11/26/19 HFVBT BLOG TOUR AND GUEST POST: BITTERSWEET TAPESTRY
Bittersweet Tapestry by Kevin O'Connell
Publication Date: November 1, 2019
Gortcullinane Press
eBook & Paperback
Series: The Derrynane Saga, Book Three
Genre: Historical Fiction
A dramatic decade has passed since sixteen-year-old Eileen O’Connell first departed her family’s sanctuary at remote Derrynane on the Kerry coast to become the wife of one of the wealthiest men in Ireland and the mistress of John O’Connor’s Ballyhar – only to have her elderly husband die within months of the marriage.
Unhappily returned to Derrynane, within a year, under the auspices of their uncle, a general in the armies of Maria Theresa, Eileen and her sister, Abigail departed for Vienna and a life neither could have ever imagined – one at the dizzying heights of the Hapsburg empire and court, where Abigail ultimately became principal lady-in-waiting to the Empress herself, whilst Eileen, for nine momentous years, served as governess to the Empress’s youngest daughter – during which time Maria Antonia, whom Eileen still calls ‘my wee little archduchess’, has become Marie Antoinette, dauphine of France, though she continues to refer to her beloved governess as “Mama”.
As Bittersweet Tapestry opens, it is the High Summer of 1770. Having escorted the future Queen of France from Vienna to her new life, Eileen and her husband, Captain Arthur O’Leary of the Hungarian Hussars, along with their little boy and Eileen’s treasured friend (and former servant) Anna Pfeffer are establishing themselves in Ireland.
Their ties to Catholic Europe remain close and strong; in addition to Abigail and her O’Sullivan family and General O’Connell, his wife and young daughter in Vienna, their brother Daniel is an officer in the Irish Brigade of the armies of Louis XV, whilst their youngest brother, Hugh, is studying at École Militaire in Paris, his path to a commission in the Dillons’ Regiment of the Brigade. His gentle Austrian friendship with Maria Antonia having inevitably waned, Hugh’s relationship with the strikingly-beautiful young widowed Princess Marie Thérèse Louise of Savoy is blossoming.
Though happily ensconced at Rathleigh House, the O’Leary family estate in County Cork, being prominent amongst those families which are the remnants of the old Gaelic order in the area, Eileen and Art find that the dark cloud of the Protestant Ascendancy hovers heavily, at times threateningly, over them.
Bittersweet Tapestry is a tale of stark contrasts – between Hugh’s life of increasing prominence amidst the glitter and intrigue of the French court and Art and Eileen’s in English-occupied Ireland – especially as the latter progresses into a dark, violent and bloody tale . . . ultimately involving an epic tragedy, which along with the events leading up to it and those occurring in its dramatic wake, will permanently impact the O’Learys, the O’Connells – and their far-flung circle of family and friends in Ireland and across Europe.
With his uniquely-descriptive prose, Kevin O'Connell again deftly weaves threads of historical fact and fancy to create a colourful fabric affording unique insights into the courts of eighteenth-century Catholic Europe as well as English-ruled Ireland. As the classic story unfolds amongst the O’Learys, the O'Connells, their friends and enemies, the tumultuously-dangerous worlds in which they dwell will continue to gradually – but inexorably – become even more so.
Bittersweet Tapestry joins O’Connell’s well-received Beyond Derrynane and Two Journeys Home as The Derrynane Saga continues – an enthralling epic, presenting a sweeping chronicle, set against the larger drama of Europe in the early stages of significant – and, in the case of France – violent change.
THOUGHTS:
I am in awe of the talent Kevin O'Connell has in writing such a rich and detailed story with utmost care of historical accuracy in these three magnificent books. I cannot stop talking about them to whomever asks for an amazing Historical Fiction read. This epic saga is one for the movies or even an amazing series to be seen by all in either Amazon, Netflix or HBO. I am in such awe of the talented and the work invested into this. The writer is an absolute genius and master of this time period. These books are a must read. Though this book may be read as a stand alone, having some background on the other two books helps with learning more about the fabulous characters and their back stories.
In Book 1 Beyond Derrynane we see Eileen O'Connell, a sixteen-year-old, arranged to marry John O’Connor, one of the most influential and wealthiest man in Ireland and also fifty years her senior, becoming the mistress of Ballyhar. O'Connor dies suddenly seven months into their marriage.
Eileen ends up in the court of the Empress Maria Theresa in Vienna with her elder sister Abigail experiencing the Habsburg Empire far away from Derrynane.
In Book 2, It’s now 1767, and Eileen O’Connell travels back to Ireland and returns to Derrynane as one of the most recognised figures at the Habsburg court, and her sister Abigail becomes the principal lady-in-waiting to Empress Maria Theresa. Eileen for nine years served as governess to the Empress’s youngest daughter – Marie Antoinette, dauphine of France.
In Bittersweet Tapestry, Book 3, it is now 1770, and Eileen with her husband Captain Arthur O’Leary of the Hungarian Hussars, their little boy and Eileen’s treasured friend Anna Pfeffer are back in Ireland. Their ties to Catholic Europe remain close; Eileen and Art find that the dark cloud of the Protestant In the English occupies Ireland. The story takes a very dark turn and becomes a violent and epic tragedy to some of the characters we have grown to love.
Kevin O'Connell literally weaves threads of historical fact and creativity in an extremely well researched and masterful understanding of the Eighteenth Century Europe to create an amazing and detailed unique insights into the courts of eighteenth-century Catholic Europe as well as English-ruled Ireland.
This epic story beautifully wraps up Bittersweet Tapestry, Beyond Derrynane and Two Journeys Home as The Derrynane Saga weaves to an epic story and an amazing completion.
Bravo!!
About the Author
Kevin O'Connell is a native of New York City and a descendant of a young officer of what had—from 1690 to 1792—been the Irish Brigade of the French army, believed to have arrived in French Canada following the execution of Queen Marie Antoinette in October of 1793. At least one grandson subsequently returned to Ireland and Mr. O'Connell's own grandparents came to New York in the early twentieth century. He holds both Irish and American citizenship.
He is a graduate of Providence College and Georgetown University Law Centre.
For much of his four decades-long legal career, O'Connell has practiced international business transactional law, primarily involving direct-investment matters, throughout Asia (principally China), Europe, and the Middle East.
The father of five children and grandfather of ten, he and his wife, Laurette, live with their golden retriever, Katie, near Annapolis, Maryland.
GUEST POST
Why
Does One Write Historical Fiction?
As
the question, “How
d’you do it?” –– in terms of thinking up and then writing stories, is frequently
asked of me, so too is the question “Why d’you do it?” – regarding ones
motivation to work in this particular genre, to be enamoured of the past.
This is not something upon which I’ve dwelt,
but having been asked this question more
and more frequently recently, it’s become one which I thought it might be
interesting to ponder.
How
and why does one finds oneself drawn to writing of the past – no matter how
distant? What is it one finds fascinating – because a writer really does need
to be fascinated with her topic or subject – in order to do the best job.
I
have written recently that there are probably as many ways to “write correctly
as there are writers” – and it is probably true when one ventures into this
type of introspection that each person who writes history – whether fact or
fiction – has his or her own reasons for being drawn to the topic – especially
if one remains with it.
Whilst
the reasons would probably be fascinating to psychiatrists and psychologists,.
I write solely as a lay-person as to these disciplines . . . so I shall share
only what are/have been perhaps my own motivations:
Reflecting
on this, I cannot remember a time when I was not interested in the past.
From
childhood on, running throughout the entire experiences I speak of below, I feel
fortunate to have grown up in a family conscious of the past – of Ireland,
especially in the Seventeenth, Eighteenth and Nineteenth centuries, being aware
of some of its least-known people, of where and how they lived, and what they
did to survive – and, in some cases, thrive, knowing at least to some extent
who was who back a number of generations.
The downside (it seems there is always a downside to things Irish!) of this – truth be told – is that more than a
few of the O’Connells were and are snobs, at times rightly-characterised as
being “West Brits” – not to mention being, stubborn, arrogant and prideful.
Ah, but I digress –
So
then I grew up with a great deal of family history and lore – and with and as a
result of it – developed a fondness for the Eighteenth Century on both sides of
the Atlantic, first in Ireland and Britain, France and “Catholic Europe” – leading
to a fascination with the “Wild Geese” and the Irish Brigade of France, as well as
members of the fallen Gaelic Aristocracy serving Catholic monarchs in Austria, Spain
– even the Russian Czars and Catherine the Great
I
believe it’s fair to say that none of this has ever left me, and indeed much of
it has served as the basis for the Derrynane Saga.
I
grew up in an area where the American Revolution was “The War”. Even as late as the 1950s relics of
Washington’s army’s presence in the area were still being found – a belt
buckle, musket balls lost during a hasty departure, shards of salt-glazed
pottery. I do not remember when it was – I was a very little boy – but the
first time I walked on the grounds of the Old Paramus Dutch Reformed Church,
knowing already, but hearing my father again point out that here – right
here where we are – Washington and his ragged army had stayed, here
– in the church itself – he plotted his escape across the Jerseys with his
officers – and it thrilled me beyond belief.
So
very early-on I went through a “Revolutionary period” – a family visit to
Williamsburg yielded a tricorn hat and further enchantment with the
period. Children’s books – there was a
wonderful series of biographies of historical European and American figures
called Signature Books – I believe I wound up owning most of them – and eventually
“real” history books became a part of my life from about age eight or nine. By
the time I was perhaps a sophomore in high school I had slogged my way through all
seven volumes of Douglas Southall Freeman’s magnificent George Washington, a
Biography. Almost every time I was in Washington and Virginia as a child with my parents – which was
frequently – I made sure we’d occasionally drop by Mount Vernon – or Arlington
House, or Woodlawn Plantation (home of Washington’s step-granddaughter – who
with her husband, his nephew, became an early Virginia abolitionist).
As
I contemplate continuing the Derrynane Saga, and considering various
possible story lines, it well may be that much of my “Revolutionary period” could
become a valuable resource.
Speaking
of Northern Virginia leads me to the fact that horses have always been a great
part of my life, as my mother – and I –
were both active equestrians, a not insignificant amount of time was spent in
Northern Virginia – particularly around Middleburg, in Loudoun County.
It
goes almost without saying that the American Civil War was in many ways fought
primarily – and decided – in Virginia. Thus, my “Revolutionary period” was
followed by a very intense “Civil War period” – as there is history – for good
or for ill – almost literally around every corner in this area where I spent so
much time. Indeed, what is now called the “Mosby Heritage Area” includes all or
parts of five counties in the Northern Virginia Piedmont and lower Shenandoah
Valley, including : Loudoun. Named for John Singleton Mosby, a colourful local
Confederate “raider,” (who before the war a lawyer in Warrenton) and whose
activities against the Union forces and especially their supply trains, led to
the area being referred to during the conflict as “Mosby’s Confederacy”.
I
have walked the battlefields at Manassas and Sharpsburg, at Chancellorsville
more than once – as well as many others, I read voraciously, both children’s
books and adult, yet immersing myself in
Mr. Freeman’s work, his four volume R.E. Lee, A Biography as well as his
classic multi-volume Lee’s Lieutenants. Shelf upon shelf of books of
this era remain with me – stories of battles and campaigns, leaders and average
people – black and white.
I
think it’s fair to stay that – from childhood, boyhood and even as an adult –
riding – whether across the open country in Loudoun County or in New Jersey or
in competition – it was easy for me to feel a connection with the past – no
tricorn hat, of course, but being one with the horse, clad in snug-fitting breeches,
tall boots, the creak of the saddle beneath one’s bum, against one’s thighs – the
basics are little different today than they were in the Eighteenth Century. In
Virginia, it was especially easy to imagine, to “make believe” as a lad, or even as a man – that Washington or men like
him were perhaps ahead or around that corner – as they may well have been –
more than once!
If
one has not already surmised it, I admit to being something of a romantic –
perhaps one cannot do what I do, write what I write without having a strong
sense of romance – for the lifestyles, the lives, even the clothing of the
past.
Similarly
– be it some form of romanticism or no – one must have a genuine interest in
how different people led their lives at this time and in these places of which
I write - including the very basics of
food preparation and eating, dressing, travel, manners and mores, as well as entertainments – books
and music and education. An interest in how things worked and were done, even
being fascinated by the reality that during her years in Vienna Eileen
O’Connell could neither dress nor undress herself – not necessarily because she
wanted to be pampered but because she literally could not put on and remove her
clothing without help. Eighteenth Century men – whatever their station – appear
to have had it easier!
As
one delves into a particular period, in my case the Eighteenth Century, one
must reconcile oneself to, at least to some degree, accepting what I would characterise
as being uncomfortable, even horrible, realities – violence, danger, slavery, discrimination
– as they existed at the time. This is rather critical in writing historical fiction,
as uncomfortable as it may be to the author – one cannot do justice to the historical part
of this form of fiction by railing on about “equal rights” or by having one’s
hero or heroine be little more than an enlightened Twenty-first Century person
in a frock coat or flowing robe – it simply doesn’t “work”. Thus, throughout the Saga, whilst
Eileen O’Connell is clearly far from being the typical meek and pliant women of
her time in history and her class, she was also a staunch royalist, a believer
in the system of absolute monarchy, despite her distaste for the Sassenach
occupiers of her native Ireland, and a traditionalist in terms of marriage,
family.
I
have been soundly (and not necessarily unfairly) criticised for some of the
violence, especially in Beyond Derrynane, as well as some –
particularly one – characters’ proclivity
to perhaps all-too frequently resort to self-help in the form of shooting
people. Though the Habsburgs maintained a rather modern-style police force, at
least in and about Vienna, the other settings for the story, particularly
Ireland, were barely policed at all – and there was considerable violence –
both offensive and defensive. Again, the reality of the time.
So,
yes, gentle reader, I do find the past – especially the period and the people
and places of which I continue to write – all bloody fascinating, absorbing
and, indeed, more than a wee bit of an escape from the unpleasant realities of
our own place in Twenty-first Century history.
And
all of this this is why I write historical fiction!
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Al-Alhambra Book Reviews
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Historical Fiction with Spirit
Monday, November 25
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Broken Teepee
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