Book : The Last Storyteller

(Image from C/W Mars Catalog)

The Last Storyteller : a Novel of Ireland by Frank Delaney is a perfect example of how excellent storytelling can make terrible characters, meaning that they are not particularly nice or sympathetic people, interesting and worthy of reading about. 

     **SPOILER ALERT: reading farther may spoil the book**

This book is the conclusion to the Ben McCarthy Trilogy, following Delaney’s other books, Venetia Kelly’s Traveling Show (2010) and The Matchmaker of Kenmare (2011).  Admittedly, I almost decided to not read this book since I did not particularly like the first two.  I think that the love story of Ben McCarthy and Venetia Kelly is just a little too weird for me, what with them meeting because Ben’s father abandoned his wife and their family farm to follow Venetia and her traveling show around like a lovesick puppy, Ben and Venetia getting married when Ben was eighteen and Venetia was thirty-two, and then Venetia being kidnapped by her own father and loosing all contact with Ben for twenty-five years because they were both too stupid and immature to do anything about it for twenty-five years!  In The Last Storyteller in particular I started to get very sick of how stupid and ridiculous both characters were being, to the point where I was almost disappointed at how neatly and happily their love story ended. 

Fortunately, Delaney’s writing is so beautiful and powerful, especially during the many legends and lore that are told by various characters throughout the book, that this is still a worthwhile book to read.  The first two books are not particularly interesting beyond perhaps some commentary of the political atmosphere at the time in Ireland, but The Last Storyteller has much to offer in terms of lessons about love, life, and the importance of the art of storytelling.  This volume really chronicles the transformation of Ben McCarthy into a traditional, itinerant storyteller and as such touches upon a wide variety of tales to showcase various pieces of the Irish spirit and human nature on a broader scale.

While I would argue that Delaney’s first novel, Ireland (which I spoke of in an earlier post), does a better job of really encompassing all of Ireland’s history in its stories, this book contains a better master class in the art of storytelling with a better example of how everyone can apply storytelling to their own life.  One piece of advice that is repeated throughout the trilogy but is featured at the end of this book is the idea that “One day you have to tell the story of your own life… and perceive it as myth.  When you can do that – that’s when you’ve finally grown up” (p. 365).  Delaney’s own mastery of storytelling really shows through when he is able to finally take this character through his own story, thereby displaying how even a non-heroic person can still be the hero of their own tale and how being able to approach life through the lens of a storyteller can give a very different perspective to both wonderful and troubling events.

On the whole, this book is similar in focus to Delaney’s first novel, Ireland, with its focus being on the art of storytelling and its importance to history and culture.  However, whereas Ireland featured storytelling for its ability to capture and convey the history and spirit of an entire nation, The Last Storyteller features the ways that storytelling can heal on a much more personal level.  It is also a really great example of a story about not-so-likable characters that is told in such a way that you cannot help but like the book anyway. 

Delaney, F. (2012). The Last Storyteller : a Novel of Ireland. New York: Random House. 

Book: Ireland

(Image from C/W Mars Catalog)

Ireland: A Novel by Frank Delaney (2005) is one of the best novels I have read in a while. I will admit that I am usually not that interested in historical fiction but I picked up this book on the recommendation of a family friend who said it was a tale about the last traveling storyteller in Ireland. On the most superficial level, that is what the story is about, but it also has so much more to say about the art of storytelling and the history of Ireland itself.

The book follows a young boy, Ronan, growing up in Southern Ireland in the 1950’s, after a travelling storyteller visits his home and changes his life forever. The storyteller’s vibrant tales of the history of Ireland inspire the boy to learn all he can from the mysterious man, sparking a life-long journey of discovery of both his own history and that of his country. Through a mastery of the art of storytelling, the book switches back and forth between Ronan’s journey and the stories that he hears and tells along the way.

Almost every character Ronan encounters has their own story to add, demonstrating the pervasiveness of storytelling across all walks of life. Everyone has their own piece of history to share and their own style of storytelling. Those humanistic elements are part of what help weave the history of Ireland together into one narrative that is meaningful to the characters as their own story progresses.

What I love most about this book is the way that it makes history fun and accessible. As I said before, historical novels are generally not my favorites, but hearing history through the voices of storytellers who are able to give life to the events and bring a distinct perspective makes it all much more interesting. The use of a storyteller’s voice gives the history a bit more depth, connecting the vast past to the present in a way that cannot be conveyed through a single narrative the way most novels are written.

The history of Ireland is itself a very interesting subject, considering the number of times it has been invaded. As the boy’s history professor in college explains,

… all history is a matter of interpretation, mostly by the victors. In the case of our little island it has been rather different, because the history of Ireland was also written by the vanquished – the repeatedly defeated, the hung, drawn, and quartered, the kicked and beaten. And haven’t we made the most of our victimhood?

p. 231

It is this perspective of the vanquished yet proud and vivacious Irish that is given throughout the book, especially in the stories that are told. These tales run the gamut from stories of mythical events, romance, and heroism to religious and political battles that all helped shape the country. They tug at your heartstrings while making you laugh and truly demonstrate the ability of storytelling to transport you into another culture and lifetime.

On the whole, Ireland is a must read book for anyone interested in the history of Ireland or the traditions of storytelling that have survived there. Although I cannot speak to the veracity of the stories that are told, it is not really something I care to research because it is much more about the meanings and artistry behind the stories that matter. It is easy to get swept away by this enchanting book, just as easy as it is to get swept away by Ireland itself.

I had the wonderful opportunity to spend a week in Ireland in October 2008 and experience the land and the culture for myself. It was the kind of experience that is difficult to describe to others because it is nearly impossible to find the words to describe the majesty of the land and the warmth of the culture. However, Delaney’s book comes pretty close to conveying just some of what makes Ireland so special.

Delaney, F. (2005). Ireland: A novel. New York: Harper.