What do you think?
Rate this book
Down The River
Book by Donn Byrne
72 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1968
12 people are currently reading
177 people want to read
About the author
Donn Byrne
163 books10 followersIrish novelist Donn Byrne was born Brian Oswald Patrick Donn-Byrne in New York on 20 November 1889. His Irish parents were on a business trip at the time, so soon after he returned with them to Ireland. He grew up being equally fluent in Irish and English, growing up in an area were Gaelic was still spoken.
He turns up as a singing, fair-haired boy in the annals of Bulmer Hobson's Irish volunteer movement: in 1906, when he was 14, he went to a meeting with Hobson and Robert Lynd of the London Daily News. Lynd wrote of that meeting, mentioning the singing of a little fair haired boy—that is, Donn Byrne. It was through Hobson that Byrne acquired his taste for Irish history and nationalism. In 1907 he went to the University of Dublin to study Romance languages. While at the school he published in The National Student, the student magazine. After graduation he continued his studies in Europe, hoping to join the British Foreign Office. It is related that he "turned down his PhD" when he learned that he would have to wear evening clothes to his early morning examinations, which he apparently felt that no true Irish gentleman would ever do.
Giving up the Service, he returned to New York in 1911, where he began working first for the Catholic Encyclopedia, the New Standard Dictionary, and then the Century Dictionary. In February 1912 his poem "The Piper" appeared in Harper's magazine. His first short story, "Battle," sold soon after to Smart Set magazine for $50.00, appearing in the February 1914 issue. He sold more stories to various magazines. Some of these were anthologized in his first book, Stories Without Women, 1915. then began working on his first novel, The Stranger's Banquet (1919). He was a prolific novelist and short-story writer from this point on; the novel Field of Honor was published posthumously in 1929. His poems were collected into an anthology and published as Poems (1934).
Despite both his wife's success as a playwright, and his own increasing popularity as an author, the family's financial straits forced them to sell up their house in Riverside, Connecticut, and return to Ireland. Eventually the family bought Coolmain Castle near Bandon in County Cork. He lived here until his death in a car accident due to defective steering in June 1928. He is buried in Rathclarin churchyard, near Coolmain Castle. His headstone reads, in Irish and English: "I am in my sleeping and don't waken me."
Source
He turns up as a singing, fair-haired boy in the annals of Bulmer Hobson's Irish volunteer movement: in 1906, when he was 14, he went to a meeting with Hobson and Robert Lynd of the London Daily News. Lynd wrote of that meeting, mentioning the singing of a little fair haired boy—that is, Donn Byrne. It was through Hobson that Byrne acquired his taste for Irish history and nationalism. In 1907 he went to the University of Dublin to study Romance languages. While at the school he published in The National Student, the student magazine. After graduation he continued his studies in Europe, hoping to join the British Foreign Office. It is related that he "turned down his PhD" when he learned that he would have to wear evening clothes to his early morning examinations, which he apparently felt that no true Irish gentleman would ever do.
Giving up the Service, he returned to New York in 1911, where he began working first for the Catholic Encyclopedia, the New Standard Dictionary, and then the Century Dictionary. In February 1912 his poem "The Piper" appeared in Harper's magazine. His first short story, "Battle," sold soon after to Smart Set magazine for $50.00, appearing in the February 1914 issue. He sold more stories to various magazines. Some of these were anthologized in his first book, Stories Without Women, 1915. then began working on his first novel, The Stranger's Banquet (1919). He was a prolific novelist and short-story writer from this point on; the novel Field of Honor was published posthumously in 1929. His poems were collected into an anthology and published as Poems (1934).
Despite both his wife's success as a playwright, and his own increasing popularity as an author, the family's financial straits forced them to sell up their house in Riverside, Connecticut, and return to Ireland. Eventually the family bought Coolmain Castle near Bandon in County Cork. He lived here until his death in a car accident due to defective steering in June 1928. He is buried in Rathclarin churchyard, near Coolmain Castle. His headstone reads, in Irish and English: "I am in my sleeping and don't waken me."
Source
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
July 30, 2024
بعد محاولات عديدة في البحث عن روايات في مكتبة جدي المليئة بالكتب الدينية عثرت علي هذه القصة ، قصة انجليزية كانت مقررة علي والدتي في المرحلة الثانوية ، القصة لطيفة و ممتعة لانها مغامرة ولكنها مناسبة للاطفال
January 2, 2015
I love this story because It was my first book open me the gate of reading. It was recommended to me by my classmate in 2nd prep school.
It's exciting_ risky story . I like this adventure and I hope one day to go on similar one. It makes me feel that I mix with the nature , forest , sky , water and green color . The falls of the water , the chirping of birds and the wonderful scene make you reach the internal peace.
Wow , How gorgeous is this ! ^^
Thanks Hager For this recommendation :)
It's exciting_ risky story . I like this adventure and I hope one day to go on similar one. It makes me feel that I mix with the nature , forest , sky , water and green color . The falls of the water , the chirping of birds and the wonderful scene make you reach the internal peace.
Wow , How gorgeous is this ! ^^
Thanks Hager For this recommendation :)
December 4, 2025
بسم الله توكلنا على الله😍
تم إنتهاء من ترجمة أول رواية قصيرة لى، كانت رحلة ممتعة جدا ☺️
أتمنى أن تكون رحلتكم ممتعة أيضآ بقرائتها 😇
منتظرة رأيكم فى أى وقت 💕
لينك تحميل الرواية بشكل مجانى : https://files.fm/walaa.muhammad.musta...
#ولاء_محمد_مصطفى
#walaa_muhammad_mustafa
تم إنتهاء من ترجمة أول رواية قصيرة لى، كانت رحلة ممتعة جدا ☺️
أتمنى أن تكون رحلتكم ممتعة أيضآ بقرائتها 😇
منتظرة رأيكم فى أى وقت 💕
لينك تحميل الرواية بشكل مجانى : https://files.fm/walaa.muhammad.musta...
#ولاء_محمد_مصطفى
#walaa_muhammad_mustafa
September 1, 2020
The best english story I read during my childhood. Read it more than once and enjoyed it every time. I hope I could get a new copy.
Want to read
November 21, 2021Will love to read one more time after almost fifty years ...So many memories.
Want to read
March 16, 2022I read this book in the 90's , can anyone share me the link for an E-book of Down the River.
This is one of the few books as a must read for kids,
This is one of the few books as a must read for kids,
March 7, 2024
3-4 Stars
من اول الكتب اللي قرأتها
اتذكر انها عجبتني جدا
رغم صغرها ولكنها اخذت مني ايام كنت لسة صغير
من اول الكتب اللي قرأتها
اتذكر انها عجبتني جدا
رغم صغرها ولكنها اخذت مني ايام كنت لسة صغير
Read
May 8, 20240
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews