Joseph oconnor s most popular book is star of the sea. Buy star of the sea by joseph oconnor online at alibris. In the bitter winter of 1847, from an ireland torn by famine and injustice, the star of the sea sets sail for new york. On board are hundreds of refugees, some optimistic, many more desperate. Compare how america is depicted in star of the sea and how it is diversely understood by the main characterswith how you think america is perceived today, both at home and abroad. It is a very complex book and more than a large effort. Pdf star of the sea book by joseph oconnor free download. Star of the sea joseph oconnor world cultures european.
The nightwalker turned out to be pius mulvey, a central character in star of the sea. 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. Joseph oconnor books list of books by author joseph o. The novel is set in 1847 against the backdrop of the irish famine. Look carefully at the different forms the narrative takes e. On a ship packed with irish immigrants, one passenger is a killer people. 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.
There is more than one author with this name joseph oconnor was born in dublin. Star of the sea is a 2004 historical fiction novel by joseph oconnor. The book took a deal of planning, before ever a word was written. In the spring of 1847, from an ireland torn by disaster and injustice, the star of the sea sets. Star of the sea by joseph oconnor took center stage. On board are hundreds of refugees, some optimistic, many more are desperate. 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. His work has been published in thirty languages, and he also writes for the stage and screen. Star of the sea by joseph oconnor book club discussion. Among them are a maid with a devastating secret, the bankrupt lord merridith, his wife and children, and a killer. Keep your tired, your poor, your huddled masses the new. This is a brave and artful novel disguised to appear safe and conventional. 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.
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. If you are a reader of literary fiction, this will be a comforting, engaging read. Before success as an author, he was a journalist with the sunday tribune newspaper and esquire magazine. Among the refugees are a maidservant, bankrupt lord merridith, an aspiring novelist and a maker of revolutionary ballads. Star of the sea has 12 available editions to buy at half price books marketplace. 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.
Buy the paperback book star of the sea by joseph oconnor at indigo. Star of the sea by joseph oconnor bibliofemme bookclub. Joseph o connor is a talented writer who has delivered a rollicking good story. Star of the sea book by joseph oconnor thriftbooks. The seeming present of the novel takes place on the ship, the star of the sea, a freighter. In the bitter winter of 1847, from an ireland torn by injustice and natural. But neither was the greatest difference between them. Its a great example of literary fiction and great writing.
Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. He is the author of the novels cowboys and indians shortlisted for the whitbread prize, desperadoes, the salesman, inishowen, star of the sea. Joseph oconnor was born in 1963 eldest of four children raised in dublin. 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. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read star of the sea. In 2008, london band silvery released the song star of the sea on. Among them are a maidservant with a devastating secret, bankrupt lord merridith and his family, an aspiring novelist and a maker of revolutionary ballads. He earned a ba and ma in english and history at university college, dublin, followed by postgraduate research at university college, oxford and lived in london until 1996.
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. Even though we know from the first chapter that there will be a murder on board the ship, joseph oconnor keeps us in suspense right to the end of star of the sea. This international bestseller about generations of men who go to sea and the women and children they. Critic, playwright, and novelist joseph oconnor has long been a literary star in his native ireland.
Eliza duane mooney is searching for a youngster she has not seen in four years, one of the 100,000 children drawn into the war. There is a powerful novel by liam oflaherty and a starkly moving drama by the contemporary playwright tom murphy. But this is not the usual irish potato famine fare you might expect. Joseph oconnors impressive historical novel, star of the sea, examines the. Free download or read online star of the sea pdf epub book. The star of the sea by joseph oconnor and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Joseph oconnor talks about historical inaccuracies and star. Star of the sea hardcover oconnor, joseph jan 01, 2002. Look again at the date that appears below dixons signature at the end of star of the sea.
The first edition of the novel was published in march 8th 2004, and was written by joseph oconnor. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 432 pages and is available in paperback format. A new york times notable book and thoroughly gripping historical mystery. A guide to star of the sea by joseph oconnor for book clubs. Oct 06, 2012 joseph o connor talk to ryan about one inaccuracy in star of the sea that one reader wrote to him about. The star of the sea by oconnor, joseph and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Free shipping and pickup in store on eligible orders. Star of the sea has been read in different ways, but to its author, at any rate, it is simply a story about love. Joseph oconnors star of the sea and sheila sims garden. I have read it four times now over the years and i know i will read it again and again. Terry eagleton is transported by joseph oconnors star of the sea, a finely wrought novel of the irish potato famine. Joseph oconnors most popular book is star of the sea.
Star of the sea, a daring novel by irish author joseph oconnor, is an engrossing tale of many parts. Joseph oconnor irish author, author of shadowplay, the. Buy books and get all the latest news, information, event listings, biography, media resources and much more about joseph here. Star of the sea by joseph oconnor books the guardian. Star of the sea book by joseph oconnor half price books. Which characters in this novel might be seen as representations of the cain and abel paradigm.
Indeed, in dutch and other translations the book was given the title stella maris. Star of the sea became an international number one bestseller, selling more than 800,000 copies in a year. Joseph oconnor books list of books by author joseph oconnor. Joseph o connor talk to ryan about one inaccuracy in star of the sea that one reader. Star of the sea is a historical novel by the irish writer joseph oconnor published in 2004. Jan 25, 2003 star of the sea by joseph oconnor 436pp, secker. In writing this novel oconnor has managed to write a piece of work that is an education in itself, star of the sea speaks to us about the enmeshed histories of england, ireland and america, and a lesson on the evils of serfdom and exploitation. Star of the sea by joseph o connor essay 1478 words. Its a great tribute to the millions of irish people whose lives were cut short.
Thrilling and full of suspense, this is a novel of ireland set on a new yorkbound ocean liner. I sensed that it would need many disparate elements, but to discover the order that might make the structure float. 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. Even though it was nasty outside, inside we had a pleasant conversation about a most horrible time in irish history the great famine. The irish famine of the 1840s was the greatest social catastrophe of 19thcentury europe, yet inspired surprisingly little imaginative. This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of star of the sea by joseph oconnor. Every now and then a book comes along that i feel passionate about and joseph o connors star of the sea is one of those books that tells the harrowing and tragic story of the irish potato famine of 1840s ireland and the voyage. The star of the sea is the ironic name of one of the coffin ships that made its way painstakingly slowly from ireland to america during the time of the famine. Founded in 1997, has become a leading book price comparison site. 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. Joseph oconnor is a talented writer who has delivered a rollicking good story. Star of the sea by joseph oconnor penguin books australia. Joseph oconnor award winning irish author official website. Among them are a maid with a devastating secret, the bankrupt lord merridith, his wife and children.
Star of the sea by joseph oconnor author official website. 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. A number one bestseller in britain and ireland, it won the prix litteraire europeen madeleine zepter for. Winter 1847, the star of the sea sets sail from ireland for new york. Star of the sea is a thriller about an announced murder. In the bitter winter of 1847, from an ireland torn by famine and injustice, the star of the sea sets sail for newyork. Star of the sea is a historical novel by the irish writer joseph o connor published in 2004. In this, oconnor compares the starving irish population of the village of letterfrack good photos in the 1840s to people starving in. Identify specific scenes or dialogue to make your points. Born and raised in new york, i was educated by the marianists at chaminade high school and the jesuits at fordham university in the bronx. Nov 04, 2010 star of the sea is not your classic ocean novel or murder mystery. Star of the sea in the bitter winter of 1847, from an ireland torn by famine and injustice, the star of the sea sets sail for newyork. A guide to star of the sea by joseph oconnor for book. Joseph oconnor was born in 1963 and has written thirteen books, most recently the novel star of the sea, which sold a million copies around the world.
In the bitter winter of 1847, from an ireland torn by famine and i. In the bitter winter of 1847, leaving an ireland torn by famine and injustice, the star of the sea sets sail for new york. Eighteen years after the famine ship star of the sea docked at new york, the daughter of two of her passengers sets out from baton rouge, louisiana, on a walk across a devastated america. Critic, playwright, and novelist joseph o connor has long been a literary star in his native ireland. James kincaid in the new york times commented, this is a brave and artful novel disguised to appear safe and conventional. Read this book and over 1 million others with a kindle unlimited membership. He lives with his wife and two sons in dublin, ireland.
Star of the sea 9780156029667 by joseph oconnor and a great selection of similar new, used and collectible books available now at great prices. 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. Joseph oconnor has 40 books on goodreads with 29170 ratings. His 2002 historical novel star of the sea was an international number one bestseller. Lord merridith and his family board the titular ship in 1847, bound for new york, leaving behind an ireland devastated by famine and strife.