The Rebels of Ireland: The Dublin Saga (2006)

It may have been a mistake to attempt reading two Edward Rutherfurd books in one year, but since it took me until 2018 to actually finish it I won’t quite count it as a faux pas. I briefly grew weary of the historic melodrama during the chaotic cross-provincial move, but I found my bearing again in mid-December once things had settled down a bit. This second book about the families of Dublin and the surrounding area was a lot less romantic than the Princes of Ireland, but it seems fitting since the main themes are centred around English political influence and the ensuing violence and political agitation by the native Irish in promotion of Home Rule. I still can’t say that I fully understand Irish politics, but the family infighting and fracturing of clans does make it seem a little bit more sensical - everyone is fighting everyone in what’s essentially clan warfare on a grander scale. A bit ridiculous in hindsight, but I’m looking at the situation from many years in the future and from across an entire ocean. Eventually I may attempt to study Irish history again, but for now I’ll stick with enjoying the literature and ancient celtic culture. ( )

This book is the sequel to Rutherfurd's "Princes of Ireland". The story is dominated by the hostility of the English Protestants towards the Catholics, and the Catholic hostile resistence to the English (Catholic/Protestant) )Organge versus Green) (England versus Ireland). The story is told through the lives of several fictional and fictionalized families.

Dublin Saga
Beyond the Pale (outside Dublin) — with mystical Celtic Cross
Wild geese — Catholics fled Ireland
Ulster more Prot. than Cath.'s
Home rule was Rome rule to them
Irish from everywhere, Viking, French, Italian, British — great achievements outside Ireland

Edward Rutherfurd brings history to life through the tales of families whose fates rise and fall in each generation: Brothers who must choose between fidelity to their ancient faith or the security of their families; a wife whose passion for a charismatic Irish chieftain threatens her comfortable marriage to a prosperous merchant; a young scholar whose secret rebel sympathies are put to the test; men who risk their lives and their children’s fortunes in the tragic pursuit of freedom, and those determined to root them out forever. Rutherfurd spins the saga of Ireland’s 400-year path to independence in all its drama, tragedy, and glory through the stories of people from all strata of society--Protestant and Catholic, rich and poor, conniving and heroic.

Basically another history of Ireland as told through the story of several families (the same families that began with the "Princes of Ireland"). Irish, English, Catholic, Protestant, Presbyterian, all get muttled together; there are never completely clear lines of who is opposing who and who is supporting who. The story begins in 1597 and takes the reader up to the declaration of Irish independence from England in the early 1900's. ( )

A blockbuster, bought to read up on Ireland, having been there several times. Like so many other books, I haven't yet got round to reading it, but will try to do so one day