In the Midst of Darkness [Paperback]

Colleen Rice (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 29, 2000

IN THE MIDST OF DARKNESSAn edge of your seat must-read! Turn off the phone, pour a cup of tea, cozy up by the fire and prepare for the read of your life!A treasure-trove of imagery and realism, this beautifully written fast paced historical fiction-adventure skillfully draws you into the lives of four remarkable people captured in the throes of Irish revolution; Seamus O'Dowd an Irish Catholic hedgerow schoolmaster, his best friend, Donald Campbell, a Scottish Presbyterian immigrant, and cousins, Reanna and Siobhan O'Neal.ULSTER--1753. Penal Laws are in full force; Irish Catholics are its targets. Pronounced outlaws by the English, their priests and teachers are hunted down and executed. Marriage between Catholics and Protestants is forbidden. To water down the rebellious Catholic population, their money and property is confiscated and their land is given to Scottish Presbyterian immigrants. Walk alongside Seamus, Donald, Reanna and Siobhan, from the early days of the "troubles" through the dramatic conclusion when French forces land on Ireland's northwest coast on August 22nd, 1798. Witness first hand their struggle to survive in the midst of darkness that was Northern Ireland a scant two centuries ago.

Editorial Reviews

From the Author

All author royalties for In the Midst of Darkness for the remainder of 2001 will be donated to the American Cancer Society as a memorial to Colleen Rice.

About the Author

Colleen Rice was born in Ottawa, Canada. Her combined heritage of Irish Catholic and English Anglican presented her with a unique challenge--researching two conflicting accounts of the same event. Her characters took up the challenge and expressed their own truths on the page. Now, thirteen years later, she presents her readers with this literary gift from the heart.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 280 pages
• Publisher: iUniverse (December 29, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0595159060
• ISBN-13: 978-0595159062
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,547,632 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Private Tour of Ireland's Past, June 5, 2001

By 

Kathleen Verigin (Portland, Oregon, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: In the Midst of Darkness (Paperback)

Reading "In the Midst of Darkness" was like taking a private tour of Ireland's past. Colleen Rice presented a fascinating story about real people facing real problems. From the first page to the last, I was engaged in the mystery, intrigue, and romance experienced by the characters. Their personas came alive in my psyche, allowing me to feel their feelings and see what they saw, and imagining what I would do if faced with their challenges. The Irish countryside that I have enjoyed in my travels now takes on a deeper meaning and significance, as I know they hold the stories of people like those in the book. Many thanks to the author for such an easy and powerful read! Days after finishing the book, I still wonder what became of Reanna and the others. The memory of the stories linger still.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What a wonderful book!, May 11, 2001

By 

Charles Hobart (Portland, OR USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: In the Midst of Darkness (Paperback)

Probably only a few books in our lives totally reverse our personal preconceptions. For me there was "Grapes of Wrath," "Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee," and now, "In the Midst of Darkness." What it was like to be poor and Irish and Catholic or Protestant are vividly illustrated in Colleen Rice's wonderful tale of a handful of likable people in eighteenth-century Ireland.

You thought you understood the roots of today's divisiveness? Try looking through the eyes of Colleen's protagonists - real humans who risked murder or theft of everything just because they were born in a risky place at a risky time. The enemy came from either side; injustice seems impartially distributed.

The storyline deserves a movie; the book is as vivid as one. And likely it will change your perceptions.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An All-Time Favorite, May 20, 2001

By 

Beulah McNamara (Syracuse, NY USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: In the Midst of Darkness (Paperback)

I really loved reading Colleen Rice's, "In the Midst of Darkness." The characters came alive for me. She brought out the struggle to live under such difficult circumstances, but still be able to enjoy loved ones. I expect to keep it on my bookshelf and read it more than once.