poor, I decided to give it another go. I love anything to do with Ireland and this was a fun read, but ML got bogged down with too many detailed descriptions of the logistics of the rebellion. Plus, she built up the actual event to such a degree that the end of the book was really kind of anti-climactic.
Furthermore, it's pretty unbelievable that Ned just happened to be around for every single major event leading up to the rebellion. One of those ploys that historical fiction writers use that is generally annoying.
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