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The Castle Has Fallen: The Reluctant Rebel

Average customer rating:

A Wonderful Novel
An Excellent Read
The Castle Has Fallen (Fantastic Reading)
The Castle Has Fallen - A Magnificent Read

The Castle Has Fallen: The Reluctant Rebel
Jack Coyle
Manufacturer: 1st Books Library
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Historical | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1410717011

Customer Reviews:

A Wonderful Novel.......2004-01-26

Colm Fox MA, A retired History teacher and author, October 13, 2003,
A wonderful novel
It had great historic spread from the Veldt of South Africa, to the carnage of the Somme and the troubles in Ireland. This was told on various levels; the coming of age in 19th century Derry, with its social conflicts and inherent divisions, the ambitions of a working class boy to acheive social fulfillment,and a heartening love story across the sectarian divide. This was all created against a thoroughly researched historical background with acutely observed detail in both the Boer war and the great war. This novel had great pace, which kept me wanting to know what happened next combined with excellent characterisation in depth, and lively dialogue.

An Excellent Read.......2004-01-25

Barbara Scullion, A reviewer, December 15, 2003,
An Excellent Read
I thought this book was wonderful. As a devotee of this period of Irish history, this book really drove home to me the impact that the political upheaval had on peoples' lives. The main character is an absolute product of his environment: forced by circumstance to become well aquainted with his 'dark side'. This is an excellent, fast-paced read. I highly recommend it.

The Castle Has Fallen (Fantastic Reading).......2004-01-07

This book has brought back so many memories
as a young man growing up in Northern Ireland,Jack Coyle
has hit the nail on the head in so many ways.
The Troubles in the North did not start in 1967
as the rest of the world may think,we as a people
have gone through so much.
This book has now opened up a window that was closed
in my life, as some of his writing has touched old wounds
This is a fantastic book,and lets hope Jack Coyle
has more to come in the near future

The Castle Has Fallen - A Magnificent Read.......2003-12-29

The "Castle Has Fallen", tells a tale of secular hatred in Ireland. Set in the early part of the twentieth century, the story follows the life of Patrick Kyle. He is a Catholic, who is a survivor.

Patrick joined the British Army in 1900 as a young man. He did this in order to escape the boredom, hatred and bigotry of Derry. The Loyal Orange Order, a militant Protestant group, aimed to make life a living hell for all Irish.

They hated Catholics to the extreme. Violence was considered a just form of vengeance; no restraint was the order of the day. Orangemen took pride in their bigotry and were prepared to use any excuse to exercise it to the full.

Fighting in the Boer War taught Patrick how to kill. It was a skill that he excelled at. But there was a sad side effect that the war in Africa had on him. He became hardened inside and harbored a killing lust for those who would wrong him, which came straight from the gates of hell.

After the Boer War, Patrick met Hannah Smyth. She totally captured his heart and being. It meant nothing to him that her family belonged to the order of Orange Men and loathed Catholics.

He wooed and married Hannah, thus causing her family to reject her. This set the young couple off on a path that was frequently disturbed by violence. It included World War One, the Black and Tans and the murder of their young daughter Rosin.

During all of this Patrick became a lawyer with a prosperous practice. It made him materially quite well off. But like Ireland, he was in turmoil within himself.

The hatred of the Orangemen raged through the country like a flood. It was tearing both Patrick and Ireland apart. The British had backed away from the intent of the original Home Rule Bill. It transformed into the Irish Treaty. Now the legality of the six Northern Counties was assured.

This decision had a profound effect on Patrick. It forced him into a corner concerning the fate of his country, and the safety of his family. He needed to decide where his future lay.

I really enjoyed reading this excellent novel by Jack Coyle. The writing style kept my interest high from beginning to end. The period of the story is a crucial time in the history of English and Irish relations.

Those of us, who have often wondered why the fighting continues in Northern Ireland, will benefit by reading this book. The treachery of the British Government, the hatred and the passion of those involved in the crisis are well felt and described. I learnt a lot about the background leading up to the partitioning of Ireland, that I did not know before.

This is a book that both entertains and educates. It gets the reader involved in a time when dramatic changes were taking place, that effect all of us today. Jack Coyle has penned a gripping tale that thoroughly entertains.

It is indeed a book that I highly recommend.

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