1972: A Novel of Ireland's Unfinished Revolution - (Irish Century) by Morgan Llywelyn (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

A gripping tale of Ireland's tumultuous struggle for independence, seen through the eyes of a young man caught in the midst of The Troubles.

In 1972: A Novel of Ireland's Unfinished Revolution, the fourth installment of Morgan Llywelyn's epic Irish Century series, young Barry Halloran grapples with his family's revolutionary past and the escalating violence in Northern Ireland. At eighteen, Barry joins the Irish Republican Army, hoping to complete what he sees as "the unfinished revolution."

But the stark reality of the conflict shakes his convictions. Seeking a different path, Barry becomes a photographer, documenting the turmoil in the north. His personal life is equally turbulent, from a failed early love to a passionate relationship with American singer Barbara Kavanagh.

As Barry's life takes unexpected turns, his commitment to the dream of a united Irish republic never wavers, even as he finds himself at the heart of the most horrific event of The Troubles: Bloody Sunday in Derry, 1972.

Llywelyn's masterful storytelling brings to life a pivotal era in Irish history, exploring the human cost of Ireland's complex struggle for self-determination.

The Irish Century Novels

1916: A Novel of the Irish Rebellion

1921: The Great Novel of the Irish Civil War

1949: A Novel of the Irish Free State

1972: A Novel of Ireland's Unfinished Revolution

1999: A Novel of the Celtic Tiger and the Search for Peace

From the Back Cover

Praise for Morgan Llywelyn

1921

"Llywelyn continues her magnificent multivolume saga chronicling the twentieth-century struggle for Irish independence. As in 1916, she masterfully interweaves historical figures and events with fictional ones, providing both a panoramic and an intimate view." --Booklist

"It is a seamless and beautiful work that depicts the struggle of the Irish people to form a nation. . . . 1921 is an artful blend of fictional and historical characters that meet and interact with such forcefulness and directness that the reader is convinced that if history didn't happen this way, it should have; for Llywelyn's work is not the skeletal work one normally associates with history, it is fully fleshed and rich with life. . . . This is a wonderful work of history, art, and storytelling." -El Paso Times

1916

"The politics and factionalism behind the Rising are a tangled web indeed, but Llywelyn unravels them skillfully. Even those who know the story well will be surprised and rewarded by the way she brings back to life a group of brave men who went nobly to their deaths."-The Philadelphia Inquirer

"She weaves the tapestry of her story with intelligence and skill, and gives us access to a period when the bullets flew and patriots gave their lives for the ideal of freedom" -San Diego Union-Tribune

"The novel's . . . easy, gripping style will enthrall casual readers with what is Llywelyn's best work yet." -Publishers Weekly (starred review)

Review Quotes

"Llywelyn's deft pen is a creative sword." --The Irish American Post

"Morgan Llywelyn has written a wonderful, exciting book - a great reading pleasure." --Irish American News on 1921

"Llywelyn is unexcelled in her knowledge of Irish history and culture. For twenty years she has been my inspiration when it comes to meticulous research and respect for the people who lived her stories. Now, with considerable powers of description, Llywelyn explores the nooks and quirks and fearful consequences of a tumultuous time in Irish history." --Lucia St. Clair Robson

About the Author

Since 1980, Morgan Llywelyn has created an entire body of work chronicling the Celts and Ireland, from the earliest times to the present day. Her critically acclaimed novels, both of history and of mythology, have been translated into many languages. She is an Irish citizen and lives in Dublin.