⸺ HUGH TALBOT. Pp. 473. (Duffy). 1846.
“A Tale of the Irish confiscations of the 17th century,” i.e., the reign of James I. Scene varies between England, Ireland, and Scotland. Opens in 1609. Portrait of James I. No other historical personage. Persecution, arrest, and adventures of Father Hugh Talbot. Chief interest lies in the picture of the times, which is carefully drawn. The story, however, is well told, the conversations clever and fairly natural, the character-drawing good. The Author is strongly opposed to religious persecution. The Irish localities are not specified.
⸺ THE GENTLEMAN IN DEBT. Pp. 339. (Cameron & Ferguson). 1s. (N.Y.: Pratt). 1.50. [1848]. 1851, &c.
Adventures of a penniless young gentleman trying to get a position. Depicts (after Lever), first life in Galway, among impecunious, fox-hunting, hard-drinking, duelling squires (Blakes, Bodkins, and O’Carrolls); then the vapid life of Castle aristocracy in the Dublin of the time, with its place-hunting and ignoble time-serving. Incidentally (for the author does not moralise) we have glimpses of the working of the Penal laws. The story is an unexciting one of rather matter-of-fact courtship and of domestic intrigue. There are not a few amusing scenes, nothing objectionable, and little bias. A striking character study is that of the Rev. Julius Blake, who is of the tribe of Pecksniff, but with quite distinctive features.
[DEACON, W. F.].
⸺ THE EXILE OF ERIN; or, the Sorrows of a Bashful Irishman. Two Vols. (Whittaker). 1835.
Early 19th century. Adventures of a villain of the worst type in Ireland, England, and on the Continent. Commits almost every conceivable crime, including bigamy and embezzlement. Acts every part from strolling player to journalist and political partisan. Tells all this in first person. Incidentally the book is a bitter satire on Ireland, Irish priests, Irish politicians. Represents the “O’Connellite rabble” as capable of any outrage and O’Connell himself (under the name of O’Cromwell) as a political adventurer. Author admits not being Irish.
⸺ ADVENTURES OF A BASHFUL IRISHMAN. (London). 1862.
This is a new ed. of The Exile of Erin; or, the Sorrows of a Bashful Irishman.