The Ballad of Mary Kearney - by Katherine Mezzacappa (Paperback)

About the Book

"I am dead, my Mary; the man who loved you body and soul lies in some dishonorable grave."

In County Down, Ireland, in 1767, a nobleman secretly marries his servant, in defiance of law, class, and religion. Can their love survive tumultuous times?

An impoverished tenant farmer sends his seventeen-year-old daughter Mary into service at the home of his Ascendancy landlord. Viscount Kilkeel, the impulsive but idealistic son of Lord Goward, lately returned from the Grand Tour, cohabits openly there with his married mistress - but at least her presence means he is not distracted by pretty servants. When Lady Mitchelstown dies, however, only Mary is willing to lay out the corpse. Impressed, Kilkeel decides to educate her and eventually falls in love. Under the Penal Laws, a Protestant and a Catholic marriage is treasonous, so to the world, Mary is his kept woman, not accepted by Kilkeel's class and shunned by her own.

Encouraged by American independence and the overthrow of the French monarchy, the calls for liberty in Ireland grow ever stronger. Through Mary's influence, James Kilkeel joins the United Irishmen and prepares for rebellion. In the space of a few weeks, around thirty thousand Irish die in the struggle, but the rising is put down without mercy.

Set in County Down, Dublin, and London, Mary Kearney's tragic story is told through letters, diaries, testimonies, and trial proceedings, giving an authentic voice to a tragic period in Ireland's tumultuous history.

The Ballad of Mary Kearney is a compelling must-read for anyone interested in Irish history, told through the means of an enduring but ultimately tragic love.

Book Synopsis

"I am dead, my Mary; the man who loved you body and soul lies in some dishonorable grave."

In County Down, Ireland, in 1767, a nobleman secretly marries his servant, in defiance of law, class, and religion. Can their love survive tumultuous times?

An impoverished tenant farmer sends his seventeen-year-old daughter Mary into service at the home of his Ascendancy landlord. Viscount Kilkeel, the impulsive but idealistic son of Lord Goward, lately returned from the Grand Tour, cohabits openly there with his married mistress - but at least her presence means he is not distracted by pretty servants. When Lady Mitchelstown dies, however, only Mary is willing to lay out the corpse. Impressed, Kilkeel decides to educate her and eventually falls in love. Under the Penal Laws, a Protestant and a Catholic marriage is treasonous, so to the world, Mary is his kept woman, not accepted by Kilkeel's class and shunned by her own.

Encouraged by American independence and the overthrow of the French monarchy, the calls for liberty in Ireland grow ever stronger. Through Mary's influence, James Kilkeel joins the United Irishmen and prepares for rebellion. In the space of a few weeks, around thirty thousand Irish die in the struggle, but the rising is put down without mercy.

Set in County Down, Dublin, and London, Mary Kearney's tragic story is told through letters, diaries, testimonies, and trial proceedings, giving an authentic voice to a tragic period in Ireland's tumultuous history.

The Ballad of Mary Kearney is a compelling must-read for anyone interested in Irish history, told through the means of an enduring but ultimately tragic love.

Review Quotes

Mezzacappa (The Maiden of Florence) whisks readers to 18th-century County Down, Ireland, for this lavishly detailed historical romance. Mezzacappa brings nuance and a great depth of historical knowledge to the cross-class romance between a servant and a nobleman. Readers who like their romance heavy on the history will be enchanted.--Publishers Weekly

Late 18th to early 19th-century Ireland comes alive in this book, as the characters speak to us from the past in dialect true to the time. There is a great deal of epistolary work, and it is woven in beautifully. Letters, articles, documents, and diary entries highlight the many voices, bringing each character to life with great effect.Honest and intriguing, this gripping saga will transport and inspire you, and it just might break your heart. Highly recommended.--Historical Novel Society

About the Author

Katherine's short fiction in a variety of genres has been published worldwide. She has in addition published academically in the field of 19th-century ephemeral illustrated fiction. She holds a Bachelor's degree in History of Art from UEA, an M.Litt. in English Literature from Durham, and a Masters in Creative Writing from Canterbury Christ Church (all UK). Katherine is a committee member of the Irish Writers Union and holds professional membership of the Society of Authors, the Historical Novel Society (she is a regular reviewer for their quarterly journal and was on the organizing committee