A stunning fictionalised portrait of a truly fascinating family, and an intimate view of a century of Irish history Starting in the tranquil idyll of a Donegal village in 1915, The Family on Paradise Pier follows the extraordinary journeys of one Irish family through the War of Independence, the General Strike in Britain, the dangerous streets of 1930's Moscow, the Spanish Civil War and on to Soviet gulags,Irish Internment camps and London during the Blitz. The Goold Verschoyle children are born into a respected freethinking Protestant family in a Manor House alive with laughter, debate and fascinating guests. But the world of picnics and childish infatuations is soon under threat as political changes within Ireland and the wider world encroach upon their private paradise. Bolger superbly recreates a family in flux, driven by idealism, racked by argument and united by love and the vivid memories of childhood. The Family of Paradise Pier shows Bolger at the height of his powers as a master storyteller. It is a spellbinding and magnificent achievement.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
Review
'Joyce, O'Flaherty, Brian Moore, a fistful of O'Briens, this is a succulent Who's Who of Irish writing, and Dermot Bolger is of the same ilk. An exceptional literary gift.' Independent 'This novel is profoundly original and daring, shedding light on a version of Ireland about which most of us know almost nothing. More importantly, it is also a hauntingly beautiful piece of work, broad in scope, passionate in execution. Bolger combines the subtlety of a poet with the artistry of a master storyteller. His writing is an absolute pleasure. ' Joseph O Connor, author of Star of the Sea 'Dermot Bolger's vision is ragingly incandescent. He has been described as Dublin's Pasolini, and truly his work exerts a cinematic grip. Bolger is to contemporary Dublin what Dickens was to Victorian London: archivist, reporter, sometime infuriated lover. Certainly, no understanding of Ireland's capital at the close of the 20th century is complete without an acquaintance with his magnificent writing.' Joseph O'Connor
About the Author
Dermot Bolger was born in Dublin in 1959. His novels and plays have won many awards, in Ireland and internationally. He has also published several volumes of poetry. Bolger has been a notable and energetic champion of new Irish writers in his capacity as founder-publisher of Raven Arts Press, which he ran until 1992, whereafter he went on to start New Island Books. He is also the editor of the Picador Book of Contemporary Irish Writing, and editor of Finbar's Hotel and Ladies' Night at Finbar's Hotel.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Fascinating, engrossing,
This review is from: The Family on Paradise Pier (P.S.) (Paperback)
Fascinating fictional account of the life and times of the Anglo-Protestant Goold Verschoyle family, whose idyllic life in Donegal becomes shattered by World War I, the Irish revolution and Civil War, as well as long-simmering sibling rivalry and family guilt about its relative wealth amidst poverty. Two of the three brothers turn to Communism while their sister -- the sheltered, romantic Eva -- learns to accommodate the realities and compromises of life without surrendering herself to them. Events take the family from rural Ireland to Dublin to London to the Spanish Civil War to Moscow and to Stalin's Gulags. Compulsively readable -- I devoured most of it in one sitting -- it's one of the most insightful novels about class and the personal relationship to it that I've read. Includes cameo appearances by Brendan Behan and James Gralton, among others.
And, it's based on the on an actual family named Goold Verschoyle. Bolger met the character based on Eva over 30 years ago, taped many of their conversations, and waited for them to ferment into a novel. Highly recommended. More on the Verschoyles here: http://www.verschoyle.org.uk/
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