Customer Reviews

Roots of the Blackthorn Tree

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

If you can work your way through a pint of Guiness Stout or sing a respectable Danny Boy--this book will warm the cockles of your heart.Mr Douros weaves an excellent presentation of Ireland's turbulent history from its origin and works his way to a rollicking climax of the activities of a group of present day Irish nestled in a remote section of Vermont that would make any Irishman believe he was back on the old sod.
Mr.Douros again has demonstrated his ability to get to the ROOTS of of any ethnic challenge presented him.Being a displaced irish Vermonter and very familiar with the subject matter,I enjoyed every page to the utmost.

After reading Basil Douros' first book about his Greek heritage I could hardly wait to read Roots of the Blackthorn Tree, a story of his wife's Irish heritage. Although I am only one-fourth Irish I could relate to many of the experiences the poor Irish had to undergo when they moved to this country. I was raised in the Middle West with no running water and an outhouse about 50 feet from the main house. All 5 children took the Saturday night bath in the same large galvanized tub using the same water. These and other experiences going back to Ireland when it was invaded by the Celts are related in amazing detail. The Great Irish Potato Famine, which led to the large immigration of the Irish to the United States,is vividly described. Those who are descendents of the Irish who immigrated to Vermont will be especially interested in the living conditions described in that area of the country in the nineteenth century. The book was so interesting I read it in two evenings.
P.S. All my life I have heard the term shillelagh, not knowing where it originated or what it was used for. Now I know!