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Original poster

Any recommendations for Irish historical fiction?

37 replies

CogitoErgoSometimes · 16/07/2012 11:32

I'm going to be touring Ireland next month and fancied loading the Kindle with some historical fiction to set the scene. I read Angela's Ashes not so long ago and found it rather bleak. Would rather avoid tales of nasty nuns. Is there such a thing as an un-bleak Irish historical novel?

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elkiedee · 19/07/2012 09:35

I love Ken Bruen's Jack Taylor series (which is the one set in Galway) but he does some dreadful things to the characters in the books.

Now why didn't I think of Diana Norman?

Will look into Strumpet City - I read After the Lockout by Darran McCann a few months ago, similar setting (but some rather nasty priests so may not be the OP's thing!)

24HourPARDyPerson · 18/07/2012 17:39

Try Ken Bruen for contemporary crime. I haven't read him myself - not a crime fan - but friends who are say he's great. Great sense of place, apparently, his novels are set in the West around Galway, if that's on your itenery (sp?) you may find it interesting.

nodramaplease · 18/07/2012 16:58

Diana Norman, brilliant historical novelist. Can't say there aren't bleak moments but also very good on relationships both men/women and women/women. Try The Pirate Queen (16th century). She mostly wrote about England but had a strong interest in and knowledge of Irish history as well. Fellow fans will know her primary field was the 12th century and she also had success as a historical crime novelist writing as Ariana Franklin (not set in Ireland though). Very sadly she died last year before I got round to writing a well-deserved fan letter.

TheLightPassenger · 18/07/2012 16:51

For crime: Brian McGillowray and Tana French are v v good contemporary writers. For historical crime, try Benjamin Black or Kevin McCarthy.

24HourPARDyPerson · 18/07/2012 15:56

I've always enjoyed 'Strumpet City' set in the 1910's ending as the Great War starts.
Deals with the beginnings of the trade union movement, in particular the Lock Out of 1913, and has characters of all social class. Unusual to find an Irish historical novel which takes class as it's central theme, ime.

As well as the tragedy, there's plenty of heartwarming bits too! Very Dublin in the Rare Oul Times

donnie · 18/07/2012 13:09

Sebastian Barry is wonderful, especially the Secret scripture.

Star of the Sea by Joseph O Connor (brother to Sinead!) is one of the best books I have ever read.

Dubliners (Joyce) are brilliant too.

RoomForASmallOne · 18/07/2012 11:04

Please don't read the Tony Hawkes drivel Grin

And never watch the dramatization of it.....I did and it was grim.

Pete McCarthy's 'McCarthy's Bar' is a great view of modern (ish) Ireland with more history than you would expect.

Original poster
CogitoErgoSometimes · 18/07/2012 10:46

Reading the synopsis of the Butcher Boy that sounds really interesting. I'll keep looking into the others because I read fast on holiday and we've got two ferry trips to negotiate!!! Cashelmara and mamasin's suggestions weren't available for the Kindle unfortunately but quite a few of the others are, and the Thackeray was free

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MNHQ
RebeccaMumsnet · 18/07/2012 09:00

Don't disregard McCabe. He is a bit gruesome but pretty funny too in a black comedic kind of way. The Butcher Boy or Breakfast on Pluto are my favourites.

RoomForASmallOne · 18/07/2012 08:47

John B. Keane is great at 1940/50s rural Ireland.

Wry and insightful.

mamasin · 18/07/2012 08:17

"Valley of the Squinting Windows" or "Night of the Big Wind" ?

crescentmoon · 18/07/2012 08:13

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jeee · 17/07/2012 12:56

Cashelmara, Susan Howatch

Bells21 · 17/07/2012 12:55

Year of the French - Thomas Flanagan

Original poster
CogitoErgoSometimes · 17/07/2012 06:44

I read a Binchy novel once and I'm not a fan. 90% where nothing much happened followed by 10% where the story finally got going. Having heard Joyce on the radio recently and found it rather annoying, I think I'll pass on that :) Like the sound of Divorcing Jack...

OP posts:
IamtheSnorkMaiden · 16/07/2012 22:39

The Secret Scripture - Sebastian Barry
Some James Joyce?

alana39 · 16/07/2012 21:47

bran you have transported me back to an English lesson in the 80s reading Across The Barricades!

Second anything by Colm Toibin but The Heather Blazing would fit the bill of historical better than his others.

optionalintegration · 16/07/2012 21:46

Try John Banville writing as Benjamin Black. Historical crime fiction :)

stleger · 16/07/2012 21:42

William Trevor - Story of Lucy Gault.

NoOnePutsBabyInTheCorner · 16/07/2012 21:34

Oh Bran, I loved those books I read them when I was about 14.

Also a big yy for Roddy Doyle and Colin Batemans Divorcing Jack. I love the humour in these.

What about Maeve Binchey Circle of friends, It a nice gentle book, I think it paints a good picture of rural 1950's Ireland. Trying to think of more but my mind has gone blank, so might pop back later.

Sorry Op I'm not big on crime fiction. If you get a chance when in NI you should visit the lakes in Fermanagh shameless plugBlush

bran · 16/07/2012 20:33

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bran · 16/07/2012 20:14

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bran · 16/07/2012 20:13

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CelstialNavigation · 16/07/2012 20:08

Colm Toibin is excellent - The Blackwater Lightship & The Heather Blazing both great - family dynamics in an irish setting really.

Puffykins · 16/07/2012 19:58

I second JG Farrell's Troubles. It's brilliant.