THE RISING OF THE MOON [Import] [Hardcover]

William Martin (Author)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 474 pages
• Publisher: Crown; 1St Edition edition (1987)
• ISBN-10: 0356147525
• ISBN-13: 978-0356147529
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.7 x 1.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #483,175 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

In his boyhood, William Martin loved what he later called "big stories on broad canvases." He read the novels of C.S. Forester, Dickens, and western author Will Henry. He sat transfixed by the big movies of the early sixties. So after college he went to Hollywood to try his hand at screenwritng but quickly found that his instincts were better suited to novels. His first, "Back Bay," introduced treasure hunter Peter Fallon in a new kind of adventure that joined the contemporary mystery-thriller to the historical novel. In his nine novels (including four best selling Peter Fallon adventures), Martin has tracked national treasures across the landscape of the American imagination, chronicled the lives of the great and the anonymous in American history, and brought to life legendary American locations, from "Cape Cod" to "Annapolis" to the "City of Dreams." He has also written an award-winning PBS documentary on the life of Washington and a cult-classic horror movie, has contributed book reviews to the Boston Globe, and has taught writing across the country, from the Harvard Extension School to the famous Maui Writers Conference. He lives near Boston with his wife and has three grown children. His work has established him as a "storyteller whose smoothness matches his ambition."(Publisher's Weekly) And he was the recipient of the 2005 New England Book Award, given to "an author whose body of work stands as a significant contribution to the culture of the region."

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Too bad its out of print, October 12, 1999

By 

Charles Andrews (Fort Worth, TX USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Rising Of The Moon (Hardcover)

Publishers make strange decisions on books that I'll never understand. "The Rising of the Moon" is William Martin's story of Irish immigrants in Boston and the struggle towards independence of the Irish Republic. The story has a steady metered pace about it that causes reflection on past events and current day events. While Mr. Martin may not agree, the struggle for independence in Ireland mirrors the American struggle a century and a half before, but also foreshadows the struggles of the Palestinians for a home land today.

The book explores the deep nationalistic sentiments that drive a people towards independence. Demonstrating how passionate those drives may be and how at times those passions cause unintended pain and grief that time can't erase.

I think he toys with the notion that the end does not always justify the means, but in the end leaves the reader to decide. At times a very disturbing book, yet always captivating and provocative, the ending will surprise you

This book should not have been removed from the shelves of bookstores, The novice William Martin reader will be deprived of perhaps his most personal essay on independence, the central theme in his works. For those of you who have enjoyed the historical tails of Martin, make the extra effort to find a copy of "Rising". I promise you won't be disappointed. You will be challenged though.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars EXTRAORDINARY!!!!!, August 25, 2000

By 

J. A. Clark (Rensselaer, NY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Rising of the Moon (Mass Market Paperback)

You need a thesaurus solely dedicated to the word "Remarkable" for a review to give its justice to "The Rising of the Moon". Martin's descriptions of early 20th century Boston far surpass similar works such as "The Alienist" or "Ironweed". Wonderful portrayals of the Irish immigrants struggle for acceptance and political power in Boston, the city that gave birth to our countries ideals. One mans fanatical struggle for those same ideals in his mother land, Ireland, eventually bring these exiting characters to the shores of Ireland to fight it's own battle for independence from British rule. This book should be cone-shaped because it moves at supersonic speed. The first chapter grabs you hard, and each following chapter is better then it's predecessor. When you reach the final 200 pages, prepare yourself, go to the bathroom, get something to drink, make sure your comfortable, because I guarantee, you won't want to move until you've finished. Nothing in this book is predictable. It's well plotted and the reader will be thrilled with surprises to the very end that will leave the reader emotionally drained. Even though this book was 471 pages, Martin is one of the few story tellers that has the ability to cary a book for 1000 pages and the reader is still crying for more. This was the best book I've read all summer, and found it's way into my top 20 books of all time. A publishing felony is being committed everyday this book remains out-of-print.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Gripping and Suspenseful, October 17, 2002

By 

Ryan (Stockbridge, MI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rising of the Moon (Mass Market Paperback)

"The Rising of the Moon" is a fantastic book for those who enjoy romance and action all in one. It takes place in Boston in the year 1916. William Martin really makes history come alive. Irish immigrant Tom Tracy is trying to become a successful politician, while also trying to have a love live with his Jewish girlfriend, Rachel Levka. But when Tom's cousin, Padraic Starr comes to Boston, Tom has to make a decision on having a safe life in Boston, or avenging his father's death back in Ireland. Rachel must choose between her love for Tom Tracy, and her desire for Padraic Starr.