The Donnellys, John Little
The Donnellys, John Little
List: $24.99 | Sale: $17.50
Club: $12.49

The Donnellys
Powder Keg: 1840-1880

Author: John Little

Narrator: Gareth Richards

Unabridged: 12 hr 10 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Tantor Media

Published: 11/02/2021


Synopsis

A violent family living in violent times.

In the 1840s, the Donnelly family immigrates from Ireland to the British province of Canada. Almost immediately problems develop as the patriarch of the family is sent to the Kingston Penitentiary for manslaughter, leaving his wife to raise their eight children on her own.

The children are raised in an incredibly violent community and cultivate a devoted loyalty to their mother and siblings, which often leads to problems with the law and those outside of the family.

The tensions between the family and their community escalate as the family's enemies begin to multiply. The brothers go into business running a stagecoach line and repay all acts of violence perpetrated against them, which only worsens the situation.

Refusing to take a backwards step, the Donnellys stand alone against a growing power base that includes wealthy business interests in the town of Lucan, the local diocese of the Roman Catholic Church, law authorities and a number of their neighbors.

Contains mature themes.

About John Little

John Little is a columnist for Ironman magazine and the innovator of three revolutionary training protocols, including Max Contraction Training. He and his wife, Teri, own Nautilus North Strength & Fitness Centre and have supervised more than 60,000 workouts.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Wendy

This is the first book in a two book series, by author John Little, based on the well known and largely talked about Donnelly Family, otherwise known as the "Black Donnellys". In the 1840's the Donnelly family immigrates from Ireland to Canada where they settle in the small town of Lucan, Ontario. Pr......more

Goodreads review by Susan

I wish I could review the two books the author has just released together as they make up the entire narrative of the Donnelly story. Born and raised in London, the Donnelly story was everywhere. In the 1960s there was a huge amount of material from which to choose. I pass through Lucan quite often......more

Goodreads review by Travis

If you're looking to really get a deep dive into the Donnelly murders then this is the book for you. But, if you just want to learn about it I would suggest finding something else. This book is just a lot. Like I mean I now know every fight and disagreement the Donnelly's have ever had and every sin......more

Goodreads review by Matt

This book of the Donnelly family by John Little has a wonderful narrative voice that keeps the reader engaged. Their time in the stage coach business was a great read and the sagas with Hugh McKinnon and James Carroll were also fascinating and frustrating at the same time. Little's intense research h......more