+ Springf’d Republican p9a O 31 ’20 150w
MACGILL, PATRICK. Maureen. *$2 (1½c) McBride
20–13698
Mr MacGill’s new story of Donegal is a mingling of pathos and humor, hard toil and grim poverty, beauty and stark tragedy. Maureen, the daughter of Kathleen O’Malley, tastes all the sorrow and loneliness of an illegitimate child and after her mother’s death leaves the parish. She has won the love of young Cathal Cassidy and he would have her stay, but long before her mother had warned her that her only happiness would lie in marrying a man outside the parish who would not have to suffer for her shame in the eyes of his neighbors, and to spare Cathal this she leaves him. She meets experiences that are bitterly cruel, but after them finds a haven with kind people and at the end of two years returns. Cathal has been faithful and it seems that their love is to bring them happiness, but tragedy overwhelms them. The war and Sinn Fein have a place in the background of the story.
“The characters in general are well drawn, and have that tragic intensity which Synge and others have made us believe to be in the Celtic blood.”
+ Ath p1242 N 21 ’19 120w
“Unmitigated truth and sincerity produce a strong reality of characters and atmosphere though not a pleasant story.”
+ Booklist 17:72 N ’20
“Such a thing to be done at all must be done exceptionally well, and Mr MacGill, with a good style at his command, has achieved a triumph.” G. M. H.