Customer Reviews

The Last Prince of Ireland

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This book ranks in the top three of my favorites by Llywelyn -- Lion of Ireland and Red Branch being the other two. Llywelyn recounts in detail the journey of Donal Cam O'Sullivan and a rag-tag group of survivors as they move across Ireland to the safety of the north and Hugh O'Neill. Over a thousand men, women, and children set out on this journey and through treachery and death only 34 make it to the north. Above all this is a story of courage and patriotism. How a small group, encouraged by a strong leader, refuses to subject themselves to an invading and unwanted monarch out to rein in control of her stolen lands. This book is very much pro-Irish, so take that into consideration, but the author has history and a long bibliography to back her up.

*The Last Prince of Ireland,* though its historical accuracy seems to be above par, does not have the same impact that other Llywelyn novels have had.

The details are rich and abundant, but instead of bringing the suffering and minior triumphs to life, they seem to weigh the novel down. Point of view shifts are numerous and abrupt, though not necessarily confusing, but I wonder about how truly effective they are. However, what bothered me the most about this novel is that the characters inspired little emotion in me. After being blown away by Llywelyn's *Lion of Ireland,* I was fully prepared to fall in love with the characters. I was waiting to be absorbed by every word, every action, every tiny detail. And I wasn't.

Though this novel is not bad by any means, it is, if you've read any other Llywelyn novel, disappointing. I would not recommend starting with this one. Read *Lion of Ireland* first to see what this normally wonderful author is capable of.

The Last Prince of Ireland, by Morgan Llywelyn, depicts in novel form the historic march from Doire na Fola near Glengarriff to Leitrim in Ulster of Donal Cam O'Sullivan, Lord of Beare and Bantry, and 1000 followers after the defeats of Kinsale and Dunboy that finalized the loss of Munster (southern Ireland) to England. The book, which is currently out of print, provides the reader with insight into the battle of Kinsale, the loss of Dunboy Castle, 16th Century O'Sullivan geneology and clan feuds, as well as historic descriptions of the entire devastating march. The book seems factual, is interesting, entertaining, and easy to read; and is definitely recommended reading for anyone interested in O'Sullivan ancestry or Irish history. If you are interested, visit O-SULLIVAN.NET

Morgan does an excellent job in the area of historical fiction of the precedents for the Irish hatred of the British. It is a book you will not put down. It is factual and written with clarity, intensity and a sense of the sustained futility of the hopelessness of the Prince's band. Her knowledge of the times, the issues, and the terrain are substantiated by the facts that she walked the entire trek. She is an American writer now residing in Ireland . Our loss , the Irish gain. Water seeks it own level.

This would best be read in conjunction with "The Twilight Lords" for a great view of the bitter end of the Irish self rule at the dawn of the 17th Cent. Like many of the stories about the period, it is depressing. Well, so was living in Ireland then. Sure, no potatoe famine yet, but war is just as deadly.

An interesting story of Donal O Sullivan, one of the men who falls often into the shadow of the other big fellas of the times, Hugh O Neill.

Following the Battle of Kinsale (i.e., slaughter, massacre, etc.), the lord of the land, The O Sullivan, decides to lead his people away from the ravaged land northward to the bastion of the remaining "irish", ironically, to the modern mind, in Ulster. In the dead of winter, an unusually hard one, with little food and mostly desperation, how do you lead your people to the tentative safety far away? This paints a vividly bitter picture of the devastation wrought upon the Irish poor by the English army and Foreign Policy.

This is an intense story, if a bit thin on character development and plot. Survival is a plot, even if it doesn't move quickly. Survival was the goal - physical survival. But, physical survival was always seen by the lords as concurrent with survival of what was "Irish". That seems the bitter truth - in the effort to simply survive, much of what we once treasured is lost to the ravages of time and expediency.

Perhaps with the looming shadow of war today, we could read through this and take another look at the geography of the world today - and ask ourselves whether our government is just allied with the English, or acting like their forefathers.

I have been a fan of Morgan Llewelyn since reading "Druids" many years ago. By nature of its focus on more recent and well docemented Irish history, this story is much less fantastic than those books based on classic Irish tales and legends. It is, however, much more real in many ways.

I'll admit that I found the early part of this book a bit challenging. Were I not the type who feels compelled to finish reading a book once I've started, I might not have gotten beyond the first couple of chapters. I'm glad I did, though. The story, at least for me, built steadily in emotional intensity to the point where I was highly attuned to the emotional states of the characters - feeling both their pains and their joys. This is probably at least due to the fact that these people are not the superheros of legends, but more the everyday type who are heroic in their steadfastness. It's something easier to relate to for most of us. The author should be given all credit for being able to relate that.

i have read 1916,1921,Lion of Ireland,Pride of Lions,Finn Mac Cool,Bard:Odyssey of the Irish,Brian Boru (short novel) as well as Last Prince. Llywelyn seems to be a more historical writer than a dramatic writer. and for anyone who wants to 'learn' about Irish history and know why and how things happened( from a mostly Irish point of view) these books are great. they lack character development and never give the chance to really relate to the characters ( main & minor etc...) but you really can relate to the times and the trials and triumphs of the Irish in any book/era that she writes about. all of her books are great for anyone who is Irish or has an interest in (Irish) history.i have read 'Prince' 3 times, 'Lion' 2 times, 'Finn' 2 times etc...etc... great reading which gives you many ranges of emotions: love,hatred,disbelief,shock,pride,pity,shame,happiness,sadness.. i enjoy every 'read' of every book she has made on the subject of Ireland and wait for forthcoming books with anticipation. much much credit and thanks to Morgan Llywelyn!!!
'Last Prince' is a good book about an unbelievable journey(strategic withdraw!)of 1000 IRISH people across munster into connaught escaping english forces after the disaster of the Battle of Kinsale.battling enemy,weather,time and each other(to a degree)these people made an epic,heroic and historical journey to freedom. one main character and at least 8 interesting minor supporting characters. all descriptions/subjects about the irish Gallowglasses and Kernes (warrior classes) are great!

I have always enjoyed Morgan Llwelyn's books until I read The Last Prince of Ireland. I'm not sure if I didn't like the book because I wanted the outcome to be different (unfortunately, the title was a dead give-away) or if I truly did not like the book.

This book feels like 280 pages of a Celtic Bataan Death March. The Prince and his family/friends/companions travel the length and breadth of Ireland harrassed on all sides by not only the English, but his own people. It was written as a testimony to resilience in the face of starvation, exhaustion, betrayal and hopelessness. Unfortunately, it simply felt like a very long slog - both for both Llelyn's characters and the reader.

I am enjoying this book as it is well written. I very much like well done historical fiction and do not care for romance writers. This book is not one of those romance types.
This story gives me a feel for the misery and drudgery that went on that winter when O'Sullivan had to flee with about 1000 people.
Because I have undergone a lot of severe winter warfare training and just been around for almost 60 years, I could understand what these people went through- cold , hunger, alienation from themselves not to mention others, despair, depersonaliztion.
I am glad I bought the book. I read that the author does research well before she writes books. This book will make me want to learn more about what befell O'Sullivan and his ancestors.
It is a shame that O'Neill, O'Donnell, O' Sullivan and so many more good men and women had an unfair rough lot in life. (Some will say "what is fair?"). But at 59, It is well known to me that it is better to die for a good cause than to live like a scared inadequate man who would quickly sell out his people for the sake of his own comfort.
Whether just or unjust war, how many good men, including many Irish Americans, died in Vietnam and elsewhere? About all they could do was help those around them.
May O'Sullivan and his kind now have a reward in heaven.