Of Men and of Angels (Galway Chronicles, Book 2) [Hardcover]

Bodie Thoene (Author), Brock Thoene (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1998

This novel takes readers into the life of Joseph Connor Burke, who has reclaimed his ancestral acres and the manor he was born to rule. But in a turbulent time when Ireland struggles under an unjust English oppressor, Joseph's dreams are inevitably shattered by violence and betrayal. Soon the village of Ballynockanor will be swept into storms of political strife that will eventually spread to the entire Emerald Isle. Just when hope for a better life seems brightest, the darkness of evil and tragedy could snuff it out. Will Joseph stand for what he truly believes, no matter what it costs him? And when he makes his stand, will the woman he loves choose to be at his side?

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Bodie and Brock Thoene have produced a novel of historical relevance and literary charm in Of Men and Angels. This sequel to Gold Medallion winner Only the River Runs Free, opens the door once again to enchanting Irish villages and folk of the 1840s in their dream of freedom from England's rule.

The story follows the hopes of these Irish country dwellers through betrayal, brokenheartedness, awakening love, and despair. Supporting the Repeal Movement, a nonviolent approach embraced by Irish Catholics and Protestants alike, Joseph Connor Burke and his countrymen and -women prepare to stand firmly against England's power. Their goal is self-rule, and they want to attain it without bloodshed. The reader is further drawn into this world by a story of romance in the face of heartbreaking realities. No home's hearth fire burns more brightly than that of Kate Donovan. But will Joseph's work for the Repeal Movement cost him his chance to put the past to rights with her? Are all of his dreams ill-fated?

Of Men and Angels is a story of a united Ireland, a people rising in hope that their dreams can be realized. Readers will find their hearts joining in the cause as well. --Ann Weinheimer

From Library Journal

The prolific Thoenes return to their Galway series (Only the River Runs Free, LJ 11/1/97) with this volume set in rural Ireland in 1843. Local squire Joseph Connor Burke finds himself caught between appeasing the tenant farmers of Ballynockanor and enforcing the edicts of the British government. When a repeal movement against British rule nominates Burke its leader, he realizes that he may be forced to leave his beloved Ireland. On a personal front, Burke and his longtime love Kate Donovan attempt to come together admidst political strife and the horrors of a smallpox epidemic, and Burke struggles with questions of faith. As is typical of the Thoenes' books, this is a rich mixture of history, romance, and adventure peppered with intriguing secondary characters. In fact, here many of the secondary characters prove much more interesting than the leads. But the Thoenes' formula has been successful countless times before, and this is sure to please their many fans.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 297 pages
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson Inc; 1st Edition, 1st Printing edition (September 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0785280685
• ISBN-13: 978-0785280682
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.4 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #636,861 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Magnificent in at least four ways., November 26, 2001

By 

Godly Gadfly - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Of Men and of Angels (Galway Chronicles, Book 2) (Hardcover)

The second entry into Bodie and Brock Thoene's "The Galway Chronicles" nearly matches the magnificence of the award winning first volume, "Only the River Runs Free." The cast of characters remains relatively unchanged, as the changing political winds of Ireland in the 1840s create new conflicts. The novel is rooted in history: the British "Act of Union" in 1800 stripped Ireland of self-government, and led to opposition to the ruling British on two fronts: the violent rebellion movement by the Ribbonmen, and the peaceful Repeal movement seeking lawful abolition of the Act of Union. The intensity of this struggle is the catalyst for most of the struggles in "Of Men and Angels", and forms the nucleus of the novel, giving it much more of a political flavour than its prequel. Joseph Connor Burke is conscripted by the leader of the Repeal Movement, Daniel O'Connell, and finds that his political allegiances place him at the mercy of the British oppressors, many of whom are willing to go to any lengths to squash Joseph's support for the Repeal movement. With political enemies bent on nothing less than total destruction of Repeal, a terrible outbreak of small pox in the village of Ballynockanor is the last thing needed. But it is hardly the last adversity that Joseph must face. Accidents and arson result in a fast paced plot, and a gripping story-line that is hard to put down. There's even a touch of romance, as the possibility of Joseph hooking up with the widow Kate Donovan becomes a more and more pressing and realistic question.

My only criticisms would be that the evil characters are occasionally rather one-dimensional and flat. Moreover, the authors downplay the fundamental divide between Protestants and Catholics. Although it is true that much of the divide can be attributed to politics rather than religion, yet one must be cautious not to express too much optimism about unity between Catholics and evangelicals. Unless they come to agreement on the fundamentals of the Christian faith such a vision will always remain a dream. Any theologian who digs beneath the surface will have to affirm that Catholics and Protestants today remain sharply divided on key points of doctrine. But those weaknesses aside, the Thoenes deserve high commendation for this excellent work in at least four respects.

Firstly, they have created a successful and suspenseful story-line. Unlike many Christian writers, they are not guilty of creating sub-standard fiction. This is fiction of the highest calibre, with a skilfully portrayed setting, realistic characters, and captivating plot.

Secondly, the novel is not marked by an overly optimistic view of life which characterizes much popular Christian fiction. Many writers plunge their characters through a multitude of dangers, but leave them unscathed and alive at the end. Such novels may be enjoyable, but they can not avoid the criticism that they are escapist. The Thoenes, however, are not afraid to portray life as it really is, even though it is often a harsh reality. They are not afraid to let their protagonists be afflicted by diseases, or even to have them die. Let's face it, that's real life. This realism may be harsh, but by facing up to reality, the Thoenes make it possible to convey important truths about how to endure the harsh realities of real life and impart important lessons for today's readers.

Thirdly, the historical context is not merely incidental, but is thoroughly at the heart of the novel. It is a completely convincing fabric on which the Thoenes paint the events of "Of Men and Angels". It enables readers to gain an awareness and appreciation for the struggles underlying Irish history, struggles that still leave their unmistakable mark on present day Irish politics.

Finally, this series conveys important and enduring truths about living the Christian faith in today's world. The Thoenes make it clear how God helps his people even in the face of horrendous evil. Only in fairy tales do people live happily ever after, but the Galway Chronicles make it clear that even where people don't live happily ever after, God uses pain and adversity as a refining fire to make them stronger in their faith. The authors also make no bones about drawing connections to contemporary politics. Their condemnation of the evil methods employed by the Ribbonmen has an unmistakable relevance for today: using violence for a good cause cannot be justified. The lesson for the struggle in Ireland today, and the condemnation of typical IRA methods does not miss the mark. The contemporary struggle in Ireland has its roots in the history that the Thoenes describe, and their endorsement of a lawful repeal movement as an alternative to revolutionary rebellion is as applicable today as it was then.

It's not hard to see that this novel - like its prequel - is a remarkable success. By the end of the novel, Repeal is not accomplished, and there are many unfinished loose ends that make the reading of volumes 3 and 4 of the series necessary. But if volumes 1 and 2 are anything to go by, reading the rest of this series will be a most rewarding pleasure!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book has it all!, June 23, 2000

By 

Kathy - See all my reviews

This review is from: Of Men and of Angels (Galway Chronicles, Book 2) (Paperback)

After reading Only the River Runs Free, I had to get my hands on a copy of Of Men and Angels. When I did, I started it right away, and read it straight through. I fell more deeply in love with the characters; I laughed with them, cried with them, rejoiced with them. History, romance, intrigue, tragedy, humor and hope are all skillfully woven together to create a beautiful novel. If you're already a Thoene fan, you won't be disappointed. If you aren't a fan, after reading this book, you certainly will be.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Slow Start Redeemed by Second Half, May 28, 2003

By 

Mark Baker (Santa Clarita, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Of Men and of Angels (Galway Chronicles, Book 2) (Hardcover)

1843 finds the people of Ireland rallying to free themselves from the rule of their neighbor England. The small community of Ballynockanor is getting caught up in everything as well. Joseph Burke, newly restored to his rightful inheritance, agrees to help his friend Daniel O'Connell with the cause. Little do they know that they not only have to face trouble from England, but also traitors within their own ranks. Meanwhile, Kate Donovan has reacted in anger and bitterness to the events of the last few months, trying her best to shut Joseph out of her life. Will he be able to win her back? And just who is this Tinker that has moved to the area? Can he be trusted?

I must admit I was a little disappointed with this book. The relationship between Kate and Joseph took on a soap operatic quality, the first half was very slow, and I saw the last page coming from the prologue, especially since they'd used that exact same plot device before in a previous book. However, as I got past the first half, the pace really started to pick up. The political struggle became very interesting to me, and I couldn't wait to see what would happen next.

While not their best book, it's certainly worth reading. I'm looking forward to picking up the next book and continuing the story.