⸺ HETTY: The Story of an Ulster Family. Pp. 322. (Laurie). 6s. 1911.
Essentially what the sub-title suggests, a domestic story, with careful delineation of character for its chief interest. Old Dell is perhaps the central figure, an old Northern farmer, reserved, silent, conservative, with his love of the land and his unwillingness to part with his authority, even to the end. Then there is the contrast between Hetty, quiet, retiring, peace-loving, and her wilful, wayward younger sister Rhona, lively, quick of tongue, and beautiful. The coming of Rhona makes shipwreck of poor Hetty’s happiness and well-nigh brings tragedy into the family life. A quiet, slow-moving story, intensely faithful to reality. “Problems” are in the background but are not wearisomely worked out. There is an occasional gleam of humour, but there is much true pathos.
BUNBURY, Selina. Daughter of Rev. Henry Bunbury. Born about 1804, probably in Kilsaran House, County Louth, and lived at Beaulieu. First work published in 1821, and for fifty years she was a prolific author, her last appearing in 1870. After the death of her parents, she began to travel, and visited every country in Europe except Turkey, recording her adventures in many volumes. Her most successful work was Coombe Abbey: an Historical Tale of the Days of James 1st. (Curry, Dublin, 1843). She died at Cheltenham sometime in “the seventies,” and some of her works are still reprinted.
⸺ CABIN CONVERSATIONS AND CASTLE SCENES. Pp. 173. (Nisbet). One illustr. 1827.
Period 1815, but public events are not dealt with.
⸺ MY FOSTER BROTHER. Pp. 134. (Tims). [1827]. Second edition, 1833.
Alick, foster-brother to Mr. Redmond’s boy, converts the latter, Bible in hand. The boy dies a pious death.
⸺ THE ABBEY OF INNISMOYLE: A Tale of another Century. Pp. 336. (Curry). [1828]. Second edition, 1829. Engraved frontisp.
Consists largely of the history of the Abbey from its foundation in the twelfth century. The story is very rambling and obscure. Introduces, incidentally, a “cold, ambitious plotting Jesuit,” and inveighs against the “monstrous creed of Jesuitism.” The Abbey is in “an unfrequented part of the north-western coast of Ireland.” We take leave of it in Protestant hands.