by Flanagan
First published 1988
Ships appear off the coast of County Mayo in 1798, carrying French troops who have sailed across dangerous waters to support Ireland's rebellion against English rule. The local Irish watch as these foreign allies disembark, bringing weapons and promises of liberation. Hope spreads through the remote western county as rebels prepare to fight alongside their unexpected allies. Yet the campaign that follows transforms initial optimism into something far darker. The French intervention becomes entangled with local grievances, personal vendettas, and the harsh realities of warfare in the Irish countryside. What began as a moment of possibility for Irish independence becomes a story of dreams crushed under the weight of political miscalculation and military defeat. The rebellion leaves its mark on every participant, from French officers far from home to Irish farmers who dared to imagine freedom.
Genres: historical-fiction, 20th-century, 19th-century, historical-drama
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, fish-out-of-water
Setting: County Mayo, Ireland
Period: 1798
642 pages · Paperback · Pocket
Content warnings: violence, war