First published 1986
The O'Malleys and the Clancys cannot escape the ghosts of Ireland's Civil War. In 1920s Cork, brothers take opposite sides in the conflict that tears their country apart. One fights for the Free State, the other joins the Republicans. Their choices echo through decades, shaping children and grandchildren who inherit old grudges alongside family names. Young Grainne O'Malley grows up hearing whispered stories of betrayal and bloodshed. Her grandfather's wartime decisions still poison family gatherings in the 1970s. Across town, the Clancys carry their own burden of memory. Their patriarch's Civil War allegiances cost him friends, land, and peace of mind. As both families struggle to build new lives, the past refuses to stay buried. Old enemies surface at weddings and funerals. Political divisions become personal vendettas. The younger generation questions why ancient battles should define their futures, but breaking free proves harder than expected. O'Faolain weaves together love affairs, business disputes, and family secrets to show how historical trauma passes from parent to child like an inheritance no one wants but cannot refuse.
Genres: irish-literature, historical-fiction, 20th-century, family-drama
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, inherited-trauma
Setting: Cork, Ireland
Period: 1920s, 1970s
368 pages · Hardcover · Carroll & Graf Pub
Content warnings: violence