⸺ THE HEART OF ERIN: An Irish story of To-day. Three Vols. (N.Y.: Munro: “Seaside Library”). [1882]. 1883.
Standish Clinton, a clever speechmaker, raises himself to a foremost position in Parliament. Getting into higher social circles he breaks with his faithful Mary Shields. The mystery of his birth is cleared up in the end, and he succeeds as lawful heir to the family mansion of the Hardinges. The campaign of the Land League, with which the Author is in sympathy, forms the background. The famous letter of Dr. Nulty, of Meath, is cited as an argument for land reform. Interesting picture of the peasantry.
BLAKE-FORSTER, Charles Ffrench.
⸺ A COLLECTION OF THE OLDEST AND MOST POPULAR LEGENDS OF THE PEASANTRY OF CLARE AND GALWAY.
⸺ THE IRISH CHIEFTAINS; or, A Struggle for the Crown. Pp. 728, demy 8vo. (M’Glashan & Gill). 1872.
An account, in the form of a tale, of the Williamite Wars, from the landing of James II. at Kinsale to the surrender of Galway, with all the battles and sieges (except Derry). Into this is woven large sections of the family history of the O’Shaughnessy and Blake-Forster clans of Co. Galway. This latter story is carried past the Treaty of Limerick down to the final dispossession of the O’Shaughnessys in 1770. It includes many episodes in the history of the Irish Brigade in France and of the history of the period at home (including the Penal Laws and the doings of the Rapparees). A surprising amount of erudition drawn from public and private documents is included in the volume. The notes occupy from p. 429 to 573. An Appendix, pp. 574 to end, contains many valuable documents, relating largely to family history, but also to political history. The standpoint is Jacobite and national.
“BLAYNEY, Owen,” Robert White.
⸺ THE MACMAHON; or, The Story of the Seven Johns. Pp. x + 351. (Constable). 6s. 1898.
Founded on a County Monaghan tradition. Colonel MacMahon escaping from the defeat at the Boyne entrusts his infant son to John M’Kinley, a settler. The boy grows up, falls in love with M’Kinley’s daughter, and after unsuccessfully pleading his cause with the father, abducts her. M’Kinley calls to his aid six other settlers of the name of John, pursues the fugitives, seizes them, and hangs MacMahon on the windmill at Carrickmacross. A powerful story giving a faithful picture of the times. Ulster dialect good.
[BLENKINSOP, A.]