The Last Storyteller: A Novel of Ireland

Frank Delaney

Feb 2012 · A Novel of Ireland Book 1 · Sold by Random House

About this ebook

“Riveting . . . Readers will quickly warm to [Frank] Delaney’s vividly described Ireland of the 1950s, its fully realized inhabitants, and the dynamic political and personal relationships that make for a remarkable story.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)
 
“If we’re to live good lives, we have to tell ourselves our own story. In a good way.” So says Ben MacCarthy’s beloved mentor, and it is this fateful advice that will guide Ben through the tumultuous events of Ireland in 1956. The national mood is downtrodden; poverty, corruption, and an armed rebellion rattle the countryside; and although Ben wants no part of the insurrection, he unknowingly falls in with an IRA sympathizer. Yet despite his perilous circumstances, all he can think about is finding his former wife and true love, Venetia Kelly, who after many years has returned to Ireland with her brutish new husband, a popular stage performer. Determined not to lose Venetia again, Ben calls upon every bit of his passion and courage to win her back, while finally reconciling his violent past with his hopes for a bright future.
 
Brimming with fascinating Irish history, daring intrigue, and the drama of legendary love, The Last Storyteller is an unforgettable novel as richly textured and inspiring as Ireland itself.
 
“A colorful, leisurely tale, with dark moments as well as humor and grace.”—The Star-Ledger
 
“A magical tale [that] weaves in a jackpot of Irish myths.”—Bookreporter          
 
“Character-rich and dramatic.”—Library Journal

Ratings and reviews

I like Frank Delaney’s style of writing. It’s different and undoubtedly quirky, but somehow perfect for an Irish tale. I can hear an Irish lilt as I read it. The Last Storyteller is the third book in a trilogy that began with Venetia Kelly’s Travelling Show, followed by The Matchmaker of Kenmare and it brings to a close the story of Ben MacCarthy and Venetia Kelly. Ben’s mentor, James Clare once told him, “There’s no story, no matter how ancient, as important as one’s own. So if we’re to live good lives, we have to tell ourselves our own story. In a good way. A way that’s decent to ourselves.” Ben is now an old man doing just that - writing a family memoir, his own story, for his twin children. The setting is Ireland circa 1956. The IRA is at work and Ben inadvertently becomes involved in gun-running with an IRA sympathizer and is pursued both by the IRA and the police. Despite that, he still constantly thinks about his former wife and true love, Venetia Kelly, who was kidnapped from him 25 years earlier and pregnant, unbeknownst to him. When Venetia and her new husband, a brutal, abusive man, return to Ireland to perform Ben is determined to not lose her again, so he snatches her off the stage and they are finally reunited. But she is a sad shadow of her former self – “life” has happened to her. They can’t seem to recapture their former love although they enjoy their time together despite being pursued by the IRA, the police and Venetia’s husband. Venetia disappears again and Ben believes that her husband, “Gentleman Jack” Stirling is involved so hires thugs to kill Jack. He feels instant remorse and regret. Ben becomes an apprentice to the last storyteller, John Jacob Farrell O’Neill. Ben says of their time together, “I was relearning life.” He receives details about being a successful storyteller and embarks on his new profession of travelling around Ireland telling stories. Gradually he overcomes his feelings of guilt and anguish and learns to understand himself. As in all of Frank Delaney’s books we learn something of Irish history, Irish politics, Irish customs and ways….always bittersweet, but done with humor and warmth, although with liberal use of religious expletives. Frank Delaney’s descriptions are so amazing! Can’t you just imagine it when he says, “I eavesdropped on the silence around me.” Or “his eyebrows met, like a pair of black, dangerous insects.” Or “the coat’s folds sank to the floor like a tired widow.” If you have read the two previous books you must read The Last Storyteller to see how Ben and Venetia’s story ends. Even if you haven’t read the earlier books, this can be a stand-alone novel. And, oh my goodness, the epilogue! Un-put-down-able! Frank Delaney pulls all the threads woven throughout the 3 books together into a satisfactory whole. He is truly an exceptional storyteller.

About the author

Frank Delaney is the author of the New York Times bestselling novel Ireland, as well as The Last Storyteller, 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, Delaney enjoyed a prominent career in BBC broadcasting before becoming a full-time writer. Delaney died in 2017.