Grania: She-King of the Irish Seas [Paperback]

Morgan Llywelyn (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 20, 2007

Grania is the basis of the new Broadway muscial The Pirate Queen.

 

Here is an extraordinary novel about real-life Irish chieftain Grace O Malley. From Morgan Llywelyn, bestselling author of Lion of Ireland and the Irish Century novels, comes the story of a magnificent, sixteenth-century heroine whose spirit and passion are the spirit and passion of Ireland itself.

Grania (Gaelic for Grace) is no ordinary female. And she lives in extraordinary times. For even as Grania rises as her clan's unofficial head and breadwinner and learns to love a man, she enters a lifelong struggle against the English forces of Queen Elizabeth -- her nemesis and alter ego.

Elizabeth intends to destroy Grania's piracy and shipping empire--and so subjugate Ireland once and for all. But Grania, aided by Tigernan, her faithful (and secretly adoring) lieutenant, has no choice but to fight back. The story of her life is the story of Ireland's fight for solidarity and survival--but it's also the story of Grania's growing ability to love and be strong at the same time.

Morgan Llywelyn has written a rich, historically accurate, and passionate novel of divided Ireland -- and of one brave woman who is Ireland herself.

 

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The 16th century pirate-chieftain Grace O'Malley, often called Grania of Ireland, bestrides the turbulent cosmos created by Llywelyn (Lion of Ireland in this lusty saga. Grania, a formidable figure of hearty appetites, is the leader of fractious Irish clans and burns with zest for her seafaring life. She endures many brutalities, narrowly escapes death several times and eventually feels the power of her challenger across the water, Elizabeth of England. Their confrontation in the waning years of their lives is one highlight of the sprawling tale. Other characters include the fabled leaders of the Irish tribes who were Grania's liegemen, and her lovers, among them Sir Philip Sidney (whose poetry did not stir her). Weaving fact and legend, at times melodramatically, Llywelyn brings to life a ferocious time, making understandable the ancient enmity of Gael and Saxon.
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"Grania explodes from the pages of Ms. Llywelyn's best historical novel yet as one of the most remarkable women who ever lived--brave, resourceful, passionate, tender, and, finally, in her battle with the English she-king Elizabeth, victorious. A book for all those who are Irish, or who would like to be, or who like to read about the Irish." --Andrew M. Greeley

"Mary Stewart has a worthy rival." -The Baltimore Sun

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Product Details

• Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Forge Books (February 20, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0765318083
• ISBN-13: 978-0765318084
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #737,910 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Gutsy Irish Lass Takes Charge, March 8, 1998

By 

"tonyclark" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Grania: She-King of the Irish Seas (Hardcover)

Truly a novel of a little remembered Irish Heroine, in a patriachial society. Morgan has given a gutsy, gravelly personification of this lady of the Seas. Her loves and her husband, not necessarily the same, are presented in a down to earth reality of the battles being fought against the crown of so called Virgin Queen. A good read, enjoyable, and nice to see some of the less written about Leaders of that time.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What a woman she was!, June 9, 2006

By 

S. Schwartz "romonko" (alberta canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Grania: She-King of the Irish Seas (Paperback)

Grania-She-King of the Irish Seas. What a wonderful experience it was to read of this remarkable woman's life. She is a contemporary of Elizabeth I of England, and she lived life on her own terms. Not for her was a life of sitting by the fire spinning and sewing. No, she needed to be out on the open seas dealing with all the natural and human elements that she met out there. We see her living life on her terms, and with the men that she was involved with. Ms. Llywelen knows how to write a story, especially when she is delving back in history in her beloved Ireland. This was a page-turner and I couldn't put it down. I read a lot of books, and most recently have been reading a lot of mysteries, but when I started this book, I realized how much I have missed my favourite genre - historical fiction.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very Good, December 13, 2003

By 

Kristina L. Thompson (CT, United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Grania: She-King of the Irish Seas (Paperback)

I really like Moragan Llywelyn, and I was glad to find a book about a female legend--Grania. "Grace O'Malley"--the name given to her by the English--is portrayed in this book as strong, fierce, intelligent, a lover, and entirely human. Grania, in her adventures, learns to outwit many people, humble herself when necessary, and manages to keep her sense of humor throughout her life. This story is for anyone who likes to have a great time reading.