Title: Tipperary
Author: Frank Delaney
Pages: 445
Genre: Historical Fiction

Skye’s Rating: 3.5/5

About

First through the fictional eyes of Charles O’Brien, and then later joined by many others, Tipperary tells the story of Ireland’s gradual rebellion from England’s control and eventual independance. Charles is an Irish man who has ties with both the Catholic, “real” Irish and the Protestant, Anglo-Irish (English aristocracy whose families moved to Ireland to rule). Likewise, he holds a rare, neutral viewpoint as he tells his story against the backdrop of Ireland’s War of Independance.

His journal is found in today’s time by an Irish history professor who discovers the journal and fills in historical background relating to Charles’s story–until he discovers a hidden secret from both his and Charles’s past. He also draws from other sources: the journal of an Irish IRA fighter named Harney who befriended Charles, the journal of Charles’s mother, and letters from an Englishwoman who has ties to Irish aristocracy named April Burke.

Skye’s Thoughts

It took me almost a month to read this; it was a very slow read but definitely worth it. It gets into the heart of how the Irish felt at that time, giving all of the background needed, while still entertaining with a fictional main plot (love story, anyone?). Frank Delaney is amazing at weaving a good story around historical fact. What I loved about Tipperary was that it showed all of the different viewpoints of the time.

I would also recommend his book Ireland. It was a faster read and had a more captivating main plot. However, I was personally more interested in Tipperary for the timeframe of historical background. Ireland covered Irish folklore.