The Black Prophet

by William Carleton

Book by Carleton, William

Genres: History, Irish Literature, Ireland, Classics

492 pages, Hardcover

Published June 1, 1997

About the author

William Carleton was an Irish writer and novelist best known for his Traits and Stories of the Irish Peasantry, a collection of ethnic sketches of the stereotypical Irishman.

Reviews

[Randy Mcbride]

I greatly enjoy historical fiction, and finding something from the time of the Irish Famine peaked my interested. As most work from this period, the story begins slow. However, Carleton develops the characters, builds tension, provides some foreshadowing, and tells an excellent story. At the same time, it added to my already extensive research into this historical era. For those interested in this time in history I would highly recommend it.

[Finnán]

Mysticism, historic Ireland, the Yeats co-sign - on paper I should have enjoyed this a lot more than I did. The Black Prophet however read as a thinly veiled apology for the middle classes and their actions during the Famine, something which made me slightly uncomfortable. Of interest, but not particularly interesting.

[Taylor Allgeier-Follett]

Probably more like a 3.5, as this period isn’t my favorite and I found it slow-going at first, but I eventually got more into it and enjoyed the plot