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Divide the Dawn: Fight
From the slums of old Irishtown to the docks of industrial Red Hook, chaos flourishes. Factions struggle for supremacy over labor in Brooklyn and to feed families where meals are hard-won. Staking claims through blood feuds, gang wars, insurmountable poverty, influenzas and mystical snowstorms. All foretold in the prophecies of the aged, unkempt augurs from the Great Hunger who'd founded this place on the windy waterfront in the 1840s.
It is a tale in which many call upon the past to guide them, while others look to the future for hope. Where enormous brawls can determine power, and defiance of law can save lives. Here men are killed in the streets for breaking codes of silence, boys become Soldiers of the Dawn; and girls either marry out of the slums, or become property.
Against a backdrop of ritual bareknuckle fights and incestuous love. Where the dead haunt in more than just memory, victory often comes to those with the coldest, cruelest hearts. For when dawn breaks, the darkness of the past and the light of the future clash.
It is a tale in which many call upon the past to guide them, while others look to the future for hope. Where enormous brawls can determine power, and defiance of law can save lives. Here men are killed in the streets for breaking codes of silence, boys become Soldiers of the Dawn; and girls either marry out of the slums, or become property.
Against a backdrop of ritual bareknuckle fights and incestuous love. Where the dead haunt in more than just memory, victory often comes to those with the coldest, cruelest hearts. For when dawn breaks, the darkness of the past and the light of the future clash.
600 pages, Paperback
First published April 18, 2020
31 people are currently reading
1450 people want to read
About the author
Eamon Loingsigh
7 books100 followersEamon Loingsigh (sounds like Lynch), is a Brooklyn-based author and journalist. He has had seven critically acclaimed books published and was short-listed for the Langum Prize, among others.
http://artofneed.com
http://artofneed.com
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
May 11, 2020
Special thanks to the author and the publisher for a free copy of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
“Divide the Dawn: Fight” is the third full-length novel by Eamon Loingsigh, an American author whose previous works include a short story and a book of poetry. He tackles a rather lengthy full-length novel with this one, at over 600 pages. It’s a hard novel to classify as far as genre goes but my best guess would be somewhere in the historical fiction category. I can’t really give a synopsis of the story, except to say it has an “Irish Gangs of New York” type feel.
Set in the early 20th century, Irish settlers have been coming to New York, desperate for a new life, only to be abused, ignored and abandoned by the Americans. Used for their cheap labour, most of the Irish immigrants are living in abandoned buildings or shanty towns, raising their children in the slums. Out of the Irish population, two “gangs” emerge, The White Hand, led by persuasive Irishmen, and The Black Hand, led by a strong band of Italians, and both gangs are desperate to take over the leadership of the Irish colonies that have established near the Brooklyn Bridge.
The story is narrated from various perspectives, and tells the story of the struggles of the Irish immigrants during this time, as well as the various fights and battles for power and control. Loingsigh’s characters are extremely numerous in this novel. There are so many I cannot name them all, and it takes a while to differentiate and give personalities to all of them as you read. Members of both “gangs” are featured, and these are numerous enough, but then you take into account the policemen, the women and the up-and-comers, and it is easy to get lost in the multitudes. Each chapter is narrated by a different character (although some repeat) but they are not labeled, so often it takes you a few pages to determine who the protagonist of that particular chapter is.
Loingsigh has some innate writing talent, as the book is written very well. The Irish brogues are evident in the conversations, and it leads to a vivid mental imagining of the setting and interactions. However, there is no specific plot to speak of, simply a telling of the stress and struggles of the times, all leading up to a climactic fight.
There are a few thoroughly enjoyable parts of the novel (such as the son-in-law on the police force who murders his father-in-law in order to achieve a Captain position) and I actually really enjoyed the female perspectives. All of Loingsigh’s female characters are strong and brazen, and although there are some “slatterns”, they are depicted as survivors, doing what they can to keep their families fed and safe. Overall, the novel was informative and thought-provoking, and it is evident that Loingsigh has some writing talent.
The numerous characters can get intimidating, and I would’ve liked a more concrete plot, focused on a few characters, as opposed to the perspectives of each and every individual. The ending was left open-ended, as Longsingh hints at a sequel, but it was still satisfying. Definitely a novel for those who want to learn about this particular time in history, and are willing to make the commitment.
“Divide the Dawn: Fight” is the third full-length novel by Eamon Loingsigh, an American author whose previous works include a short story and a book of poetry. He tackles a rather lengthy full-length novel with this one, at over 600 pages. It’s a hard novel to classify as far as genre goes but my best guess would be somewhere in the historical fiction category. I can’t really give a synopsis of the story, except to say it has an “Irish Gangs of New York” type feel.
Set in the early 20th century, Irish settlers have been coming to New York, desperate for a new life, only to be abused, ignored and abandoned by the Americans. Used for their cheap labour, most of the Irish immigrants are living in abandoned buildings or shanty towns, raising their children in the slums. Out of the Irish population, two “gangs” emerge, The White Hand, led by persuasive Irishmen, and The Black Hand, led by a strong band of Italians, and both gangs are desperate to take over the leadership of the Irish colonies that have established near the Brooklyn Bridge.
The story is narrated from various perspectives, and tells the story of the struggles of the Irish immigrants during this time, as well as the various fights and battles for power and control. Loingsigh’s characters are extremely numerous in this novel. There are so many I cannot name them all, and it takes a while to differentiate and give personalities to all of them as you read. Members of both “gangs” are featured, and these are numerous enough, but then you take into account the policemen, the women and the up-and-comers, and it is easy to get lost in the multitudes. Each chapter is narrated by a different character (although some repeat) but they are not labeled, so often it takes you a few pages to determine who the protagonist of that particular chapter is.
Loingsigh has some innate writing talent, as the book is written very well. The Irish brogues are evident in the conversations, and it leads to a vivid mental imagining of the setting and interactions. However, there is no specific plot to speak of, simply a telling of the stress and struggles of the times, all leading up to a climactic fight.
There are a few thoroughly enjoyable parts of the novel (such as the son-in-law on the police force who murders his father-in-law in order to achieve a Captain position) and I actually really enjoyed the female perspectives. All of Loingsigh’s female characters are strong and brazen, and although there are some “slatterns”, they are depicted as survivors, doing what they can to keep their families fed and safe. Overall, the novel was informative and thought-provoking, and it is evident that Loingsigh has some writing talent.
The numerous characters can get intimidating, and I would’ve liked a more concrete plot, focused on a few characters, as opposed to the perspectives of each and every individual. The ending was left open-ended, as Longsingh hints at a sequel, but it was still satisfying. Definitely a novel for those who want to learn about this particular time in history, and are willing to make the commitment.
April 7, 2020
In 1908, 7 year old Liam runs through the "Otherworld" when a thick fog takes over the Irish countryside, bringing with it a druid storyteller from the past who augurs the future. Wow, what a start to a wild and often dangerous adventure. And young Liam is SOOO lovable (in the beginning, lol).
The major theme of this book is the straddling of the present between the past (darkness) and the future (the light) whereas throughout most of the book, the present is the year 1919. There, we take the POV of a few other characters and along the way, as they learn their roles within the prophecy outlined early on, the book comes together in a collection of intriguing reveals and earth-shattering scenes. Loingsigh is certainly not afraid to kill off a character that you have become invested in, which opens the door for others to step through the threshold and take control of their own fate.
Along with Liam there is the wily Anna Lonergan, a girl who throws as many punches as she receives. And Wild Bill, the WWI vet who "ate enough mustard gas to kill a stegosaurus."
Then there is Quick Thos (short for Thomas) Carmody who has a witty one-liner for every conversation. Sadie is the wife of the gang leader who took off with their son when she saw Brooklyn was swirling around like a turd in the toilet bowl. She puts her big girl panties on and makes a man pay for his abusing her. And the hated Daniel. Oh jeez what a little shit with a big ego Daniel is. The guy you love to hate. Even Al Capone makes an appearance.
By the end, the main players have taken their spots just in time for the big fight which brings them all together.
Five stars. Hoping for a sequel as the author seems open to.
Thanks to the publisher for the ARC!
The major theme of this book is the straddling of the present between the past (darkness) and the future (the light) whereas throughout most of the book, the present is the year 1919. There, we take the POV of a few other characters and along the way, as they learn their roles within the prophecy outlined early on, the book comes together in a collection of intriguing reveals and earth-shattering scenes. Loingsigh is certainly not afraid to kill off a character that you have become invested in, which opens the door for others to step through the threshold and take control of their own fate.
Along with Liam there is the wily Anna Lonergan, a girl who throws as many punches as she receives. And Wild Bill, the WWI vet who "ate enough mustard gas to kill a stegosaurus."
Then there is Quick Thos (short for Thomas) Carmody who has a witty one-liner for every conversation. Sadie is the wife of the gang leader who took off with their son when she saw Brooklyn was swirling around like a turd in the toilet bowl. She puts her big girl panties on and makes a man pay for his abusing her. And the hated Daniel. Oh jeez what a little shit with a big ego Daniel is. The guy you love to hate. Even Al Capone makes an appearance.
By the end, the main players have taken their spots just in time for the big fight which brings them all together.
Five stars. Hoping for a sequel as the author seems open to.
Thanks to the publisher for the ARC!
May 22, 2020
A hard hitting look at life in Brooklyn as it really was
November 28, 2020
Choose carefully
Long drawn out lack story full of snatches of what opposed to be Irish cliches. ? Let wondering just what have I read and what the story plot. Skips about to much maybe it went for me this prosaic work.
Long drawn out lack story full of snatches of what opposed to be Irish cliches. ? Let wondering just what have I read and what the story plot. Skips about to much maybe it went for me this prosaic work.
Want to read
April 8, 2020I want to read this so bad. This is the story in my daydreams and the history in my soul. This novel deserves my love.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews