The Rising: A Novel

by Bairbre Toibin

The Rising is both a classic love story and a vivid dramatization of the struggle for Irish independence. Set primarily in Wexford, between the death of Ireland's great politician and patriot, Charles Stewart Parnell, and the fiery republicanism of the 1916 Easter Rising, The Rising follows the fortunes of a young Irish couple. Michael Carty is a small tenant farmer who sets out for Enniscorthy after the death of his Fenian father. Margaret Dempsey is the daughter of a prosperous merchant family in the town. What follows is an account of their unlikely love and life together-a domestic tale overshadowed by momentous events in Irish history, events that ultimately threaten Michael's life and his family's welfare. An exciting novel of love and family, character and conscience, and the struggle for independence, 'The Rising' is a stunning debut by another one of Ireland's new generation of fine young writers.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Ireland

284 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2002

Reviews

[nuuriper · Rating 1 out of 5]

I swear I tried to enjoy and like it but it was just impossible. The firsts chapters were okay, but then everything happened so fast. The author spent more time describing the encounters with the ‘average rude man that does not deserve the main female character’ than the development of the relationship with the man that ended up being Margaret’s husband. They literally have one conversation before getting married on the next chapter. It made no sense.

Then, it is alright that the book is centred in politics, but I was expecting more plot! It is sell as a love story set during the Enniscorthy rising in 1916, but there was nothing of that.

Not worth it.

[Iain Snelling · Rating 4 out of 5]

The title, and the cover of the paperback, made this seem to be either a romance or a drama set in the chaos of Dublin in 1916. It is neither - it is a lovely portrait of Enniscorthy and a side show of the Rising (no-one injured) and the people struggling against poverty and the lack of nationhood. The characters are well drawn and believable in their daily lives. Despite the lack of action, the Rising in Enniscorthy was real and risky, inspired by the history of Wexford rebellion. The pace of the book was well judged, it did carry a plot with some real suspense at times, but it was for me essentially a portrait of the people and time. I really enjoyed it.

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Rising is no literary masterpiece, but it presents a sympathetic and provocative window into what it was like for a family involved in the Easter Rising of 1916. It’s more historical fiction than a romance story, inspired by the real life experiences of Tóibín’s own grandfather in Enniscorthy.

[Colleen · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was ok. What happens after 1916? Also, I did not enjoy the narrative style-don't tell me what a person is thinking or feeling, tell the story so I can make those inferences on my own.

[Hadil · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Book was alright. I loved the story, shows how the Irish people didn't give up and fought for their Freedom. Still there was a bit of romance in the book,too. But there's something about the way it was written that makes you feel a bit bored in the middle or make it a bit harder to keep on track with the story.
Overall, I really Loved it! wasn't a waste of time at all! and got to learn couple of Gaeilge words Too!

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a good book, but I'm afraid I couldn't never really get the hang of the style. It was too close to speech patterns, if you ask me. I'm not just talking about dialogue, which is one thing (and which she does quite well), but the narration itself. This lead to a bit too much repetition for my taste.

[Russell Collins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in Ireland leading up to the rising of 1916. Wonderful dialogue, like you are eavesdropping.

[Glen · Rating 3 out of 5]

On this 101st anniversary of the Easter uprising that eventually resulted in the birth of the Irish Republic (and, less happily, the partition of the six northern counties), it seems fitting to devote a few lines to this novel, which focuses on the events leading up to this event from the point of view of the community of Enniscorthy and a few of its residents. The title of the novel more or less gives away where the novel will end up, but for most of the first half of the book the political realm takes a decided back seat to the domestic as the author paints a portrait of rustic everydayness worthy of a John McGahern story. In the end, this is a book about national and community solidarity, and while it might seem a bit of republican propaganda to some in the UK, it will doubtless have resonance with those sympathetic to those who suffered under British rule in Ireland for so many centuries.