Julia Justiss | History ReFreshed: The Wearin' O' the Green

For March, where can we look to for inspiring historical
fiction but Ireland? And as might be expected in a land of poets, leprechauns,
fairies and
tragic history, Ireland's story lends itself to passionate sagas. The first of
the two series we
'll
look at in honor of this St. Patrick's Day is a three-book historical fiction
epic featuring real
Irish revolutionaries Robert Emmet and Michael Dwyer.

In TREAD SOFTLY ON MY DREAMS, the first volume of the Liberty Trilogy, Gretta Curran Browne introduces Robert Emmet, born of the Protestant elite who rule Ireland. But though, as the son of the State Physician of Ireland, his place is among the privileged, he also grows up imbued with a deep love of the land and a strong commitment to justice. Troubled by the inequities and repression he sees around him, he sacrifices his brilliant scientific future and his standing among the elite by joining the United Irishman, a society which advocates the union of Catholic and Protestant. Deemed a traitor to his class and religion, he is forced to flee to France, leaving behind Sarah Curran, the girl with whom he's fallen in love. He returns five years later to begin his rebellion, aided by passionate Catholic Anne Devlin, who becomes his companion and courier. Full of lush descriptions of the land, Brown's first volume takes us through the early days of the revolution. In the second volume of the Liberty Trilogy, FIRE ON THE HILL, Browne's focus shifts to Michael Dwyer. A son of the Wicklow Hills, his destiny is to be a farmer, but reacting to rumors of rebellion, in 1798, the hated militia forces him off his land and into hiding. He becomes a rebel captain, a guerilla leader always on the run, his only allegiance to Irish freedom and Mary Doyle, the woman he loves. In the final book of the trilogy, A WORLD APART, the stories of Michael and Robert Emmit merge, as they become friends and try from their respective places—the Protestant aristocrat turned rebel, and the farmer turned guerilla—to move toward the free, independent Ireland of which they dream. But the powerful forces of the Castle are still ranged against them, willing to use any means informants, turncoats, and traitors to the cause—to bring them down. Ireland will not gain her independence until many years after their maiden efforts, but Browne's trilogy creates a stirring tribute to their bravery, commitment, and love of freedom. The second series we'll look at is Santa Montefiore's Deverill Chronicles. The saga opens with THE GIRL IN THE CASTLE, which introduces us to Castle Deverill, for three hundred years the home of the Deverill family. But legend claims the Deverills stole this lush land on the West Cork hills from the O'Learys, who placed a curse on the family, saying the Castle would ultimately be destroyed. But there isn't a hint of tragedy during Kitty Deverill's growing up years, when she mingles with the local families, befriending Bridie Doyle, daughter of their cook, and falling in love with Jack O'Leary. But when Irish freedom fighters clash with the British overlords and Jack enlists to fight, Kitty is trapped in a dangerous gap between two worlds. The story continues in Book 2, THE DAUGHTERS OF IRELAND . Castle Deverill was burned to the ground, but Celia Deverill, Kitty's cousin, is determined to restore it for its former glory. Though she misses her life at the Castle, Kitty herself is busy raising a family with husband Robert—but has never forgotten her first love, Jack O'Leary. Meanwhile, Bridie has emigrated to America and found wealth and success. Enough wealth and success that she is tempted to return to Ireland and reclaim a love—and a child. The trilogy concludes with THE SECRET OF THE IRISH CASTLE. When Martha Wallace leaves America to search for her birth mother in Dublin, she meets and falls in love with JP Deverill—who happens to come from the same town as her mother. When she travels there, she meets Kitty Deverill, former mistress of Castle Deverill, who has contented herself with her life with husband Robert and her children. Martha also meets Kitty's childhood friend Bridie Doyle, who is now Countess di Marcantonio and the new owner of the home in which she used to work. The three women build a bond that helps them withstand the tests that come when Jack O'Leary returns and old secrets and betrayals finally come to light.

Love, bravery, passion, commitment, jealousy, lust, betrayal,
revenge—these stories of Ireland have them all! So wear yourself some green, grab a
Guinness, and get ready to be transported to the magical Emerald Isle.

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