The Rebels of Ireland

The Dublin Saga

By: Edward Rutherfurd

Narrated by: Richard Matthews

Length: 29 hrs and 45 mins

Publisher's summary

The Princes of Ireland, the first volume of Edward Rutherfurd’s magisterial epic of Irish history, ended with the disastrous Irish revolt of 1534 and the disappearance of the sacred Staff of Saint Patrick.

The Rebels of Ireland opens with an Ireland transformed; plantation, the final step in the centuries-long English conquest of Ireland, is the order of the day, and the subjugation of the native Irish Catholic population has begun in earnest.

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.

His richly detailed narrative brings to life watershed moments and events, from the time of plantation settlements to the “Flight of the Earls,” when the native aristocracy fled the island, to Cromwell’s suppression of the population and the imposition of the harsh anti-Catholic penal laws. He describes the hardships of ordinary people and the romantic, doomed attempt to overthrow the Protestant oppressors, which ended in defeat at the Battle of the Boyne in 1690, and the departure of the “Wild Geese.”

In vivid tones Rutherfurd re-creates Grattan’s Parliament, Wolfe Tone's attempted French invasion of 1798, the tragic rising of Robert Emmet, the Catholic campaign of Daniel O’Connell, the catastrophic famine, the mass migration to America, and the glorious Irish Renaissance of Yeats and Joyce. And through the eyes of his characters, he captures the rise of Charles Stewart Parnell and the great Irish nationalists and the birth of an Ireland free of all ties to England.

A tale of fierce battles, hot-blooded romances, and family and political intrigues, The Rebels of Ireland brings the story begun in The Princes of Ireland to a stunning conclusion.

©2006 Edward Rutherfurd (P)2006 Books on Tape

Critic reviews

"Ambitious in scope, teeming with a huge cast of finely drawn and realized characters, and dripping with authentic historical detail, this lengthy but eminently readable narrative will satisfy the appetites of discerning historical fiction aficionados." (Booklist)

“A giant, sprawling, easy-to-read story told in James Michener fashion.” (Maeve Binchy)

“A sweeping, carefully reconstructed portrait of a nation...Leaps through the centuries.” (New York Times)

Ireland made real

I’ve read several of Rutherford’s books and enjoyed them (all except “Paris”) very much, but this one brought Ireland to life for me as no other book has. Finally I feel like I understand at least a little of the political issues.

The Princes of Ireland book provides a valuable background to this one - I’d recommend reading that one first, but if choosing between them, this one can stand alone.

Amazing historical fiction

Simply wonderful. I loved this book from start to finish. Accurate and compelling to the last

entertaining

an entertaining way to learn about Irish history and culture. The narrator's use of accents was instructive.

Epic, well written - read the book before it.

Love this saga. I have listened to both books twice, and following the family lines and themes that Rutherford weaves is a joy. I totally lost myself in the story.

Very good

I finally finished this second volume, having listened to the first one several years ago in anticipation of a trip to Ireland. As typical for Rutherfurd books, whole centuries fly by. The rebellion that gives Ireland it's freedom after 600 years of British rule is only briefly covered. I've read other Rutherfurd books and this double volume set is one of my favorites.

Sad to be finished

Loved the characters intertwined through the story of so many years, changes, wars yet the thread continues

A Wonderful Story

This is an excellent follow-up to the first book - The Princes of Ireland. The introduction is Very helpful as it gives a brief review of the first book and refreshes the memory as to family names. The narrator is again Excellent and the stories unfold at a good pace -- most moving to me was the horrible description of death and disease from the Famine - very moving. One also comes to better understand the age-old religous problems that continue today. Even the last story - which moves a bit too quickly over the last 40 years of the book - has a very moving ending. Highly recommend - But read this after the first one

Wonderful Journey

Natator did a great job. Easy to follow. Now onto finding the next adventure. Highly recommend.

Wonderful and heartbreaking.

Superior novel and history of Ireland. The history of Ireland heartbreaking, especially the rebellions and potato famine. Ecclesiastes 8:9 says - man has dominated man to his injury - and the history of Ireland exemplifies this. Both protestants and Catholics, and especially their religious leaders disobeyed the teachings of Christ; obeying those teachings would have prevented much needless bloodshed and wasted lives.
I learned A LOT about Irish history and culture. Edward Rutherfurd is a MASTER STORY TELLER.
Very much appreciate Mr. Rutherford does not use cursing and lurid description of sex as so many authors do who make up for lack of talent.
Narrator excellent.
I recommend this book.

EXCELLENT

As usual Rutherfurd does not fail to entertain, educate and bring Irish history alive. Can't wait for Rutherfurd's "Seran" "London" and "The Forest". It's time for Audible to bring England to life!