Author Bio:
C R Dempsey is the author of ‘Traitor Maguire’, ‘Uprising’ and ‘Bad Blood’, three historical fiction books set in Elizabethan Ireland. He has plans for many more, and he needs to find the time to write them. History has always been his fascination, and historical fiction was an obvious outlet for his accumulated knowledge. C R spends lots of time working on his books, mainly in the twilight hours of the morning. C R wishes he spent more time writing and less time jumping down the rabbit hole of excessive research.
C R Dempsey lives in London with his wife and cat. He was born in Dublin but has lived most of his adult life in London.
C R can be found at:
Twitter: @dempsey_cr
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Editorial Review:
All books have their own unique inherent strengths and weaknesses, and 'Traitor Maguire'', the latest book from C.R. Dempsey, is no exception. So perhaps it would be best to begin with the basic weakness that is contained within this otherwise fine and exciting book. 'Traitor Maguire' is simply not a 'stand alone' book! To make any real progress with this book requires at least a vague and broad understanding of this largely ignored historical episode in Ireland's troubled past and the often bewildering cast of colourful and eccentric characters that populate both 'Bad blood' and 'Uprising', the first two books in this series. The reader who come thus equipped, having already these first two books under his or her belt, is at a distinct advantage to one who comes to this book completely new. The newcomer is deposited straight into the complex and confusing action, rather as if he or she is suddenly thrust two thirds of the way into a blazing family row of complete strangers [and with more joining all the time!] and being asked to adjudicate. There is no other course of action to adopt but to pick up the threads of the conversation as best one might and carry on. A possible solution to this would have been to have been provided with a synopsis, a list of the key characters and a map. This would make the book, enjoyable as it is, all the stronger.
We offer here, therefore, a brief precis of the first two books In 'Bad Blood', the hero of the series, Eunan Maguire, a minor member of the powerful Maguire clan, is born in a small village in Fermanagh; in the north of Ireland. He is confused by the fact that the community at large shuns him and his own parents actually hate him. He is forced to flee his home, when it is destroyed in an English raid and his parents are killed. Blaming himself, he vows revenge and seeks the leaders of the spluttering and failed rebellion against the Crown and to put new fire into the fight. In Book Two ['Uprising'] we are given a further taste of the sheer anarchy of the times, of the warring tribes, factions and clans, each seeking to further their own conflicting interests, and the complex and twisting conspiracies and devious plotting of the times. In this general imbroglio, Maguire seeks to protect his own interests as well as those of his immediate family and those of the Maguire family in general; seeking to lead them away from any alliance with the English and into active rebellion. In so doing, he finds himself at the very apex of Maguire affairs. Previous reviewers of these books have commented to this overall 'Game of thrones' feel to Dempsey's books, and, proudly and happily, 'Traitor Maguire' is no exception. 'Traitor Maguire' has its full quota of gory and blood soaked action, shadowy double dealing and intrigue and bursts of dialogue that are as Irish as the peat in this rip roaring book.
Whilst grappling with the truly bewildering cast of characters that make their various entrances and exits, there are moments of quite beautiful lyrical beauty. Here is the ruined Cormac O'Cassidy as he trudges towards Dublin and the English 'Pale' ; a truly ruined man hungry for revenge:
''I am but a destitute man, shorn of the trappings of wealth and both the burden and pleasures of family and responsibility. They cut respect and love for the world from me and tossed them to the wayside alongside my honour and dignity. How does the wind embrace these cursed bones?''
This deeply felt statement is almost Shakespearean in its sentiment, sounding like Lear on his 'blasted heath'. There are many such dialogues and descriptions in similar vein. As Eunan makes his ill fated entry into Enniskillen with Sean O'Toole......
''The street became a line of sparkling white, as rain dripped to merge in the many gathering puddles and the shimmering moon rested upon them.'' And here is the onset of winter in a time of famine, extreme poverty and civil war in the ruined lands around the disputed lands around Eunan's new patrimony at the O'Cassidy House.
''The ground hardened with the frosts and the last leaves fell from the trees and plants curled up to hide from the harshness of the winter. The ground cried out to be broken by the hoe and the cows echoed the distress from their fields. Even the crows came down from the trees and gathered near the house looking for scraps because the pickings were so poor in the field.''
The reader should be grateful to C.R. Dempsey for shining a light upon this tragic and ill fated and often ignored period of Irish history. There had been 'English' influence and interference in Ireland and Irish affairs for centuries prior to this period. The sixteenth century witnessed the arrival in the north of Ireland of large numbers of Protestant settlers, largely of Scottish nationality, in the infamous 'Plantation of Ulster' and in 1542, a half century before the setting of this book, Ireland ceased to be an English 'Lordship' of Dublin and the surrounding area [the 'Pale'] and Henry VIII became 'King of Ireland'. The major Irish clans and leading families were notorious for their divisions and disputes and perennially waged savage wars and disputes amongst themselves that were further baffled by the often incomprehensible set of 'Brehon' laws that governed them. When they did combine and rise up in rebellion against their hated English overlords [with vague and usually unsubstantial promises of Spanish help] the results were mixed. Triumphs were rare and costly and of no lasting effect. This extremely brief historical note is designed to attempt to place 'The Traitor Maguire' in the context of the time.
While the conditions of Eunan's imprisonment, on an island used to keep prisoners and hostages, improve, the preparations are underway for his full trial for murder and theft and a host of other charges under 'Brehon' law and all the complications that that involve. His Uncle Desmond and the dangerous and unpredictable Seamus Macsheehy travel to seek both legal and practical support for Eunan and to meet the secret Spanish delegation in order to attempt to formalise terms and conditions for the supply of Spanish men and arms in return for Irish allegiance to Spain. Throughout the island of Ireland powerful men are meeting and plotting once more, forming new family allegiances and betraying old ones. It appears increasingly likely that the final decisions would only be made following the trial and likely execution of Eunan Maguire, for then matters would be far clearer and the powerful men could make their final decisions. The political manoeuvring and general skulduggery of the major powers involved and the decision of whether to back the Spanish and rise in rebellion and revolt or not remains unclear as the trial and possible execution of Eunan Maguire draws near. Ever the artist in evoking the flora and fauna of Ireland and the general weather conditions, the writer evokes the Spring as all attention is drawn once more to the town and fortress of Eniskillen in the Easter period:
''A faint warmness kissed the land, but the relentless wind continued its quest to rid the countryside of its touch. The white fluffy clouds hid in the upper echelons of the sky. Little daisies poked their heads out of the dew laden grass. The woods were filled with the sound of chirping birds. It was a beautiful Spring day.''
The backdrop has thus been set. This has been the direction of this book all along; the climax of the deliberations of the trial for the life of Eunan Maguire. Needless to say, the entire trial, despite the learned work on both sides by the highly trained and honed experts in Brehon Law, there is too much at stake on both sides and, predictably the trial deteriorates into vivid and violently described bloodshed and general mayhem. When all the dust settles finally, it will be clear that the stage is now clear for a further episode in the seemingly never ending tale of the agony of Ireland. As a final comment and observation, readers of 'The Traitor Maguire' are strongly recommended to first read the first two books in the series before embarking on 'Traitor Maguire'. Their enjoyment of this book will then be all the greater.
*****
“Traitor Macguire” by C. R. Dempsey receives four stars from The Historical Fiction Company