What do you think?
Rate this book
Celtic World of Morgan Llywelyn #5
Brendan: A legendary quest from Celtic folklore
Among the saints of Ireland, he is second only to Patrick…
Brendan is all set to become an ordained priest under the guidance of his mentor, Bishop Erc, a former druid and one of Saint Patrick’s original disciples. But he harbours an insatiable wanderlust that foils Erc’s plans.
Determined to shape his own destiny, Brendan embarks on a great pilgrimage around Ireland, amassing a loyal band of followers from fellow monks to a pet raven named Preachan. Though he establishes two monasteries and rises to the rank of abbot, one dream refuses to leave him.
And so, gathering a band of brothers to his side, he leads a dangerous voyage into the unknown vastness of the ocean to seek out the mythical Isle of the Blessed.
Part-diary, part-retelling, this is an extraordinary account of a spellbinding adventure set in the thin lines where one world meets another, perfect for fans of Ken Follett and Madeline Miller.
Praise for Brendan‘A fantastical maritime expedition worthy of Ulysses; her prose is by turns reflective, lyrical and stalwart, delving into the popular legend with a genuine sense of Brendan’s human strengths and frailties’ Publishers Weekly
‘The reader remains captivated from first page to last’ Jean M. Auel, bestselling author of the beloved Earth’s Children series
‘She writes about ancient Ireland as if she just had breakfast there’ Parke Godwin, World Fantasy Award-winning SFF author
‘Morgan Llywelyn is surely the modern-day Bard of the Irish’ Beatrice Small, bestselling historical romance author
‘One of my all-time favourite authors’ Jude Deveraux, bestselling historical romance author
‘The best there is in the field of historical fiction’ Jennifer Wilde, bestselling gothic romance author
382 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 16, 2010
27 people are currently reading
517 people want to read
About the author
Morgan Llywelyn
56 books1,001 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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
May 26, 2019
Ms. Llywelyn at her finest. Delightful read.
August 25, 2016
It can be a challenging read, but then the end is worth the effort. Late in Brendan, the author, in one of the rambling, associative story threads that make this novel, Brendan mentions the "Thin Places" in the warp and fabric of creation, where other spiritual realms intrude close by our reality. The entire book, I found, lies along a seam ripped in one of these thin places.
If a reader expects a straight line narrative, then this would not be a good choice, as it wanders in and around three and sometimes four different narrative threads as well as modified quotes from the Saint's personal journals. They intersect, they diverge, they run parallel. The primary characters drift in and out of the scenes at hand with a striking resemblance to the out-and-back nature of Saint Brendan's voyages towards God, in all His forms. Some are factual, some are emotional washes fraught with color, some are allegory. All reveal the man who became a Saint, and the Saint who was a man.
As an historic reference, this book captures the diaphonous nature of the cultures of the soon-to-be, Post Roman World, very well. The author's affectionate descriptions of the nuance of the Irish language and her people remain singular in my reading experience. The book embraces Irish Catholicism as fervently as it embraces the older faiths it replaced, and makes a well-argued point for the hospitable nature of the Celtic Druids. They left a great deal of their spirit in the resulting blend of spirituality unique to Ireland and the author holds it up in clear detail within.
If you are expecting even a factual timeline or easy to follow, plotted story, you may be disappointed. This is a spiritual journey as much as it is anything else. But in that way, it pays great respect to its main character and his theology as well as the incessant motion of the sea travel that shaped his life. If these things interest you, this book will touch your heart.
If a reader expects a straight line narrative, then this would not be a good choice, as it wanders in and around three and sometimes four different narrative threads as well as modified quotes from the Saint's personal journals. They intersect, they diverge, they run parallel. The primary characters drift in and out of the scenes at hand with a striking resemblance to the out-and-back nature of Saint Brendan's voyages towards God, in all His forms. Some are factual, some are emotional washes fraught with color, some are allegory. All reveal the man who became a Saint, and the Saint who was a man.
As an historic reference, this book captures the diaphonous nature of the cultures of the soon-to-be, Post Roman World, very well. The author's affectionate descriptions of the nuance of the Irish language and her people remain singular in my reading experience. The book embraces Irish Catholicism as fervently as it embraces the older faiths it replaced, and makes a well-argued point for the hospitable nature of the Celtic Druids. They left a great deal of their spirit in the resulting blend of spirituality unique to Ireland and the author holds it up in clear detail within.
If you are expecting even a factual timeline or easy to follow, plotted story, you may be disappointed. This is a spiritual journey as much as it is anything else. But in that way, it pays great respect to its main character and his theology as well as the incessant motion of the sea travel that shaped his life. If these things interest you, this book will touch your heart.
December 2, 2023
A serious retelling of Irish legend Brendan, priest, abbot, and visionary who created many new churches, monasteries and nunneries in sixth century Ireland. Very exciting tale about his travels and voyages around the isles of Ireland, Great Britain, and the new world (America). I am literally thanking God and the wonderful author for not overly throwing in prodigious research material, as in the last book I read, and keeping the story flowing. Beautiful writing, beautiful story, touched my heart. ❤️
August 20, 2011
Morgan Llywelyn is one of my all-time favorite authors. I love her take on Celtic history and mythology – particularly the way she can tell larger than life stories and still not lose sight of the individual people at the heart of the legend. Her latest book, Brendan, tells the story of St. Brendan the Navigator who, according to legend, sailed off to find Paradise, visiting many fantastic places and having many incredible adventures along the way. It reminded me a lot of an Irish / Christian version of Homer’s Odyssey.
I can’t say that Brendan will ever be my favorite Morgan Llywelyn book. It never quite lives up to Llywelyn’s best (Lion of Ireland, Bard: The Odyssey of the Irish, Red Branch, or Finn MacCool) but it was an interesting read.
EDIT - It's been a couple of days since I read and reviewed Brendan and I think I have finally figured out what it is that falls short in this book. It feels rushed – like the author has just sort of skimmed the story. The set up is similar to more successful Morgan Llywelyn books – a single, legendary character leading a band of brothers on a great adventure. But in Red Branch, you REALLY got to know the members of the Red Branch. They had histories and personalities and you cared what happened to them. They were important to the story and important to the reader. In Finn Mac Cool, the warriors of the Fianna were fleshed out characters – goals and ambitions, skills and weaknesses. Llywelyn didn’t ignore them and focus completely on Finn. That wasn’t the case for Brendan. A couple of his fellow monks were fleshed out but for the most part they were faceless, inter-changeable props. There were three characters that traveled with Brendan on his famous journey that never even received names. And at times, the story was a bit light. Each stop on the journey to Paradise was brief, only a couple of pages and other than losing an occasional un-named character, never really seemed to have much of an impact on anything that came afterwards. Don’t get me wrong, there were parts of Brendan that were interesting to read but do not take this book to be a good example of a Morgan Llywelyn book. She has written many books that are much, much better.
I can’t say that Brendan will ever be my favorite Morgan Llywelyn book. It never quite lives up to Llywelyn’s best (Lion of Ireland, Bard: The Odyssey of the Irish, Red Branch, or Finn MacCool) but it was an interesting read.
EDIT - It's been a couple of days since I read and reviewed Brendan and I think I have finally figured out what it is that falls short in this book. It feels rushed – like the author has just sort of skimmed the story. The set up is similar to more successful Morgan Llywelyn books – a single, legendary character leading a band of brothers on a great adventure. But in Red Branch, you REALLY got to know the members of the Red Branch. They had histories and personalities and you cared what happened to them. They were important to the story and important to the reader. In Finn Mac Cool, the warriors of the Fianna were fleshed out characters – goals and ambitions, skills and weaknesses. Llywelyn didn’t ignore them and focus completely on Finn. That wasn’t the case for Brendan. A couple of his fellow monks were fleshed out but for the most part they were faceless, inter-changeable props. There were three characters that traveled with Brendan on his famous journey that never even received names. And at times, the story was a bit light. Each stop on the journey to Paradise was brief, only a couple of pages and other than losing an occasional un-named character, never really seemed to have much of an impact on anything that came afterwards. Don’t get me wrong, there were parts of Brendan that were interesting to read but do not take this book to be a good example of a Morgan Llywelyn book. She has written many books that are much, much better.
October 19, 2023
As Brendan watched with dazzled eyes, the sun painted a golden road over the sea. Somewhere along that road–he could not tell how far away–tall towers glittered. Clearly visible.
“Hy Brasail,” Brendan murmured, awestruck. “The Isles of the Blest.”
—
This is not the first novel I’ve read about Saint Brendan the Navigator, but I think I like this one better. It, at least, made more sense to me as a story, because he doesn’t go to Florida like in Buechner’s novel (which never made much sense to me). I don’t know that I agree with all the choices Llywelyn made here, though.
O-kay, I think it’s really cool that she decided to include the other Irish saints in Brendan’s story, like Erc, Ita, and Brigid, as well as a quick appearance by Gildas when he goes to Britain. At the same time, I’m not sure I like the way they’re all used. Brendan’s infatuation with Ita is the main sticking point, as she’s introduced and repeatedly referred to as *his foster mother.* He thinks of her as his guardian before his birth parents, who he did not know–this is an incredibly weird direction to take the character!
The style is also a bit…sometimes it’s third-person, and sometimes it’s first person with Brendan writing his account of his life. Which is sometimes in italics and sometimes not. And then there’s also, in bold, at the end of some chapters, the account of his voyage, which has some of the more fantastical bits, drawn straight from the medieval legend. I didn’t find it too hard to follow, but it’s a weird choice and I don’t know why it was written that way.
I like this book overall, though. It is a historical fiction novel that takes the idea of faith seriously, which I often feel like a lot of fiction doesn’t! Even if the craziest parts of the voyage are not treated as factual (except for maybe meeting Judas??), it takes Brendan’s devotion to religion, and his struggles with it, seriously. So often you see historical fiction that basically tries to treat saints as being hypocrites, or naive, or insane, and Brendan is none of those things in this novel.
This is also a great starting point for learning things. I’m not saying take the events and conversations in the book as pure facts–they’re not, and you shouldn’t assume so, it’s a novel–but you will have a handhold to start researching early Irish saints and Irish medieval mythology.
Now I’m curious to read more of Llywelyn’s work. “After Rome” was interesting, but not too satisfying. This makes me want to find more books and see what I’ll get. Which is good.
“Hy Brasail,” Brendan murmured, awestruck. “The Isles of the Blest.”
—
This is not the first novel I’ve read about Saint Brendan the Navigator, but I think I like this one better. It, at least, made more sense to me as a story, because he doesn’t go to Florida like in Buechner’s novel (which never made much sense to me). I don’t know that I agree with all the choices Llywelyn made here, though.
O-kay, I think it’s really cool that she decided to include the other Irish saints in Brendan’s story, like Erc, Ita, and Brigid, as well as a quick appearance by Gildas when he goes to Britain. At the same time, I’m not sure I like the way they’re all used. Brendan’s infatuation with Ita is the main sticking point, as she’s introduced and repeatedly referred to as *his foster mother.* He thinks of her as his guardian before his birth parents, who he did not know–this is an incredibly weird direction to take the character!
The style is also a bit…sometimes it’s third-person, and sometimes it’s first person with Brendan writing his account of his life. Which is sometimes in italics and sometimes not. And then there’s also, in bold, at the end of some chapters, the account of his voyage, which has some of the more fantastical bits, drawn straight from the medieval legend. I didn’t find it too hard to follow, but it’s a weird choice and I don’t know why it was written that way.
I like this book overall, though. It is a historical fiction novel that takes the idea of faith seriously, which I often feel like a lot of fiction doesn’t! Even if the craziest parts of the voyage are not treated as factual (except for maybe meeting Judas??), it takes Brendan’s devotion to religion, and his struggles with it, seriously. So often you see historical fiction that basically tries to treat saints as being hypocrites, or naive, or insane, and Brendan is none of those things in this novel.
This is also a great starting point for learning things. I’m not saying take the events and conversations in the book as pure facts–they’re not, and you shouldn’t assume so, it’s a novel–but you will have a handhold to start researching early Irish saints and Irish medieval mythology.
Now I’m curious to read more of Llywelyn’s work. “After Rome” was interesting, but not too satisfying. This makes me want to find more books and see what I’ll get. Which is good.
May 1, 2022
Morgan Llywelyn is a famous author who is well respected and is obviously very talented. She is a published author while I am merely a snarky blogger. I know my place in the world. However, I still hate this book with every fiber of my being.
The true villain here is the Amazon “you might like” recommendations. You are supposed to really KNOW me, Amazon. This is not the history I like. This is fiction with a little history mixed in. At least, I think. Either way, you need a time out, Amazon. You’re drunk.
The book has, as far as I can tell, multiple narrators. Some of it is third person, some of it is Brendan in the first person. All of it is infuriating. For me, if you are going to write fiction then you are free of the shackles of sticking to the script. Fiction should be constantly interesting because you don’t need to take the time to line up the facts of your story. 300 pages felt like 800. The narrative just keeps jumping and you end up caring about none of it. I think there’s some historical truth in here, but there is no way I am going to try and discern where it is.
Bear in mind, I am named after St. Brendan. Do you realize how much I wanted to love this book?
The true villain here is the Amazon “you might like” recommendations. You are supposed to really KNOW me, Amazon. This is not the history I like. This is fiction with a little history mixed in. At least, I think. Either way, you need a time out, Amazon. You’re drunk.
The book has, as far as I can tell, multiple narrators. Some of it is third person, some of it is Brendan in the first person. All of it is infuriating. For me, if you are going to write fiction then you are free of the shackles of sticking to the script. Fiction should be constantly interesting because you don’t need to take the time to line up the facts of your story. 300 pages felt like 800. The narrative just keeps jumping and you end up caring about none of it. I think there’s some historical truth in here, but there is no way I am going to try and discern where it is.
Bear in mind, I am named after St. Brendan. Do you realize how much I wanted to love this book?
August 15, 2017
This book was a difficult book for me to stomach. The rambling, choppy writing style, the fictionalization of historic characters in obscene manners, the liberties taken with the history while providing no bibliography, see also, or references used. I really can't recommend this book. Worst $3.00 I ever spent in a clearance section.
I had high hopes for this novel as St. Brendan is my patron saint and I grew up being read stories of St. Brendan. Ms Llywelyn dashed any interest for me in any of her of her other works.
I had high hopes for this novel as St. Brendan is my patron saint and I grew up being read stories of St. Brendan. Ms Llywelyn dashed any interest for me in any of her of her other works.
November 2, 2017
Llewelyn has written an interesting account of the life and voyages of Brendan of Clonfert and his various monasteries,as well as his associates. I did find it a bit disconcerting in the way various time ones were developed, although each line was set in its own distinctive typeface. At the end of his life, Brendan says "The miracles I had seen were mine to see. A different person might have seen something else, but I must look out of the eyes God Gave me." A reminder to look at life with eyes open to the miracles that surround us.
December 24, 2019
I've read several of Llywelyn's books throughout the years, and some I've loved, some I've just thought were okay. This one falls into the just "okay" category for me. While her traditional style of writing with high descriptions is still present, Brendan, for me, just wasn't a historical figure that spoke to me, and as a result I found the book to be a bit lackluster. Continued reading because the author truly has a way with descriptions, but it was one that I could have foregone and not felt the lack.
September 11, 2024
I have been intrigued with the story of St. Brendan since I read The Brendan Voyage with my daughters for school. However, while the story in this book was good, I wish it had contained more of his fabled journey to the New World. It shows up in bits and pieces throughout, but the majority of it is fictionalized accounts of his life in Ireland based on his writings. This is my first book by this author, so I might try another to see if it’s better, but I must confess I’m a bit disappointed that it didn’t relate more of his travels as that is the legend he’s best known for.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 18, 2022
borrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrring
October 2, 2025
I actually listened to the book and so may have lost some of it in the Irish accent. Interesting story about a person from church history that I knew nothing about.
November 12, 2017
I have never read any books written by Morgan Llywelyn before. I really don't know anything about St. Brendan either. Her writing style struck me as very allegorical. Now I'm interested in reading something historical about Brendan.
August 21, 2013
Set in Sixth Century Ireland, the novel reads like a biography of Brendan the Navigator, one of the most renown Irish saints. While it’s primarily written in the third person, the narrative is interspersed with the saint’s first-person recollections as if he was writing his memoir, as well as passages that purport to be from “The Voyage of Saint Brendan,” his personal account of his most legendary journey.
Brendan’s mentor is Bishop Erc, one of Saint Patrick’s original disciples and a former druid, and the connection between the druids and the early Irish clerics is one of the more interesting aspects of this novel. Erc wants Brendan to become an ordained priest, but Brendan’s wanderlust spoils the bishop’s plans. Eventually, Brendan convinces Erc to allow him to go on a pilgrimage across Ireland – the first of many such travels – and it’s these journeys that shape Brendan’s life.
His journeys also make him famous, allowing him to attract a variety of followers, including a pet raven named Preachan, who provides some of the novel’s more touching scenes. Brendan ends up founding two monasteries, including Clonfert, where he became abbot later in life. Yet it is his final journey – a voyage across the Atlantic in search of Paradise – for which he is best known, and the tale of that journey weaves itself in short narratives throughout nearly every chapter of the book. While the rest of the novel is clearly grounded in reality, this final voyage is more of a mystical, spiritual journey, complete with angels and other miraculous happenings that reminded me a good bit of C.S. Lewis’ The Voyage of the Dawn Treader.
My one criticism is that the conflict level is fairly low throughout the story, which made the book too easy at times to put down. I kept reminding myself, however, that this was never intended to be an adventure tale, but rather an introspective and spiritual journey amid a backdrop of early Celtic Christianity. Fortunately, Saint Brendan is a likeable and admirable character, so following him on his journeys was enjoyable enough and made for a fulfilling read.
Brendan’s mentor is Bishop Erc, one of Saint Patrick’s original disciples and a former druid, and the connection between the druids and the early Irish clerics is one of the more interesting aspects of this novel. Erc wants Brendan to become an ordained priest, but Brendan’s wanderlust spoils the bishop’s plans. Eventually, Brendan convinces Erc to allow him to go on a pilgrimage across Ireland – the first of many such travels – and it’s these journeys that shape Brendan’s life.
His journeys also make him famous, allowing him to attract a variety of followers, including a pet raven named Preachan, who provides some of the novel’s more touching scenes. Brendan ends up founding two monasteries, including Clonfert, where he became abbot later in life. Yet it is his final journey – a voyage across the Atlantic in search of Paradise – for which he is best known, and the tale of that journey weaves itself in short narratives throughout nearly every chapter of the book. While the rest of the novel is clearly grounded in reality, this final voyage is more of a mystical, spiritual journey, complete with angels and other miraculous happenings that reminded me a good bit of C.S. Lewis’ The Voyage of the Dawn Treader.
My one criticism is that the conflict level is fairly low throughout the story, which made the book too easy at times to put down. I kept reminding myself, however, that this was never intended to be an adventure tale, but rather an introspective and spiritual journey amid a backdrop of early Celtic Christianity. Fortunately, Saint Brendan is a likeable and admirable character, so following him on his journeys was enjoyable enough and made for a fulfilling read.
May 6, 2010
Sigh.
A book about an ancient Irish saint. There's so much potential there.
It started out enticingly with this Brendan fella on this voyage to paradise. As in, literally, he thought he could reach heaven by boat, by sailing west from Ireland. So that was cool, some mystical stuff, the rawness of a new faith still feeling the effects of the influence of paganism. But the whole pagan thing was too underplayed. It started out with these references to these mysterious hooded figures, the druids, and they were like dememtors or something, and deliciously scary. Then they were nothing but vague ideological enemies, not really even any conflict with them at all. I really wanted there to be scary druids and pagan craziness. Not so much.
Then the narrative style. It was a bit much. Passages about the journey to paradise are like intermittent travelogues interrupting the chronological story (The voyage is taken late in Brendan's life; the narrative starts with him as a young boy)and are printed in BOLD FONT. Most of the book is written in third person, Brendan this, Brendan that. Then it would jump in with little "diary of Brendan" things, where it was all in the first person (AND ITALICIZED). THEN, IN ADDITION, there were these other passages, in quotation marks, again like a diary, again in first person, but not in italics. And although none of this was prohibitive to comprehension, it seemed a bit much.
A book about an ancient Irish saint. There's so much potential there.
It started out enticingly with this Brendan fella on this voyage to paradise. As in, literally, he thought he could reach heaven by boat, by sailing west from Ireland. So that was cool, some mystical stuff, the rawness of a new faith still feeling the effects of the influence of paganism. But the whole pagan thing was too underplayed. It started out with these references to these mysterious hooded figures, the druids, and they were like dememtors or something, and deliciously scary. Then they were nothing but vague ideological enemies, not really even any conflict with them at all. I really wanted there to be scary druids and pagan craziness. Not so much.
Then the narrative style. It was a bit much. Passages about the journey to paradise are like intermittent travelogues interrupting the chronological story (The voyage is taken late in Brendan's life; the narrative starts with him as a young boy)and are printed in BOLD FONT. Most of the book is written in third person, Brendan this, Brendan that. Then it would jump in with little "diary of Brendan" things, where it was all in the first person (AND ITALICIZED). THEN, IN ADDITION, there were these other passages, in quotation marks, again like a diary, again in first person, but not in italics. And although none of this was prohibitive to comprehension, it seemed a bit much.
April 8, 2010
PW says Morgan Llywelyn’s retelling of the colorful life story of revered Irish monastic saint Brendan the Navigator is done in the form of a personal journal, written by an elderly Brendan, interspersed with third-person glimpses of the Great Voyage he undertook with 14 monks to find the fabled earthly paradise of the Western Sea, the Isles of Blest.
This book is a statement of faith and the belief in the use of self-discipline to achieve things we had not believed we would be capable of achieving. It also reveals the fear and uncertainties that each of us must overcome. I did find it difficult to keep up because there were lengthy spaces between the journal entry and the narrative.
Some of my favorite quotes are:
Or perhaps friendship is a gift from God. (p 87)
Is the concept of time something that man invented? Like truth, or justice? Are we as old as we think we are? If the soul is immortal, then the essential Me inside my body is timeless. (p 118)
Sometimes we are too busy looking for reasons to see results. (p 182)
I know now what I only suspected then. The real punishment for sin is memory. Death is the blessing that wipes it away. (p 197)
Do trees and rocks have a religion? What about animals? … The animals were not thrown out of Paradise-only humans were. (p 204)
This book is a statement of faith and the belief in the use of self-discipline to achieve things we had not believed we would be capable of achieving. It also reveals the fear and uncertainties that each of us must overcome. I did find it difficult to keep up because there were lengthy spaces between the journal entry and the narrative.
Some of my favorite quotes are:
Or perhaps friendship is a gift from God. (p 87)
Is the concept of time something that man invented? Like truth, or justice? Are we as old as we think we are? If the soul is immortal, then the essential Me inside my body is timeless. (p 118)
Sometimes we are too busy looking for reasons to see results. (p 182)
I know now what I only suspected then. The real punishment for sin is memory. Death is the blessing that wipes it away. (p 197)
Do trees and rocks have a religion? What about animals? … The animals were not thrown out of Paradise-only humans were. (p 204)
August 28, 2010
I remember reading a review of this book a while ago, and then immediately forgot that it ever existed. But a couple of weeks ago, on one of those every-book-is-one-you-want-to-read visits to the library, I saw it on the shelf, and decided to see what I thought about it.
In a nutshell: very good! It's written somewhat like Brendan's diary, towards the end of his life, where he is trying to put his reminiscences in order. The story of early Christian Ireland, where Christianity and paganism lived together, and not always happily, was one of the best parts of this book. I liked the way Llywelyn juxtaposed the religious aspects of Brendan's life with his normal, every day, human feelings and failings. I found it fascinating to read about successful attempts to bring Christianity to the people while letting them keep their pagan traditions. And I was amused at Brendan's/Llewelyn's comments about the Irish people as a group overall.
I would recommend this book to anyone interested in historical biographies, but also to those who think that Christianity - and the Catholic Church in particular - have always been the way they are today. Much like "The Sparrow," this book made me think about the hows and whys of my personal beliefs.
In a nutshell: very good! It's written somewhat like Brendan's diary, towards the end of his life, where he is trying to put his reminiscences in order. The story of early Christian Ireland, where Christianity and paganism lived together, and not always happily, was one of the best parts of this book. I liked the way Llywelyn juxtaposed the religious aspects of Brendan's life with his normal, every day, human feelings and failings. I found it fascinating to read about successful attempts to bring Christianity to the people while letting them keep their pagan traditions. And I was amused at Brendan's/Llewelyn's comments about the Irish people as a group overall.
I would recommend this book to anyone interested in historical biographies, but also to those who think that Christianity - and the Catholic Church in particular - have always been the way they are today. Much like "The Sparrow," this book made me think about the hows and whys of my personal beliefs.
February 19, 2013
I'll admit this book had a lot to live up to since Frederick Buechner's novelization of the life of Brendan is so close to my heart, but Llywelyn didn't disappoint. That being said, the book has it's challenges. It's narrative is disjointed (but not difficult to follow) and many of the large cast of characters are extremely underdeveloped. The book doesn't have a strong plot line but instead rolls along at a steady place, flowing in and out of multiple timelines and tenses. However, I was super impressed at the well researched historicity of the story, not only in not taking too many liberties with the traditional tales of the Saint, but also with understanding the nuances of Celtic Christianity at the time and the greater political and sociological climate of Ireland and England. It's not a straightforward Life, but more a series of reflections and memories on a life lived, peppered with interesting mini tales and tiny theological insights. If someone is looking for a simple recounting of the events of or introduction to Brendan's life, then this probably isn't the best book for them. But if one is willing to take a rambling romp through a time when Christianity was new and generous and close to the Earth, then Llywelyn's Brendan is a worthy guide.
April 17, 2014
I read quite a lot of Morgan Llywelyn's books when I was in college, and enjoyed them greatly. I hadn't gotten to this one, so I picked it up off my shopping list a little while ago and read through it over the past week or so. It was a solid book, nothing special, but enjoyable and a nice visit back to the author's world.
The story follows Brendan, aka Saint Brendan the Navigator, throughout his life and the voyage searching for the Isles of the Blest that secured his name in history. The story is told basically in flashback/memory format, combining the story of the titular voyage along with the story of his life from childhood through adulthood in alternating sections. It was a pleasant read, I enjoyed the characters and the setting, but I can't vouch for whether it's historically accurate. The story did seem to be largely lacking in conflict, especially after the man who raised Brendan passed on, and thus the story seemed to just go along without a strong driving force. It was lovely, and restful, but not particularly memorable despite the myriad small scenes that were well written and set like jewels into the rest of the story.
This is an enjoyable book if you've liked the author's other work or enjoy reading fiction about Ireland and its legends.
The story follows Brendan, aka Saint Brendan the Navigator, throughout his life and the voyage searching for the Isles of the Blest that secured his name in history. The story is told basically in flashback/memory format, combining the story of the titular voyage along with the story of his life from childhood through adulthood in alternating sections. It was a pleasant read, I enjoyed the characters and the setting, but I can't vouch for whether it's historically accurate. The story did seem to be largely lacking in conflict, especially after the man who raised Brendan passed on, and thus the story seemed to just go along without a strong driving force. It was lovely, and restful, but not particularly memorable despite the myriad small scenes that were well written and set like jewels into the rest of the story.
This is an enjoyable book if you've liked the author's other work or enjoy reading fiction about Ireland and its legends.
March 7, 2010
I so enjoyed this book. I didn't know much about Brendan prior to reading this and I have a whole new respect for who he was.
The book was a bit disjointed - hard to keep track of what was happening when, and what was written in Brendan's journal and what was Brendan's memory or not. But I had fun meandering down the many possibilities as I read of his adventures.
What stood out for me was the love he carried in his heart all of his life for the woman who was his foster-mother and how that love inspired him. But even more importantly, I was impressed with how he let his own inner calling direct his every choice.
Very good story. Morgan Llywelyn has done it again.
The book was a bit disjointed - hard to keep track of what was happening when, and what was written in Brendan's journal and what was Brendan's memory or not. But I had fun meandering down the many possibilities as I read of his adventures.
What stood out for me was the love he carried in his heart all of his life for the woman who was his foster-mother and how that love inspired him. But even more importantly, I was impressed with how he let his own inner calling direct his every choice.
Very good story. Morgan Llywelyn has done it again.
August 8, 2011
Being half Irish and half Scot, I loved the history. Being human, I loved the history and spiritual questions/quest even more. Not having read the author before, I was surpised at how well the book was written .. it could have been done so tritely, but was not. This was not a book about sea serpents and other oddities .. it was about love and life and strength and faith and belief. And it was a great connection between the life of Jesus Christ of Nazareth and my life today. Saint Brendan is.
June 15, 2013
I loved this book. Llywelyn always captures the atmosphere of the time and place she's writing about. Obviously, this is a novel, but she keeps the story true to the facts as well as possible when describing the life of someone who lived in the 5th and 6th centuries. Brendan the Navigator has always fascinated me, as has the dawn of Christianity in Ireland where St. Patrick managed to win converts without destroying the fiber of the existing culture. Llywelyn treated Brendan as a real person rather than a cardboard saint, which I appreciated as well. Overall an entirely satisfying read.
September 16, 2013
Moved a bit too slow in parts for me, but otherwise I enjoyed the story and characters and a look at a way of life in a long past time--when the great monasteries and repositories of knowledge were being founded in Ireland. Brendan is an interesting character--not sure what I expected from a monk and abbot of the mid first millenium, but he seems to be a charismatic presence who has his definite faith, but still struggles with the temptations of ego. First I've read by this author, and I do intend to read others.
June 12, 2015
Andrew, Main circulation staff, June 2015, 4 stars:
Another great historical novel by Morgan Llywelyn, the master storyteller of Irish history. This book tells the story of one of Ireland's most famous saints, Brendan the Navigator.
Told from three time periods of his life, you see Brendan grow from a young child, become one of the islands most respected church leaders, and follow him on his voyages, maybe even to North America.
This is a great historical novel, a great look at early Christianity, and an all around fun read.
Another great historical novel by Morgan Llywelyn, the master storyteller of Irish history. This book tells the story of one of Ireland's most famous saints, Brendan the Navigator.
Told from three time periods of his life, you see Brendan grow from a young child, become one of the islands most respected church leaders, and follow him on his voyages, maybe even to North America.
This is a great historical novel, a great look at early Christianity, and an all around fun read.
September 30, 2025
Morgan Llywelyn is one of my favorite authors because of the way she weaves Irish mythology, folklore, legend, and history into fascinating novels about the people of the Emerald Isle. Her novel, Brendan, is no exception. In this book, she tells the story of the legendary Brendan who is said to have discovered North America before the Vikings did. Llywelyn's talent for creating the setting of her story, accurate historical research, and, above all, fascinating characters shines in this novel. The characters carry the reader through the story.
Read
August 11, 2011Brendan is a fictionalised account of the life and voyages of Saint Brendan the Navigator, one of the most beloved Irish saints - described to perfection by Morgan Llywelyn, an acclaimed historical novelist who writes about both ancient and modern Irish history. I like her ancient history books best, and this one was a delight. As one reviewer remarked - "Morgan Llywelyn writes about ancient Ireland as if she just had breakfast there". She does too.
March 19, 2015
Morgan Llywelyn is a masterful storyteller and is one of the best Irish-history-themed writers around. Brendan is a wonderful blend of Irish 6th century History, folklore, religion, biography and culture wrapped in a blanket of warm and comfortable fiction. One can almost smell the turf and feel the surf in this novel. One of the best ever written on early monastic Christianity in Ireland. Find a comfortable chair and a hot cup of tea and relax with this wonder of a book. It is a rare treat.
July 22, 2011
Interesting read. Unlike anything I have read before. It was interesting reading about a time and people I know little about. It was also interesting reading about Brendan's journey through life. It was a bit slow at times, but I suppose that could be expected in a story about a wandering Irish monk!
July 31, 2011
Beautifully written prose, almost reads like an epic poem, Llewelyn mixes history, myth,legend and fiction to produce a spellbinding picture of the great navigator and Irish saint. I read it in one sitting, could not put it down and plan to read it again for the sheer beauty of the language.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews