Ireland

By: Frank Delaney

Narrated by: Frank Delaney

Length: 19 hrs and 29 mins

Publisher's summary

One evening in 1951, an itinerant storyteller arrives unannounced at a house in the Irish countryside. In exchange for a bed and a warm meal, he invites his hosts and their neighbors to join him by the wintry fireside and begins to tell formative stories of Ireland's history. Ronan, a nine-year-old boy, grows so entranced by the storytelling that, when the old man leaves abruptly under mysterious circumstances, the boy devotes himself to finding him again.

Ronan's search for the Storyteller becomes both a journey of self-discovery, long unspoken family secrets, and an immersion into the sometimes conflicting histories of his native land.

A sweeping novel of huge ambition, Ireland is the beautifully told story of a remarkable nation. It rings with the truth of a writer passionate about his country and in full command of his craft.

©2005 Frank Delaney (P)2005 HarperAudio

Critic reviews

"A sprawling, riveting read....Rich and satisfying." (Publishers Weekly)

The Storyteller

When away from this story, I felt compelled, or at least invited to return. I felt like the folks who listened in person to the stories: transfixed by each one.

Though not entirely accurate, or so said one of the docents when I visited the Neolithic monument in Ireland called New Grange, the history and fabric of each take held me spellbound, imagining each face, place, and character.

I felt sad at the book's end. Sad that there were no more stories of Ireland and its wealth of people.

Good book! Fun to listen too but was hard to hear

Fun to listen to, but it was hard to hear while listening in the car!

Irish History in an Engaging Storytelling Format

This wonderfully written and beautifully narrated, oral history of Ireland is a must listen. In a country where the spoken word is elevated to an art form by so many of its inhabitants, Frank Delaney’s masterpiece, will pick you up and carry you along for a wonderful ride, giving you not only the facts, but the feel of people and places over time on this magical isle. Quite lovely!

happy to hear this book

I read this years ago.
the narration is spot on
Well done Mr Delaney, thanks

Captivating!

I love stories and good story tellers. Ireland does not disappoint! The story teller is masterful.

The finest story I have heard

Words cannot express how fine the words Delaney wrote, and then performed, and how they held us utterly spellbound. We did not want his story to end or to no longer be able to hear his voice. Thank heaven there are more of his stories to be taken in by. I hope Mr. Delaney reads this, so I can give him a personal thanks from my wife and myself as I sit down and continue writing my own stories of Ireland.

Telling Stories

The author uses the device of a frame story to give us a wide range of tales in varying styles covering centuries of Irish history and legend. The frame story is absorbing. if not quite believable. I can chalk up some of the anachronisms - potatoes in the Bronze Age, Mexican pigments in the Book of Kells - to the fanciful nature of the storyteller figure. My only serious reservation about the book is that the boy whose actions dominate the narrative is not a very likable character.

Outstanding written work and narration!!!

I greatly enjoyed the interweaving of historical tales of Ireland with a young boy's pursuit of his passion. Some other reviews speak of this book as being slow, and I suppose it is to a degree. It wasn't meant to be an adrenaline rush from cover to cover. I would, however, highly recommend this to anyone who likes to feel the magic of a master storyteller fill your mind and soul.

Storeytelling at its best

I couldn't put it down. I've listened to hundreds of books and this one has got to be the BEST! This is storytelling at its finest; Delany is a master of his art and craft.

A nice story

A wonderful story woven into a historical rendering of the wandering storyteller of the Irish tradition

A soothing read in a COVID riddled time