The naming of people is a topic that comes up often in a star called henry. A subversive look behind the legends of irish republicanism, at its centre a passionate love story, this new novel is a triumphant work of fiction. A star called henry by irish writer roddy doyle is a rare find. His latest novel, a star called henry, places those themes on a larger historical canvas, examining the fight for irish independence in the late 1910s through the. A star called henry describes the first twenty years of henrys adventurefilled life in early twentiethcentury ireland.
The muchloved irish author the woman who walked into doors, 1996, etc. Praised as a masterpiece by the washington post, a star called henry introduced the unforgettable henry smart and left roddy doyles innumerable fans clamoring for more. Doyle s work is set primarily in ireland, especially workingclass dublin, and is notable for its. Told from a first person, past tense omnipresent perspective, the reader is led along a remembered past full of historical dramatic irony with glimpses into a mysterious future. Pages are intact and are not marred by notes or highlighting, but may contain a neat previous owner name. Ha ha ha but ultimately a failure the novel keenly observes the middle age of its recently separated narrator roddy doyle latest novel is called smile. A star called henry represents roddy doyles departure from fiction in contemporary settings and, in part, from the comic tone that has characterized his work since the late 1980s. In novels such as paddy clarke ha ha ha, the commitments, and the woman who walked into doors, roddy doyle thrills readers with withering wit, modernist techniques, and the emotional and political realities of workingclass irish. It is a vastly more ambitious book than any he has previously written. Oh, play that thing and the dead republic by roddy doyle. One of the more stirring shorts competing for the oscar in the live action shorts category is steph greens new boy, based on the short story by roddy doyle the commitments about a young african boy named joseph tunji ebuncole, who endures merciless taunting from his new classmates on his first day at a school in dublin by reflecting back on his time in africa.
An historical novel like none before it, a star called henry marks a new chapter in booker prizewinner roddy doyle s writing. His latest novel, a star called henry, places those themes on a larger historical canvas, examining the fight for irish independence in the late 1910s through the 1920s. Look for roddy doyles new novel, smile, coming in october of 2017. A star called henry marked a new departure for roddy doyle who until now has concentrated on novels portraying contemporary life in dublin. A star called henry study guide contains a biography of roddy doyle, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. A star called henry by roddy doyle about the book born in the slums, raised on the streets, caught up in the fight for a free ireland at the age of fourteen, henry smart is, indisputably, a survivor.
Roddy doyle is an internationally bestselling writer. He does not know the school well and as firstyear students he and his friends are often bullied by. He is the author of ten acclaimed novels, including the commitments, the van a finalist for the booker prize, paddy clark ha ha ha winner of the booker prize, the woman who walked into doors, a star called henry, and, most recently, the guts. The book follows the early life of henry smart, from his childhood in the slums of early 20th century dublin to his involvement in the easter rising and the. The first edition of the novel was published in 1999, and was written by roddy doyle. Doyle revisits spencers life in his 2006 novel paula spencer. The message of the story is that our actions hurt others, as the narrator was hurt by. He is also the author of the novels paddy clarke ha ha ha 1993 booker prize winner, the woman who walked into doors, and a star called henry, and a nonfiction book. Smarts further adventures were detailed in oh, play that thing 2004, which follows him as he journeys through the united states, and the dead republic 2010, which chronicles his return to ireland. In addition to his novels, for which he is best known, roddy doyle wrote several highly successful plays, including brownbread pr. Smarts further adventures were detailed in oh, play that thing 2004, which follows him as he journeys through the united states, and. An unconventional, irreverent working class hero, the protagonist of a star called henry 1999 is, like ocaseys radicals, pitted against the status quo of irish.
A star called henry tracks his gradual disillusionment with the new powerbrokers, who dont wish to disturb the topdown social structure. The second installment of the series, oh, play that thing, was published in 2004. An historical novel like none before it, a star called henry marks a new chapter in booker prizewinner roddy doyles writing. Other articles where a star called henry is discussed. He describes brother murphy, his french teacher from his secondary school, a catholic school in ireland. Roddy doyles acclaimed novel about an intrepid irishmans years of reckless.
A star called henry is probably far more accurate in its portrayal of ireland in the last years of british rule than many would realise. A star called henry by roddy doyle overdrive rakuten. Starting school when he is years old, the narrator is both excited and frightened. This novel established doyle as a leading comic writer, earning comparisons to irish humorists such as sean ocasey and brendan behan encarta. A star called henry 1999 is a novel by irish writer roddy doyle. Several of his books have been made into films, beginning with the commitments in 1991. Roddy doylea star called henry seeing the world through. The series includes a wide variety of magical realism, and how henry continues to fight social norms to get what he wants. By the time he can walk hes out robbing, begging, often cold, always hungry, but a prince of the streets. The theme of bullying is explored through the motif of violence, while the theme of loss of innocence is enhanced by motifs like homosexuality and smiling. Using a compelling firstperson fictional narrative, booker prizewinning author roddy doyle lets henry tell his own story, revealing this young mans heroism, as well as the tumultuous era in which he lived.
Born in 1901, henry lives on the streets from a young age and becomes engrossed in the dark underworld of earlytwentiethcentury irish slums. Roddy doyle has a hint for readers and chronicle book clubbers trying to find the author in his new irish novel a star called henry, the way they tried to find him in paddy clarke ha ha ha and. Roddy and the raggedtrousered revolutionary books the. Oh, play that thing opens with henry on the run from his irish republican paymasters, arriving in new york city in 1924. The dead republic by roddy doyle books the guardian. A star called henry is a significant novel, however, one which will be regarded as one of doyles most important. Though it may never be as loved as much as some of his other novels, which often include humor to set the misery into sharp relief, doyle has treated his serious subject with respect and honesty, taking a close look at the people. Americans may be most familiar with doyles wisecracking dialog and its lilting dublin intonations from the popular film adaptations of his barrytown trilogy.
Roddy doyles extraordinary sixth novel, a star called henry, marks a major departure from the seriocomic territory he mined for his beloved barrytown trilogy the commitments, the snapper, and the van and for his subsequent novels on workingclass dublin life, the woman who walked into doors and paddy clarke ha ha ha. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. A star called henry roddy doyle summary part 1 chapter 1. The main themes of the short story smile by roddy doyle are bullying and loss of innocence. Roddy and the raggedtrousered revolutionary a star called henry by roddy doyle cape. It is a vastly more ambitious book than any he has written before. In the vigorous colloquial voice that has become doyles trademark, henry smart b. The third, the dead republic, was published in 2010. This book can be found on the 2nd floor of the main library, ref no. There is the popular theme of paralysis that many novels that we have read possess. The second installment of the series, oh, play that.
In roddy doyles series oh, play that thing and the dead republic the world is shown to the readers through the eyes of a wise fool, henry smart. Doyle doesnt mince words, and much of his imagery contradicts the ireland many of our grandparents may have described to us growing up. Roddy doyle is known as intensely private individual. Themes in a star called henry like some of the other books that we have read earlier in the year, there are recurrent themes that i notice. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 342 pages and is available in paperback format.
A star called henry 1999 centres on an irish republican army ira soldier named henry smart and his adventures during the easter rising. Doyle is also the author of two plays, brownbread 1987, and war 1989. Doyle has also written two collections of stories, and. A star called henry summary roddy doyle research paper.
The washington post said it was not only doyles best novel yet. A star called henry by roddy doyle, paperback barnes. Born in the slums of dublin in 1901, his father a onelegged whorehouse bouncer and settler of scores, henry smart has to grow up fast. His novel, a star called henry 1999, is set in 1922 during the civil war in ireland. The activities of the members of michael collins squad were much like those performed by henry smart, who was, in the novel, on the periphery of possibly the most effective counterintellegence agency in the world. Its protagonist is henry smart, son of a onelegged whorehouse bouncer and settler of scores.
Roddy doyle is currently considered a single author. Doyles novel paddy clarke ha ha ha won the booker prize, britains highest literary award in 1993. A star called henry marks a new chapter in booker prizewinner roddy doyles writing. Doyle turned his attention to irish history in a star called henry 1999, the first novel in a projected trilogy titled the last roundup. He is the author of eleven novels for adults, eight books for children, seven plays and screenplays, and dozens of short stories. Of the 10 novels ive written, only one stands alone the dublin writer is juggling a new book, brilliant, a hushhush new television series, roy keane, and the musical. On a broad canvas that takes us from the turn of the century, he paints a passionate love story that is also a vivid political saga and a subversive look behind the legends of irish republicanism. Now, in his first novel set in america, doyle delivers. I wailed and cursed, hard words that came through the open window to me.
154 1527 1064 593 1478 1442 874 179 838 979 926 497 1457 65 180 181 1360 810 215 728 1076 953 75 355 1243 1299 54 997 821 659 912