I have been at work for some years on a novel of my own and in the chat with joe i was personally interested in the way he approached the creation of the star of the sea. Jan 25, 2003 star of the sea by joseph oconnor 436pp, secker. This is a brave and artful novel disguised to appear safe and conventional. Cowboys and indians whitbread prize shortlist, desperadoes, the salesman, inishowen, star of the sea american library association award, irish post award for fiction, frances prix millepages, italys premio acerbi, prix madeleine zepter for european novel of the year, redemption falls, ghost. Star of the sea by joseph oconnor took center stage.
Star of the sea by joseph oconnor, random house uk. A bumptious epic about a new worldbound ship star of the sea, full of raging immigrants, conflicted aristocrats, and a flinteyed murderer its the tumultuous year of 1847 when oconnor s gallimaufry of characters board a coffin ship bound from ireland to new york. It is a piece of historical fiction that presents a vivid picture of a grim, hopeless time. Set in the time of the great famine in ireland, it tells the story of those individuals aboard the star of the sea as they travel towards the promised land of america. He was recently voted irish writer of the decade by the readers of hot. On board are hundreds of refugees, some optimistic, many more desperate. Jan 23, 2011 joseph o connor tackles a tragedy too long ignored. The star of the sea is the ironic name of one of the coffin ships that made its way.
Among the refugees are a maidservant, bankrupt lord merridith, an aspiring novelist, and a maker of revolutionary ballads. I sensed that it would need many disparate elements, but to discover the order that might make the structure float that took work and time. Star of the sea joseph oconnor world cultures european. Star of the sea is a thriller about an announced murder. I have read it four times now over the years and i know i will read it again and again. Among them are a maidservant with a devastating secret, bankrupt lord merridith and his family, an aspiring novelist and a maker of. This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of star of the sea by joseph oconnor. Star of the sea by joseph oconnor book club discussion. Joseph o connor talk to ryan about one inaccuracy in star of the sea that one reader. Star of the sea, a daring novel by irish author joseph oconnor, is an engrossing tale of many parts.
Cowboys and indians whitbread prize shortlist, desperadoes, the salesman, inishowen, star of the sea american library association award, irish post award for fiction, frances prix millepages, italys premio acerbi, prix madeleine zepter for european novel of the year, redemption falls, ghost light dublin. On a ship packed with irish immigrants, one passenger is a killer people. Star of the sea by joseph oconnor 6,604 ratings, 3. The book took a deal of planning, before ever a word was written. He was recently voted irish writer of the decade by the readers of hot press magazine. The star of the sea by joseph o connor and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Joseph o connor award winning irish author official website. The novel is set in 1847 against the backdrop of the irish famine. An taibhdhearc, galway joseph oconnor s 2004 novel doesnt exactly beg for the stage.
Star of the sea by joseph oconnor books the guardian. On board are hundreds of fleeing refugees, some brimming with optimism, many more desperate. The seeming present of the novel takes place on the ship, the star of the sea, a freighter from my international fiction book club blog. The events which led to the famine, the people who were directly affected by it, and the steps taken to ameliorate or escape it are the subjects of joseph oconnors intense and heartfelt novel, star of the sea, named for the britishowned famine ship which is the center of the action here. Joseph oconnor has 30 books on goodreads with 29761 ratings. Joseph oconnors impressive historical novel, star of the sea, examines the unsettled personal tragedies among a group of interrelated characters and their difficulties in disregarding the past. On board are hundreds of refugees, some of them optimistic, many more of them desperate. In the bitter winter of 1847, from an ireland torn by famine and injustice, the star of the sea sets sail for new york. Star of the sea by joseph oconnor the sleepless reader. Apr 20, 2004 joseph oconnor s star of the sea is a gripping story set on a new yorkbound ship filled with hundreds of refugees fleeing the irish potato famine in 1847. The star of the sea of the title is a famine ship, making the journey from ireland to new york.
May 01, 2003 a bumptious epic about a new worldbound ship star of the sea, full of raging immigrants, conflicted aristocrats, and a flinteyed murderer its the tumultuous year of 1847 when oconnors gallimaufry of characters board a coffin ship bound from ireland to new york. Star of the sea quotes by joseph oconnor goodreads. In the bitter winter of 1847, leaving an ireland torn by famine and injustice, the star of the sea sets sail for new york. Keep your tired, your poor, your huddled masses the new. Joseph oconnor is a talented writer who has delivered a rollicking good story.
In the bitter winter of 1847, from an ireland torn by injustice and natural disaster, the star of the sea sets sail for new york. Before success as an author, he was a journalist with the sunday tribune newspaper and esquire magazine. Joseph o connor s impressive historical novel, star of the sea, examines the unsettled personal tragedies among a group of interrelated characters and their difficulties in disregarding the past. Joseph oconnor talks about historical inaccuracies and star. Lord merridith and his family board the titular ship in 1847, bound for new york, leaving behind an ireland devastated by famine and strife. Assignment 1 star of the sea by joseph o connor is a text set during the irish potato famine, in 1847. Star of the sea by joseph o connor essay 1478 words. Its a beautiful, layered and dense read, set against the lofty sails of a. He is the author of the novels cowboys and indians shortlisted for the whitbread prize, desperadoes, the salesman, inishowen, star of the sea and redemption falls, as well as a number of bestselling works of nonfiction. Carrying a load of irish peasants who lived in squalor that was inhumane in the least this novel depicts the journey of those on board. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read star of the sea. His historical fiction epic star of the sea chronicles the chaos aboard a leaky ship voyaging from ireland to new york during the harsh winter of 1847, and was selected as a summer 2003 pick in our discover great new writers program.
Cowboys and indians whitbread prize shortlist, desperadoes, the salesman, inishowen, star of the sea american library association award, irish post award for fiction, frances prix millepages, italys premio acerbi, prix madeleine zepter for european novel of the year, redemption falls, ghost light dublin one. A new york times notable book and thoroughly gripping historical mystery. This international bestseller about generations of men who go to sea and the women and children they. Star of the sea by joseph oconnor and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Joseph oconnor books list of books by author joseph o. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 432 pages and is available in paperback format. The events which led to the famine, the people who were directly affected by it, and the steps taken to ameliorate or escape it are the subjects of joseph o connor s intense and heartfelt novel, star of the sea, named for the britishowned famine ship which is the center of the action here. Aboard are the famine refugees, from the bankrupt aristocrats who eat multicourse meals, to the desperate peasants at deaths door. Buy books and get all the latest news, information, event listings, biography, media resources and much more about joseph here. His 2002 historical novel star of the sea was an international number one bestseller. Star of the sea book by joseph oconnor 12 available. Among them are a maid with a devastating secret, the bankrupt lord merridith and his wife and children, and a killer is stalking the decks, hungry for the vengeance that will bring absolution. Identify specific scenes or dialogue to make your points.
Essay on star of the sea, what kind of man is lord kingscourt 2093 words 9 pages. A guide to star of the sea by joseph oconnor for book clubs. Buy star of the sea unabridged audiobook by oconnor, joseph, marinker, peter isbn. Which characters in this novel might be seen as representations of the cain and abel paradigm. Critic, playwright, and novelist joseph oconnor has long been a literary star in his native ireland. Star of the sea by joseph oconnor bibliofemme bookclub. It is a very complex book and more than a large effort. Star of the sea is a historical novel by the irish writer joseph o connor published in 2004. Thus the story feels more authentic, as dixon uses excerpts from the captains log and bits and pieces from his own unpublished novel, along with other similarly clever literary. Star of the sea by joseph oconnor 2004, paperback for sale. Pdf star of the sea book by joseph oconnor free download.
Star of the sea became an international number one bestseller, selling more than 800,000 copies in a year plot. An taibhdhearc, galway joseph oconnors 2004 novel doesnt exactly beg for the stage. Star of the sea hardcover oconnor, joseph jan 01, 2002. The words star of the sea are a translation of the latin title stella maris. James kincaid in the new york times commented, this is a brave and artful novel disguised to appear safe and conventional. Joseph oconnors most popular book is star of the sea. Winter 1847, the star of the sea sets sail from ireland for new york. In the bitter winter of 1847, from an ireland torn by famine and injustice, the star of the sea sets sail for newyork.
The irish famine of the 1840s was the greatest social catastrophe of 19thcentury europe, yet inspired surprisingly little imaginative. But this is not the usual irish potato famine fare you might expect. Oct 06, 2012 joseph o connor talk to ryan about one inaccuracy in star of the sea that one reader wrote to him about. Star of the sea has 12 available editions to buy at half price books marketplace. It uses the format of mixed narratives, including newspaper series, diaries, letters, statements, ballads lyrics to tell the reader about the famine in ireland around 1847 with the consequent death and migration of thousands of irishmen to the us and canada, it is a. Cowboys and indians whitbread prize shortlist, desperadoes, the salesman, inishowen, star of the sea american library association award, irish post award for fiction, frances prix millepages, italys premio acerbi, prix madeleine zepter for european novel of the year, redemption falls. There is more than one author with this name joseph oconnor was born in dublin. The book i read was decidedly less lovely in outward appearance. Even though it was nasty outside, inside we had a pleasant conversation about a most horrible time in irish history the great famine. The first edition of the novel was published in march 8th 2004, and was written by joseph o connor. Set in the winter of 1847, it chronicles the transatlantic voyage of a ship of refugees striving to escape irelands potato famine by migrating to the united states. Among them are a maid with a devastating secret, the bankrupt lord merridith, his wife and children, and a killer stalking the decks, hungry for the vengeance that will bring absolution.
Star of the sea is a historical novel by the irish writer joseph oconnor published in 2004. Joseph o connor is a talented writer who has delivered a rollicking good story. His technique was to design and build the entire structure before writing. Star of the sea by joseph oconnor penguin books australia. Among the refugees are a maidservant, bankrupt lord merridith, an aspiring novelist and a maker of revolutionary ballads. Our lady, star of the sea is an ancient title for the virgin mary. Look again at the date that appears below dixons signature at the end of star of the sea. Grantley dixon, an american journalist traveling home to manhattan on the star. Isbn 9788432296505 9788432296505 softcover, seix barral, 2005 founded in 1997, has become a leading book price comparison site. The irish famine of the 1840s was the greatest social catastrophe of 19thcentury europe, yet. The main characters of this historical, historical fiction story are. It is a miserable november, the cold seeming worse because of the great famine that has stricken the country. On board are hundreds of refugees, some optimistic, many more are desperate.
The irish potato famine of the 1840s was the greatest social catastrophe of 19th century europe, yet inspired surprisingly little imaginative writing. Star of the sea has been read in different ways, but to its author, at any rate, it is simply a story about love. May 06, 2011 after reading the star of the sea i can better understand why. Free download or read online star of the sea pdf epub book. In the winter of 1847 the fictional ship star of the sea starts a 26day journey from ireland to new york. A guide to star of the sea by joseph oconnor for book. Star of the sea became an international number one bestseller, selling more than 800,000 copies in a year. Star of the sea, a daring novel by irish author joseph o connor, is an engrossing tale of many parts.
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