Publisher Description

An epic tale of the Irish Rebellion.At age fifteen, Ned Halloran lost both of his parents - and almost his own life - when the Titanic sank. Determined to keep what little he has, he returns to his homeland of Ireland and enrolls at Saint Edna's school in Dublin. Saint Edna's headmaster is the renowned scholar and poet, Patrick Pearse - who is soon to gain greater fame as a rebel and patriot. Ned becomes deeply involved with the growing revolution . . . and the sacrifices it will demand.Through Ned's eyes, 1916 examines the Irish fight for freedom - inspired by poets and schoolteachers, fueled by a desperate desire for independence, and played out in the historic streets of Dublin against the background of World War I. It is a story of the brave men and heroic women who, for a few unforgettable days, managed to hold out against the might of the British Empire.

Author Biography

Since 1980, Morgan Llywelyn has created an entire body of work chronicling the Celts and Ireland, from the earliest times to the present day. Her critically acclaimed novels, both of history and of mythology, have been translated into many languages. Her books include 1916 and Bard: The Odyssey of the Irish. She is an Irish citizen and lives in Dublin.

Review

"Irish novelist and historian Llywelyn provides a fascinating account of the doomed 1916 Easter Rebellion. As fictional characters plot and fight alongside actual historical figures, the reader is swept up in both the glory and the tragedy of the doomed battle for Irish independence. . . . First-rate historical fiction that will appeal to anyone with an interest in Ireland's tragic past." --Booklist "A great, rousing tale of rebellion, love and intrigue. . . . Llywelyn's skill in bringing characters alive is her hallmark. Some strut, others lust, fear, die. . . or survive. Yet they all have a keen vibrancy that makes the Rising a reality for today's readers. Llywelyn's deft pen is a creative sword." --The Irish American Post I "The task of transforming the events of the 1916 Irish Rebellion into coherent fiction would terrify most writers. Llywelyn, however, has produced a thunderous, informative read that rises to the challenge. . . . Battle scenes are both accurate and compelling. The betrayals, slaughters and passions of the day are all splendidly depicted as Llywelyn delivers a blow-by-blow account of the rebellion and its immediate aftermath. The novel's abundant footnotes should satisfy history buffs; its easy, gripping style will enthrall casual readers with what is Llywelyn's best work yet." --Publishers Weekly (starred review) "Llywelyn is an effective re-evocator of the past, and in this book she has succeeded in capturing and vivifying one of the most critical moments in Ireland's troubled history. Her story, which blends fact with fancy, has moments of great poignancy; and throughout it is pervaded by a delicately rendered sadness. The book opens slowly, almost lumberingly, but gradually, as with something seen through rippling water, the materials of artistry become fluid, the figures depicted come alive." --The Library Journal "Llywelyn tells her tale with gusto and a respect for the facts; a good deal of both bizarre and somber history shines through the fictional fustian of its likable characters." --Kirkus Reviews

Promotional

Discover how Dr. O'Reilly began his career in the tenements of Dublin in Patrick Taylor's New York Times bestselling series. Newly married, Dr. Fingal Flahertie O'Reilly is ready to settle into domestic bliss, but there's always something requiring his attention be it a riding accident, a difficult patient, a spot of grouse-hunting, or even some shenanigans at the local dog races.

Review Quote

Praise for 1916 "Llywelyn's 1916 is a work of true creative genius. This novel, swift and exciting in its pace, will captivate those who love Ireland and are stirred by heroic virtue in the fight for human freedom." - William M. Bulger, President of the University of Massachussetts"The politics and factionalism behind the Rising are a tangled web indeed, but Llywelyn unravels them skillfully. Even those who know the story well will be surprised and rewarded by the way she brings back to life a group of brave men who went nobly to their deaths." - The Philadelphia Inquirer "Llywelyn gives us access to a period when the bullets flew and patriots gave their lives for the ideal of freedom, not knowing that from the ashes of their martyrdom an Irish Republic would be born." - San Diego Union-Tribune

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