Born in the slums of Dublin in 1902, his father a one-legged whorehouse bouncer and settler of scores, Henry Smart has to grow up fast. By the time he can walk he's out robbing, begging, often cold, always hungry, but a prince of the streets. At fourteen, already six foot two, Henry's in the General Post Office on Easter Monday 1916, a soldier in the Irish citizen Army, fighting for freedom. A year later he's ready to die for Ireland again, a rebel, a Fenian and soon, a killer. With his father's wooden leg as his weapon. ...
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Born in the slums of Dublin in 1902, his father a one-legged whorehouse bouncer and settler of scores, Henry Smart has to grow up fast. By the time he can walk he's out robbing, begging, often cold, always hungry, but a prince of the streets. At fourteen, already six foot two, Henry's in the General Post Office on Easter Monday 1916, a soldier in the Irish citizen Army, fighting for freedom. A year later he's ready to die for Ireland again, a rebel, a Fenian and soon, a killer. With his father's wooden leg as his weapon. Henry becomes a publican legend - one of Michael Collins' boys, a cop, a killer, an assassin on a stollen bike. An historical novel like none before it. A Star Called Henry marks a new chapter in Roddy Doyle's writing. It is a vastly more ambitous book than any he has written before. A subersive look behind the legends of Irish republicanism, at its centre a passionate love story, this is a triumphant work of fiction.
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Seller's Description:
Dispatched, from the UK, within 48 hours of ordering. Though second-hand, the book is still in very good shape. Minimal signs of usage may include very minor creasing on the cover or on the spine.
Doyle has written some wonderful funny stuff so I didn't expect the gruesome stuff of how an orphaned child gets by living on the streets. I stopped reading early on.
