The Princes of Ireland

Edward Rutherfurd has introduced millions of readers to the human dramas that are the lifeblood of history. From his first bestseller, Sarum, to the #1 bestseller London, he has captivated audiences with gripping narratives that follow the fortunes of several fictional families down through the ages. DUBLIN, a sweeping panorama steeped in the tragedy and glory that is Ireland, epitomizes the power and richness of Rutherfurd's storytelling magic.

The saga begins in pre-Christian Ireland with a clever refashioning of the legend of Cuchulainn and culminates in the dramatic founding of the Free Irish State in 1922. Through the interlocking stories of a wonderfully imagined cast of characters—monks and noblemen, soldiers and rebels, craftswomen and writers—Rutherfurd vividly conveys the personal passions and shared dreams that shaped the character of the country. He takes readers inside all the major events in Irish history: the reign of the fierce and mighty kings of Tara; the mission of Saint Patrick; the Viking invasion and the founding of Dublin; the trickery of Henry II, which gave England its foothold on the island in 1167; the plantations of the Tudors and the savagery of Cromwell; the flight of the "Wild Geese"; the failed rebellion of 1798; the Great Famine and the Easter Rebellion. With Rutherfurd's well-crafted storytelling, readers witness the rise of the Fenians in the late nineteenth century, the splendors of the Irish cultural renaissance, and the bloody battles for Irish independence, experiencing their momentous impact firsthand.

Tens of millions of Americans claim Irish descent. Generations of people have been enchanted byIrish literature, and visitors flock to Dublin and its environs year after year. DUBLIN will appeal to all of them—and to anyone who relishes epic entertainment spun by a master.