Exile: The Irish - Book 2

by Liam Robert Mullen

Exile continues the story of The Nationalists as Tony McAnthony, the journalist, settles into his new life in America and the timeline advances through the roaring twenties, the thirties, the war years, and the Kennedy years in the sixties and seventies.Many of the characters that appeared in The Nationalists will also play a role in this new work, in particular, that of Pairic O'Toole who left soldiering behind to become a Franciscan and who finds himself incarcerated in Auschwitz during the war years.New characters are also introduced like Big Emily, a teacher in the US with a new vision for education but who finds herself thwarted by the effects of the Depression.Exile is a story about the Irish people, but not exclusively so, and paves the way for the third book in this The Irish Diaspora.

190 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 27, 2017

Reviews

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Exile" is the sequel to "The Nationalists," which I have not read but now feel compelled to go back and start this adventure from the beginning. Mullen continues the saga of his characters as they navigate through the shifts of the 20th century. He follows Tony McAnthony's assimilation into American life while weaving us through the roaring twenties, the tumultuous thirties, the devastating war years, and into the transformative era of the sixties and seventies. Mullen's writing captures the essence of each decade, bringing historical events to life through the eyes of his characters.

Pairic O'Toole, a character from the earlier book, transitions from soldier to Franciscan monk and is a testament to Mullen's ability to develop deeply complex characters. O'Toole's harrowing journey into the heart of Auschwitz provides a stark, emotional exploration of faith and humanity amidst the horrors of war. This storyline, in particular, showcases Mullen's skill in handling sensitive historical contexts with grace and depth. I'm now a Mullen fan.