The Great Shame, Thomas Keneally
The Great Shame, Thomas Keneally
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The Great Shame
And the Triumph of the Irish in the English-Speaking World

Author: Thomas Keneally

Narrator: John McDonough

Unabridged: 35 hr 51 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Recorded Books

Published: 03/18/2011

Synopsis

In The Great Shame, Thomas Keneally—the bestselling, Booker Prize–winning author of Schindler’s List—combines the authority of a brilliant historian and the narrative grace of a great novelist to present a gripping account of the Irish diaspora. The nineteenth century saw Ireland lose half of its population to famine, emigration, or deportation to penal colonies in Australia—often for infractions as common as stealing food. Among the victims of this tragedy were Thomas Keneally’s own forebearers, and they were his inspiration to tell the story of the Irish who struggled and ultimately triumphed in Australia and North America. Relying on rare primary sources—including personal letters, court transcripts, ship manifests, and military documents—Keneally offers new and important insights into the impact of the Irish in exile. The result is a vivid saga of heroes and villains, from Great Famine protesters to American Civil War generals to great orators and politicians. "In the style of the best historians, [Keneally] allows the intrinsic power of the tales he tells and the people who populate his pages to draw the reader into a fully elaborated universe."—The New York Times

About Thomas Keneally

Thomas Keneally has won international acclaim for his novels Schindler's List (the basis for the movie of the same name and the winner of the Booker Prize), The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith, Confederates, Gossip from the Forest, The Playmaker, Woman of the Inner Sea, A River Town, Office of Innocence, and The Tyrant's Novel. His most recent works of nonfiction are The Great Shame and American Scoundrel. Thomas lives in Sydney, Australia.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Owen on July 15, 2012

The story of what happened to the Irish political prisoners known as the Young Irelanders and the Fenians, in the 1850s and 60s, is expertly told by Australian writer Thomas Keneally in "The Great Shame." Sticking firmly to documented history, about the only thing Keneally leaves out is the nastier......more

Goodreads review by Scott on August 14, 2016

From the beloved author of Schindler’s List comes a sprawling account of the lives of dozens of Irish men (and some women) who fled or were transported from Ireland to farflung places, including principally the penal colonies of Australia, the United States, Central America, and Continental Europe.......more

Goodreads review by Melissa on March 04, 2013

It reads a bit like a textbook, but if you're looking for an in-depth account of the Irish diaspora of the 19th century, look no further. Keneally spends a great deal of time talking about Australia, as that's where his Irish ancestors ended up, and I found it interesting, as I knew nothing about th......more

Goodreads review by Jack on March 08, 2020

A big, rambling, true history of several Irish families, including the author's, fighting for personal and Irish freedom on a world stage. There is no narrative arc, though, and it lacks a certain focus, following one family, then another, until we lose track of things.......more

Goodreads review by Cyndi on July 07, 2016

Very long and dry book. If you LOVE Irish history you may enjoy this book. I found it difficult to maintain interest.......more

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