| From the Earth, A Cry |  |
From the Earth, A Cry: the story of John Boyle O'Reilly. In shops now - published by The Collins Press.
Thanks to everyone who came to the Galway launch of From The Earth, A Cry in Dún Uí Mhaoilíosa, the Irish army barracks in Renmore. A special thanks to Damien Quinn for all his help.
Thanks to everyone who came to the Dublin launch of From The Earth, A Cry in The Gutter Bookshop. It was a great evening. The Wild Geese website has a report here: http://thewildgeeseblog.blogspot.com/2011/10/new-book-on-irelands-john-boyle-oreilly.html
John Boyle O’Reilly (1844-1890) is one of Ireland’s most remarkable historical figures: a man who was, during his lifetime, an internationally renowned journalist, writer and humanitarian. Born in Meath, O’Reilly later worked in England before joining the British army. Ostensibly a proud soldier, O’Reilly lived a double life as a recruiter for the revolutionary Fenian Brotherhood. He was discovered and convicted, serving time in a succession of prisons from Mountjoy to Dartmoor. He was eventually transported to the Penal Colony of Western Australia from where he made a spectacular escape to the United States.
It was in the US, during a period of intense economic and social turmoil, where O’Reilly’s brilliance flourished. As editor of The Pilot, a Boston newspaper, he was a powerful advocate of the rights of workers and African-Americans. O'Reilly became a critic of the Fenians following his involvement in their failed attack on Canada during 1870. However, he retained a strong commitment to Ireland and was an important part of the Land League and Home Rule movements, working closely with Michael Davitt and Charles Stewart Parnell. A good friend of John Devoy, O’Reilly was a key participant in the famed Catalpa rescue. In tandem with his journalism O'Reilly was one of the most famous American literary figures of his day, publishing four volumes of poetry and two novels. A complex and charismatic personality, O’Reilly’s popularity transcended race, religion and nationality. Among his friends and contemporaries he could count figures as diverse as Walt Whitman, Wendell Phillips, Oscar Wilde and Jeremiah O’Donovan Rossa. Based on research in Ireland, Australia and the United States, From The Earth, A Cry is a compelling account of an extraordinary life.
'Kenneally is more than equal to capturing this complex man. The book is well written and well researched...I read the book at a sitting and was enthralled' - Books Ireland
'The latest publication on O'Reilly is the best yet...It is an inspirational book and richly detailed, giving a real understanding of the man at the heart of it all' - Drogheda Independent
'Meticulous in his research, Kenneally can recount history in a manner that excites his readers, rather than lecturing to them. And so it is in his latest offering' - The Wild Geese website
'Ian Kenneally's engaging book must revive interest in a fascinating character' - The Irish Catholic
'It's fluidly written with a striking insight into the mind-set of the man who transformed himself from soldier, to convict, to editor of the The Pilot newspaper' - SIN, Galway university newspaper
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Available in all good bookshops, Amazon or via the publisher at www.collinspress.ie
Also available in the United States from Dufour Editions
 Publisher: The Collins Press
Edition: Paperback
ISBN: 1848891318
ISBN13: 9781848891319
Weight: 480g
Dimensions: 138mm x 216mm
Pages: 375
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