Play Audiobook Sample
Tipperary: A Novel of Ireland Audiobook
Play Audiobook Sample
(3.01) - 680 listener ratings
Quick Stats About this Audiobook
Total Audiobook Chapters:
Longest Chapter Length:
Shortest Chapter Length:
Average Chapter Length:
Audiobooks by this Author:
Publisher Description
“My wooing began in passion, was defined by violence and circumscribed by land; all these elements molded my soul.” So writes Charles O’Brien, the unforgettable hero of bestselling author Frank Delaney’s extraordinary novel—a sweeping epic of obsession, profound devotion, and compelling history involving a turbulent era that would shape modern Ireland. Born into a respected Irish-Anglo family in 1860, Charles loves his native land and its long-suffering but irrepressible people. As a healer, he travels the countryside dispensing traditional cures while soaking up stories and legends of bygone times–and witnessing the painful, often violent birth of land-reform measures destined to lead to Irish independence. At the age of forty, summoned to Paris to treat his dying countryman–the infamous Oscar Wilde–Charles experiences the fateful moment of his life. In a chance encounter with a beautiful and determined young Englishwoman, eighteen-year-old April Burke, he is instantly and passionately smitten–but callously rejected. Vowing to improve himself, Charles returns to Ireland, where he undertakes the preservation of the great and abandoned estate of Tipperary, in whose shadow he has lived his whole life–and which, he discovers, may belong to April and her father. As Charles pursues his obsession, he writes the “History” of his own life and country. While doing so, he meets the great figures of the day, including Charles Parnell, William Butler Yeats, and George Bernard Shaw. And he also falls victim to less well-known characters–who prove far more dangerous. Tipperary also features a second “historian:” a present-day commentator, a retired and obscure history teacher who suddenly discovers that he has much at stake in the telling of Charles’s story. In this gloriously absorbing and utterly satisfying novel, a man’ s passion for the woman he loves is twinned with his country’s emergence as a nation. With storytelling as sweeping and dramatic as the land itself, myth, fact, and fiction are all woven together with the power of the great nineteenth-century novelists. Tipperary once again proves Frank Delaney’s unrivaled mastery at bringing Irish history to life. Praise for Tipperary “The narrative moves swiftly and surely. . . . A sort of Irish Gone With the Wind, marked by sly humor, historical awareness and plenty of staying power.”—Kirkus Reviews “Another meticulously researched journey…Delaney’s careful scholarship and compelling storytelling bring it uniquely alive. Highly recommended.”—Library Journal (starred)
Download and start listening now!
"like a "gone with the wind" of ireland, very involved, sometimes exhausting reading. many of irelands most famous show up in the story. an interesting unexpected twist at the end, waited through the whole book for the couple to get together and then a tragic ending. luck of the irish i guess!"
— Peggy (4 out of 5 stars)
Tipperary Listener Reviews
-
" The second book I read from this author. I love his style and hios story telling "
— Loren, 2/6/2014 -
" This is a novel that fits right in to my favorite genre - historical fiction, of course! The book follows the main character, Charles O'Brien, through his life through a series of journal entries written by his mother, other friends, as well as his own "History". Most of the drama in the story takes place as a result of events surrounding the Irish War of Independence, the restoration of the large castle in Tipperary, and Charles's life-long love interest April Burke. A decent read. "
— Jennifer, 1/15/2014 -
" An enjoyable tale of the life of an an Irish "Healer" set during years surrounding the Irish Revolution. A history written as a novel and a story of unrequited love. "
— Bob, 1/10/2014 -
" Ugh. I love a good historical fiction book. This was NOT a good HF book. Although most HF books have too many characters, this one goes a step further by having different characters tell the story in first person. There is no indication when the narrator changes except a small separation on the page, so it gets really confusing. If this gimmick added anything to the book, I wouldn't have minded as much, but since each character's voice essentially sounds the same, and they often end up just repeating something that was already stated, there's just no reason for it. Speaking of characters, pretty much none of them are likable, and the final "resolution" of the modern-day narrator's relationship to the book was just sort of hokey. To be honest, I just skimmed the second half of the book to hit the major plot points. It's my understanding that other Frank Delaney books are much better written, so I'll probably give him another try, but this one was a real bummer. "
— Jill, 12/30/2013 -
" Great read - full of Irish tales and characters, all interwoven in an exciting and mysterious romance "
— M., 12/28/2013 -
" Honestly I never actually finished it because I got bored. "
— Jen, 12/27/2013 -
" Half way through, the first portion was a bit slow to get me interested but is now getting interesting. An interesting look at Irish history. "
— Eugene, 12/14/2013 -
" The first half was really interesting, but it was long and I got bored in the second. It was ok. "
— Kristin, 12/6/2013 -
" Good story, didn't like the storytelling. "
— Kari, 11/5/2013 -
" This book just took too long to get interesting. "
— Dee, 11/1/2013 -
" It took me 6 months to read half this book and then I stopped entirely deciding I just couldn't do it. "
— Melissa, 9/18/2013 -
" I didn't really get into this book until I had already read half of it. After that, I really couldn't put it down. I'd say it was worth the read. "
— Heather, 6/30/2013 -
" I listened to this audio book, and loved hearing the author who was narrator and his mastery of different accents. I liked this book even more than the book Ireland, by the same author. "
— Sara, 9/25/2012 -
" I learned a great deal about history and was highly entertained at the same time! js "
— Janet, 4/10/2012 -
" I am listening to this book in my car. Some parts are extremely interesting, others, not so much. I think I need to read Ireland now, though. "
— Debbie, 7/17/2011 -
" Very good. I will probably check out "Ireland" by this author as well. "
— Angela, 4/30/2011 -
" A good read . . . or, a good listen, since I had the audiobook. I find Irish history and politics immensely difficult to understand. "
— Susan, 1/9/2011 -
" This book might move slowly in print form, but it was a perfect choice for audio in the car. I learned a lot about Ireland. "
— Khuck, 11/13/2010 -
" Half way through, the first portion was a bit slow to get me interested but is now getting interesting. An interesting look at Irish history. "
— Eugene, 11/12/2010 -
" I learned a great deal about history and was highly entertained at the same time! js<br/> "
— Janet, 10/5/2010 -
" Once again, create atmosphere and an absorbing glimpse into the language, wit, and outlook of the Irish. Didn't enjoy this one as much as his book IRELAND, but still a good read. "
— K.F., 6/10/2010 -
" Saga.Toolong by half.Nuch good history of the English-Irish troubles.Slow moving,minimal character involvement or development. "
— Mark, 5/19/2010 -
" Interesting tale; not as engaging as Ireland "
— Lydia, 4/28/2010
About Frank Delaney
Frank Delaney is the author of the New York Times bestselling novel Ireland, as well as The Matchmaker of Kenmare, Venetia Kelly’s Traveling Show, Tipperary, Shannon, and Simple Courage: A True Story of Peril on the Sea. A former judge for the Man Booker Prize, he enjoyed a prominent career in BBC broadcasting before becoming a full-time writer. NPR has called him the “most eloquent man in the world.” Born in Tipperary, Ireland, he now lives in New York City and Connecticut.