The Princes of Ireland

"A SWEEPING, CAREFULLY RECONSTRUCTED PORTRAIT OF A NATION... LEAPS THROUGH THE CENTURIES." –The New York Times Brilliantly weaving impeccable historical research with stirring storytelling, Edward Rutherfurd explores our shared Celtic roots in a magnificent epic of Ireland spanning eleven centuries. While vividly conveying the passions and struggles that shaped particularly the character of Dublin, Rutherfurd portrays the major events in Irish history: the tribal culture of pagan Ireland; the mission of Saint Patrick; the coming of the Vikings; the making of treasures like the Book of Kells; and the tricks of Henry II, which gave England its first foothold in medieval Ireland. Through the interlocking stories of a memorable cast of characters–druids and chieftains, monks and smugglers, noblewomen and farmwives, laborers and orphans, rebels and cowards–Rutherfurd captures the essence of a place and its people in a thrilling story steeped in the tragedy and glory that are Ireland. RUTHERFURD IS THE HISTORY TEACHER YOU WISHED YOU HAD IN HIGH SCHOOL.... While high kings, conquerors, and princes are often at center stage of the book, it is the fictional merchants, craftsmen, chieftains, and soldiers affected by their actions that make us care about the history." –San Antonio Express-News "SPELLBINDING... [A] PAGE-TURNING DUBLIN SAGA... Like James Michener and Leon Uris, Rutherfurd does a magnificent job of packaging a crackling good yarn within a digestible overview of complex historical curcumstances and events." –Booklist