King, warrior, and lover Brian Boru was stronger, braver, and wiser than all other men–the greatest king Ireland has ever known. Out of the mists of the country’s most violent age, he merged to lead his people to the peak of their golden era.
His women were as remarkable as his adventures: Fiona, the druidess with mystical powers; Deirdre, beautiful victim of a Norse invader’s brutal lust; Gormlaith, six-foot, read-haired goddess of sensuality.
Set against the barbaric splendors of the tenth century, this is a story rich in truth and legend-in which friends become deadly enemies, bedrooms turn into battlefields, and dreams of glory are finally fulfilled. Morgan Llywelyn has written one of the greatest novels of Irish history.
It’s been years now, so many years, since I first found Lion of Ireland in a small bookstore just outside of my hometown. It was a paperback stuck way down on a bottom shelf that I sat on the floor to read. And then, after reading those first few paragraphs, I took it home. This is how it began…
The little boy sat on the crown of a rocky hill, his thin arms hugging his scabby knees. He tilted his head back and gazed up into the immense vault of the sky, feeling wonderfully alone.
You know, it was this book that drove me to take a course during my under-grad years on Irish history. The interest would have been there anyway but, if I’m being honest, it was my fondness for this novel that did it. And when a few of my friends decided to try their hand at a book club and it came my turn to suggest a book, this was the one I picked, the one they came back sighing over.
Lion of Ireland firmly gripped my emotions as I read. I cried, I held my breath, I waited for any moment I could steal to read it in between school and work. Llywelyn’s writing was seamless, flowing beautifully at times and brutally at others; it was her writing that made Brian crushingly compelling.
The soft colors of late afternoon, gentle blue and lavender and apple green, were painting the earth in shades of enchantment. It was like fairyland; it was like Erin in the age of the Tuatha de Danann. Out of the misted wood beyond the river men might come riding in strange costumes, bringing new ideas, singing songs that had never been heard before. On yonder slope a city might rise to his bidding, where people could live better lives than they knew now, and the name of Brian mac Cennedi would be remembered through the centuries.
I own two copies of this book now and I revisit it every so often, but I’ve never forgotten it. If you enjoy historical fiction, Irish history, I hope you might give Lion of Ireland a try.
Okay, I totally need to read this book! Just reading about it makes me want to go back to Ireland. I think the “fair folk” in the Daughter of the Forest are supposed to be the Tuatha de Danann. Ah, the TBR list. It just keeps growing! But, I guess I don’t need to tell you that.
What a heartfelt review, Chelle! I would love to read this one. “In the days of the Tuatha de Danaan”…
And how wonderful is it to pick the book for book club that people come back sighing over? Well done!
Tricia – I think you might really enjoy this one. If and when you can ever get around to it.
Angie – It was definitely a good day, to know that they loved it almost as much as I did, and the ensuing conversation was wonderful. I really do think it’s an unforgettable book.
Sounds like a wonderful story and I like the idea of retro reviews too
Great Blog!……There’s always something here to make me laugh…Keep doing what ya do