After the success of The Princes of Ireland, where he portrays the most significant events in Irish history up to the 16th century, Edward Rutherfurd visits the green plains of Joyce’s land once more. The Awakening of Ireland spans the period from 1597 to the first decades of the 20th century. Through the daily lives of generations of various families affected by the social and political upheavals of the time, he outlines the profile of this country and its people, transforming one of the most intriguing European nations into a character.

At the height of the Reformation and Counter-Reformation, Ireland’s fate will be inexorably altered by the emergence of a key figure in European history: Oliver Cromwell. His rise to power and campaign in Ireland mark the beginning of an era characterized by Protestant dominance, relegating Catholic citizens to the background. The discovery of the New World, the commotion caused by the French Revolution, and the Great Famine are other significant episodes addressed by Rutherfurd.

In The Awakening of Ireland, Rutherfurd once again demonstrates his talent for blending fiction and reality in a compelling novel that tackles historical events as well as religious and political conflicts, murders, and wars. He also provides a beautiful portrayal of the formation and development of the country and its inhabitants. Against the backdrop of Ireland’s dramatic political history, he revisits family dynasties such as the Walshes and the Doyles, whose epic…