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Through the Barricades
She was willing to sacrifice everything for her country. He was willing to sacrifice everything for her
'Make a difference in the world, ' are the last words Maggie Gilligan's father ever says to her. They form a legacy that she carries in her heart, years later when, at the age of fifteen, she tries to better the lives of Dublin's largely forgotten poor.
'Don't go getting distracted, now, ' is what Daniel Healy's father says to him after seeing him talking to the same Maggie Gilligan. Daniel is more than distracted. He is intrigued. Never has he met anyone as dismissive, argumentative . . . as downright infuriating.
A dare from Maggie is all it takes. Daniel volunteers at a food kitchen. There, his eyes are opened to the plight of the poor. It is 1913 and Dublin's striking workers have been locked out of their jobs. Their families are going hungry. Daniel and Maggie do what they can. Soon, however, Maggie realises that the only way to make a difference is to take up arms.
The story of Maggie and Daniel is one of friendship, love, war and revolution, of two people prepared to sacrifice their lives: Maggie for her country, Daniel for Maggie. Their mutual sacrifices put them on opposite sides of a revolution. Can their love survive?
'Make a difference in the world, ' are the last words Maggie Gilligan's father ever says to her. They form a legacy that she carries in her heart, years later when, at the age of fifteen, she tries to better the lives of Dublin's largely forgotten poor.
'Don't go getting distracted, now, ' is what Daniel Healy's father says to him after seeing him talking to the same Maggie Gilligan. Daniel is more than distracted. He is intrigued. Never has he met anyone as dismissive, argumentative . . . as downright infuriating.
A dare from Maggie is all it takes. Daniel volunteers at a food kitchen. There, his eyes are opened to the plight of the poor. It is 1913 and Dublin's striking workers have been locked out of their jobs. Their families are going hungry. Daniel and Maggie do what they can. Soon, however, Maggie realises that the only way to make a difference is to take up arms.
The story of Maggie and Daniel is one of friendship, love, war and revolution, of two people prepared to sacrifice their lives: Maggie for her country, Daniel for Maggie. Their mutual sacrifices put them on opposite sides of a revolution. Can their love survive?
356 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 6, 2016
299 people are currently reading
882 people want to read
About the author
Denise Deegan
22 books123 followersAward-winning and best-selling author, Denise Deegan lives in Dublin with her family where she regularly dreams of sunshine, a life without cooking and her novels being made into movies.
Denise has been a nurse, a china restorer, a pharmaceutical sales rep, a public relations officer, an entrepreneur and a college lecturer. Her most difficult job was being a checkout girl, although ultimately this experience did inspire a short story…
Denise writes for both adults and teenagers. Her novels have been published by Penguin, Random House, Hachette and Lake Union Publishing. Writing under the pen name Aimee Alexander, Denise's contemporary family dramas have become international best-sellers on Kindle.
Under her own name, Denise has written a much-loved contemporary Young Adult trilogy, the Butterfly Novels, the second of which was nominated for an Irish Book Award.
Denise's most recent novel, Through the Barricades, won the international SCBWI Spark Award.
Denise has been a nurse, a china restorer, a pharmaceutical sales rep, a public relations officer, an entrepreneur and a college lecturer. Her most difficult job was being a checkout girl, although ultimately this experience did inspire a short story…
Denise writes for both adults and teenagers. Her novels have been published by Penguin, Random House, Hachette and Lake Union Publishing. Writing under the pen name Aimee Alexander, Denise's contemporary family dramas have become international best-sellers on Kindle.
Under her own name, Denise has written a much-loved contemporary Young Adult trilogy, the Butterfly Novels, the second of which was nominated for an Irish Book Award.
Denise's most recent novel, Through the Barricades, won the international SCBWI Spark Award.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 100 reviews
September 3, 2021
No movement can be assured of success that has not a woman in it"
---Denise Deegan, Through the Barricades.
Oestensibly this is a love story across the divided Dublin before, and during the Easter Rising (Google it) in 1916. Starting from before the Great War and focusing on the couple in their late childhoods, Deegan expertly draws a picture of the enforced poverty and destitution of the Irish masses under the pretty awful rule of the British Empire, an Empire working hand-in-hand with many of the Irish middle, upper and business classes. This story is that much more impactful because the inequalities are seen through the eyes of the cast and not through an omniscient narrator . The romantic storyline in itself is quite interesting and far from a distraction. The coming of the Great War also gave Deegan another opportunity to show us the savage tragedy that war is, this time through the eyes of 17 year old Irish boys! Overall it's paradoxically detailed, yet seemingly light-touch look at pre-Easter Rising Dublin and the portrayal of the varying perspectives and views that make this book a pretty interesting read.
When I read any book about British 'colonies' it opens my eyes just how much history has been white washed in favour of mostly White, mostly Protestant, mostly male Europeans, and the reason why we haven't learnt from history... is because we haven't been teaching and learning history, it's just propaganda to make the current powers not feel too guilty about how, and where their wealth is derived from. All-in-all a really interesting read, one that has stirred up a keen interest in the Ireland of the past for me. 7.5 out of 12
---Denise Deegan, Through the Barricades.
Oestensibly this is a love story across the divided Dublin before, and during the Easter Rising (Google it) in 1916. Starting from before the Great War and focusing on the couple in their late childhoods, Deegan expertly draws a picture of the enforced poverty and destitution of the Irish masses under the pretty awful rule of the British Empire, an Empire working hand-in-hand with many of the Irish middle, upper and business classes. This story is that much more impactful because the inequalities are seen through the eyes of the cast and not through an omniscient narrator . The romantic storyline in itself is quite interesting and far from a distraction. The coming of the Great War also gave Deegan another opportunity to show us the savage tragedy that war is, this time through the eyes of 17 year old Irish boys! Overall it's paradoxically detailed, yet seemingly light-touch look at pre-Easter Rising Dublin and the portrayal of the varying perspectives and views that make this book a pretty interesting read.
When I read any book about British 'colonies' it opens my eyes just how much history has been white washed in favour of mostly White, mostly Protestant, mostly male Europeans, and the reason why we haven't learnt from history... is because we haven't been teaching and learning history, it's just propaganda to make the current powers not feel too guilty about how, and where their wealth is derived from. All-in-all a really interesting read, one that has stirred up a keen interest in the Ireland of the past for me. 7.5 out of 12
March 8, 2017
"Through the Barricades" by author Denise Deegan is a terrific book of romantic historical fiction and I truly loved it!
I was grabbed from the very first page of this very powerful, emotional and gripping book. Set in Ireland between 1913-1916 and focusing on the Irish Revolution and the Easter Rising, the attention by the author to historical detail was second to none. The harrowing descriptions of life for the men on the beaches of Gallipoli and the violent deaths many men suffered had tears in my eyes.
The characters are are so strong willed and determined I could easily imagine the emotions and drive of the real life people they represented fighting for freedom in Ireland. I learnt a lot through the story about the troubles in Ireland during this time and thoroughly enjoyed how it was portrayed in the book whilst interweaving a lovely romantic story through it. It was a pleasure to read this book although emotional and harrowing at times and I will definitely one day re-read it.
I would happily recommend "Through the Barricades" and will be looking out by more books by this very accomplished writer and would like to thank Denise and The Book Club on Facebook for my copy in return for an honest review.
I was grabbed from the very first page of this very powerful, emotional and gripping book. Set in Ireland between 1913-1916 and focusing on the Irish Revolution and the Easter Rising, the attention by the author to historical detail was second to none. The harrowing descriptions of life for the men on the beaches of Gallipoli and the violent deaths many men suffered had tears in my eyes.
The characters are are so strong willed and determined I could easily imagine the emotions and drive of the real life people they represented fighting for freedom in Ireland. I learnt a lot through the story about the troubles in Ireland during this time and thoroughly enjoyed how it was portrayed in the book whilst interweaving a lovely romantic story through it. It was a pleasure to read this book although emotional and harrowing at times and I will definitely one day re-read it.
I would happily recommend "Through the Barricades" and will be looking out by more books by this very accomplished writer and would like to thank Denise and The Book Club on Facebook for my copy in return for an honest review.
February 17, 2017
It doesn't really matter how old you are, what you believe in or how much money you have if you are lucky enough to find your soul mate, the one person you would sacrifice everything for, then you just don't let them go. You do anything for them, even if it is against everything you have always believed in. Well that is how Daniel felt about Maggie.
This is Romantic Historical Fiction at its very best. There is a brief prologue dated 1906 where a very brave Maggie, at only 8 years old, is asked to make a promise by her father and it is something that she sets her life by. The bulk of this story takes place between 1913 and 1916 in Dublin and also in Gallipoli, during the First World War. You just have to love Maggie, well as a reader you do, if you were a young lady of the time, she would have been seen as more of an odd ball, a girl really to be avoided because she is so strong willed and not afraid to get her sleeves rolled up in amongst the lads. She doesn't want to be a boy she just wants the equal rights to stand up for her beliefs. This is the Maggie that Daniel falls in love with. Daniel is the most loveable lad, the perfect boyfriend to Maggie and loyal to his life long buddy Michael both at home and in the slaughter house conditions of Gallipoli.
Denise Deegan covers so many historical events in this novel, the 1913 Lockout in Dublin, the First World War and the Easter Rising in Dublin in 1916, all written about accurately and also woven with a story that is both intriguing and heart breaking. She doesn't hold any punches and describes the horrific conditions of both how a country could legally starve its people to enforce rule and yet defend others in the name of justice in a World War. At times it makes you feel very frustrated. So many heart breaking events but can true love come through?
This is Romantic Historical Fiction at its very best. There is a brief prologue dated 1906 where a very brave Maggie, at only 8 years old, is asked to make a promise by her father and it is something that she sets her life by. The bulk of this story takes place between 1913 and 1916 in Dublin and also in Gallipoli, during the First World War. You just have to love Maggie, well as a reader you do, if you were a young lady of the time, she would have been seen as more of an odd ball, a girl really to be avoided because she is so strong willed and not afraid to get her sleeves rolled up in amongst the lads. She doesn't want to be a boy she just wants the equal rights to stand up for her beliefs. This is the Maggie that Daniel falls in love with. Daniel is the most loveable lad, the perfect boyfriend to Maggie and loyal to his life long buddy Michael both at home and in the slaughter house conditions of Gallipoli.
Denise Deegan covers so many historical events in this novel, the 1913 Lockout in Dublin, the First World War and the Easter Rising in Dublin in 1916, all written about accurately and also woven with a story that is both intriguing and heart breaking. She doesn't hold any punches and describes the horrific conditions of both how a country could legally starve its people to enforce rule and yet defend others in the name of justice in a World War. At times it makes you feel very frustrated. So many heart breaking events but can true love come through?
December 7, 2016
It is a rare gift when a book captures your attention from the very first line, and holds you in its grip until the very last. Through the Barricades delivered on that rarest of gifts, and kept me at the edge of my seat as my heart soared, and ached, and I laughed, and cried with Maggie and Daniel. True to her exquisite talent of creating characters that will steal your heart every single time, Denise Deegan effortlessly draws you in to the world of Maggie and Daniel, and you can't help but fall in love - not only with them, but with all the beautifully crafted characters around them. An absolutely stunning book by one of the very best story tellers around, Through the Barricades has carved its way to the top of my 'all-time favorites' list.
I was given an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I was given an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
May 29, 2017
Driven by her promise to ‘make a difference’ Maggie strives to fight for equality and education in this powerful tale of love in early 20th century Dublin
— Introduction —
It is 1908, in the early hours of the day. A father saves his family from their burning home. Before he succumbs to the flames he urges his eight-year-old daughter to “make a difference in the world.” From then on her life will never be the same … Everything she strives for, her only goal is following her father’s dying wish. Had he known what he asked of her, the sacrifices she was willing to make, the dangers she would endure. he would never have uttered those words. But he did and Maggie is determined to do as her father told her.
— Storyline —
The time is 1913, the place is Dublin, Ireland. The city is in an uproar because of the strikes. When Daniel and Michael cycle home from rugby practice, they have no idea that their chance meeting with a girl with a flat tyre will alter their future forever. The girl’s name is Maggie and she is fierce: she is opinionated and on the side of the strikers contrary to Michael, whose father is a policeman. Whilst Michael and Maggie despise each other, Daniel feels he has met a unique girl. Because of her views on social issues and inequality, Daniel is sure she will not take another look at him, let alone accept his friendship unless he joins in her activities. That is why he decides to help out at the food kitchen where Maggie is a volunteer. His initiative is the start of a deep-felt friendship but also the beginning of a learning process for Daniel who knows nothing about the struggles of the strikers, of the food banks, of the people living in abject poverty. How could he, brought up within the Dublin establishment, his father a lawyer. In the social circles Daniel and Michael enjoy there is no regard for the strikers.
Daniel is a pacifist whereas Maggie wishes she could pick up arms to fight the poverty and injustice of the workers’ lockout. She believes her quest for equality between men and women, rich and poor, education for all, is in accordance with her father’s dying wish. Their work at the food kitchen brings them in close contact with the consequences of the strike when five-year-old Lily’s mother dies and Maggie’s mother takes her in. Where Maggie helps Lily cope with her grief, little does she know that in the near future, the tables will be turned and she will be in need of Lily’s support. Slowly, the tense situation in Dublin escalates and out of love for Maggie, Daniel comes to an important decision. He is aware of Maggie’s tenacity for taking action and her longing to be part of elevating the Irish and the Irish Independence Movement. World War I is calling and a promise of Home Rule is hanging in the air but in the end, war, be it domestic or foreign, brings only loss and grief, heartbreak and sorrow. What can anyone do but fight for what they believe in and follow their conscience?
— My Thoughts —
Wow. I am in awe and so impressed. What a unique tale of love and the struggle for a better future, set against Dublin in the early years of the twentieth Century. The Irish turmoil, the call for the Irish Republic and the social inequality of Dublin’s inhabitants: from the well-to-do who are able to send their children to private schools and University to those, living in poverty dependent on the food banks. The differences could not have been more poignant although, some always prefer to be ignorant rather than face the facts. I cannot but love Maggie, the strong, stubborn protagonist who drives on fulfilling her father’s dying wish. If anything, it shows us to be careful in imposing our (last) wishes upon others as we do not always realise the impact of it. It cost me much, not to shout out the father for missing the obvious and underestimating his daughter’s determination. How difficult it must have been for Maggie’s mother to keep silent, to respect her late husband and only when it is too late, she carefully addresses the issue, without success.
Set against the historical background of the 1913 Lockout, World War I, the social situation in Ireland, the political unrest and the Easter Rising, Denise Deegan tells us a fascinating tale of love, courage, determination and commitment. The author excellently describes the situation in Dublin, early 20th Century, in such a way that you can picture the people living there and imagine Maggie cycling through the streets of Dublin. I loved Maggie and Daniel but also Michael, torn between his beliefs and his father and his best friend. He is such a rounded character and I admire him for following his conscience. What can I say? If you love (Irish) history and want to experience it almost true-to-life from the point of view of young people, if you are looking for a remarkable tale of perseverance and commitment, this is your book. I can highly recommend Through the Barricades (did you know the author’s daughter is the determined-looking beautiful woman on the cover?).
Read the review on my website: https://www.bitsaboutbooks.net/barric...
— Introduction —
It is 1908, in the early hours of the day. A father saves his family from their burning home. Before he succumbs to the flames he urges his eight-year-old daughter to “make a difference in the world.” From then on her life will never be the same … Everything she strives for, her only goal is following her father’s dying wish. Had he known what he asked of her, the sacrifices she was willing to make, the dangers she would endure. he would never have uttered those words. But he did and Maggie is determined to do as her father told her.
— Storyline —
The time is 1913, the place is Dublin, Ireland. The city is in an uproar because of the strikes. When Daniel and Michael cycle home from rugby practice, they have no idea that their chance meeting with a girl with a flat tyre will alter their future forever. The girl’s name is Maggie and she is fierce: she is opinionated and on the side of the strikers contrary to Michael, whose father is a policeman. Whilst Michael and Maggie despise each other, Daniel feels he has met a unique girl. Because of her views on social issues and inequality, Daniel is sure she will not take another look at him, let alone accept his friendship unless he joins in her activities. That is why he decides to help out at the food kitchen where Maggie is a volunteer. His initiative is the start of a deep-felt friendship but also the beginning of a learning process for Daniel who knows nothing about the struggles of the strikers, of the food banks, of the people living in abject poverty. How could he, brought up within the Dublin establishment, his father a lawyer. In the social circles Daniel and Michael enjoy there is no regard for the strikers.
Daniel is a pacifist whereas Maggie wishes she could pick up arms to fight the poverty and injustice of the workers’ lockout. She believes her quest for equality between men and women, rich and poor, education for all, is in accordance with her father’s dying wish. Their work at the food kitchen brings them in close contact with the consequences of the strike when five-year-old Lily’s mother dies and Maggie’s mother takes her in. Where Maggie helps Lily cope with her grief, little does she know that in the near future, the tables will be turned and she will be in need of Lily’s support. Slowly, the tense situation in Dublin escalates and out of love for Maggie, Daniel comes to an important decision. He is aware of Maggie’s tenacity for taking action and her longing to be part of elevating the Irish and the Irish Independence Movement. World War I is calling and a promise of Home Rule is hanging in the air but in the end, war, be it domestic or foreign, brings only loss and grief, heartbreak and sorrow. What can anyone do but fight for what they believe in and follow their conscience?
— My Thoughts —
Wow. I am in awe and so impressed. What a unique tale of love and the struggle for a better future, set against Dublin in the early years of the twentieth Century. The Irish turmoil, the call for the Irish Republic and the social inequality of Dublin’s inhabitants: from the well-to-do who are able to send their children to private schools and University to those, living in poverty dependent on the food banks. The differences could not have been more poignant although, some always prefer to be ignorant rather than face the facts. I cannot but love Maggie, the strong, stubborn protagonist who drives on fulfilling her father’s dying wish. If anything, it shows us to be careful in imposing our (last) wishes upon others as we do not always realise the impact of it. It cost me much, not to shout out the father for missing the obvious and underestimating his daughter’s determination. How difficult it must have been for Maggie’s mother to keep silent, to respect her late husband and only when it is too late, she carefully addresses the issue, without success.
Set against the historical background of the 1913 Lockout, World War I, the social situation in Ireland, the political unrest and the Easter Rising, Denise Deegan tells us a fascinating tale of love, courage, determination and commitment. The author excellently describes the situation in Dublin, early 20th Century, in such a way that you can picture the people living there and imagine Maggie cycling through the streets of Dublin. I loved Maggie and Daniel but also Michael, torn between his beliefs and his father and his best friend. He is such a rounded character and I admire him for following his conscience. What can I say? If you love (Irish) history and want to experience it almost true-to-life from the point of view of young people, if you are looking for a remarkable tale of perseverance and commitment, this is your book. I can highly recommend Through the Barricades (did you know the author’s daughter is the determined-looking beautiful woman on the cover?).
Read the review on my website: https://www.bitsaboutbooks.net/barric...
March 4, 2020
Really easy read. Writing style was simple and made the pages fly by. I'm partial to historical fiction and I liked learning more about the Irish struggle against British rule. I grew up in UK which means I often heard about the IRA as terrorists without really hearing enough about the plight and the history of the movement.
I've heard about the 1916 Easter rising all my life, and I grew up when the IRA and Sinn Fein were active. In 1997, there was an IRA bombing in Manchester. I remember everyone evacuating the city centre and calling my brother and mother to make sure they were safe. In 1998, the Good Friday agreement ended most of the violence, with those who were Irish Republic supporters in Northern Ireland being allowed to voice their opinions without being accused of treason. Now, in light of Brexit, I wonder what the impact will be seeing as Ireland is a part of the EU and Northern Ireland is not. Colonialism often leaves a trail of broken pieces.
I've heard about the 1916 Easter rising all my life, and I grew up when the IRA and Sinn Fein were active. In 1997, there was an IRA bombing in Manchester. I remember everyone evacuating the city centre and calling my brother and mother to make sure they were safe. In 1998, the Good Friday agreement ended most of the violence, with those who were Irish Republic supporters in Northern Ireland being allowed to voice their opinions without being accused of treason. Now, in light of Brexit, I wonder what the impact will be seeing as Ireland is a part of the EU and Northern Ireland is not. Colonialism often leaves a trail of broken pieces.
April 15, 2017
When Maggie's father dropped her from their burning apartment to a neighbor below, the last request her father made was for her to make a difference in the world. Turning back into the danger to help others, he never made it out himself. This was the beginning of a lifelong desire to make her father proud and fulfill his desire for her.
The working class in Ireland in 1913 were poor, underpaid, starving and many lived in wretched conditions. Maggie's greatest desire was to help bring about a stronger Ireland, free of British rule. A fiery 16 year old in a lower middle class home, she attended a wealthy private school on scholarship, so was somewhat of an outcast. Having bicycle troubles a couple of upper class boys (Michael and Daniel) stopped to help, ending up in a verbal altercation and an upper cut. Daniel was smitten. Never had he seen such fire, such passion, such beauty. His goal was to get to know this vision with the dark streaming hair...and so he did.
Over the next few months, behind his lawyer father's back he helped in soup kitchens alongside Maggie, and even joined a resistance movement learning military training, until his father found out, and until WWI recruited young men to fight in Europe. This separated them. While Maggie fought on the home front, Daniel fought the Huns and the Turks in Gallipoli and France, both putting their lives in danger. Both falling deeper and deeper in love.
Then came the Easter Uprising!
This is where I stop because there's too much to the story, and I don't want to give away more than I already have.
My opinion about the book is this...
I was unaware of the Easter Uprising 100 years ago in 1916, and I've read little about WWI. Mostly I've read about the Revolutionary War, Civil War and WWII. So what I learned from this book was a lot. Plus it spurred me to do a bit of research to get even more background on the historical figures in the book surrounding the beginnings of the IRA.
The author immediately draws you into each character, showing you what they are like, not just telling you about them. You feel like you are a part of two families, you feel like you are there in the soup kitchen, you feel like you are in the resistance meetings, or the trenches with soldiers in Gallipoli. Very, very well done.
The style I most appreciate is one with a more Christian theme leaving out profanity. This was purely Catholic, and being raised in an Irish/Italian Catholic family myself, I'm familiar with the "language" used on a daily basis, which only gets worse in the trenches of war. I knew what I was reading so accepted the reality of it. I wish it hadn't been so graphic for my own sensibilities, but I can't fault the author for her take on the way they all would have communicated. It wasn't all the way through the book, so there's that.
The love story between Maggie and Daniel was a beautiful thing. I was a bit miffed that she put Ireland above Daniel, and that Daniel chose to go off to war (because Irish were exempt unless they enlisted), but it made for an interesting story!!
Really good story, really good ending. I recommend it for adults and for someone who is okay with some foul language.
The working class in Ireland in 1913 were poor, underpaid, starving and many lived in wretched conditions. Maggie's greatest desire was to help bring about a stronger Ireland, free of British rule. A fiery 16 year old in a lower middle class home, she attended a wealthy private school on scholarship, so was somewhat of an outcast. Having bicycle troubles a couple of upper class boys (Michael and Daniel) stopped to help, ending up in a verbal altercation and an upper cut. Daniel was smitten. Never had he seen such fire, such passion, such beauty. His goal was to get to know this vision with the dark streaming hair...and so he did.
Over the next few months, behind his lawyer father's back he helped in soup kitchens alongside Maggie, and even joined a resistance movement learning military training, until his father found out, and until WWI recruited young men to fight in Europe. This separated them. While Maggie fought on the home front, Daniel fought the Huns and the Turks in Gallipoli and France, both putting their lives in danger. Both falling deeper and deeper in love.
Then came the Easter Uprising!
This is where I stop because there's too much to the story, and I don't want to give away more than I already have.
My opinion about the book is this...
I was unaware of the Easter Uprising 100 years ago in 1916, and I've read little about WWI. Mostly I've read about the Revolutionary War, Civil War and WWII. So what I learned from this book was a lot. Plus it spurred me to do a bit of research to get even more background on the historical figures in the book surrounding the beginnings of the IRA.
The author immediately draws you into each character, showing you what they are like, not just telling you about them. You feel like you are a part of two families, you feel like you are there in the soup kitchen, you feel like you are in the resistance meetings, or the trenches with soldiers in Gallipoli. Very, very well done.
The style I most appreciate is one with a more Christian theme leaving out profanity. This was purely Catholic, and being raised in an Irish/Italian Catholic family myself, I'm familiar with the "language" used on a daily basis, which only gets worse in the trenches of war. I knew what I was reading so accepted the reality of it. I wish it hadn't been so graphic for my own sensibilities, but I can't fault the author for her take on the way they all would have communicated. It wasn't all the way through the book, so there's that.
The love story between Maggie and Daniel was a beautiful thing. I was a bit miffed that she put Ireland above Daniel, and that Daniel chose to go off to war (because Irish were exempt unless they enlisted), but it made for an interesting story!!
Really good story, really good ending. I recommend it for adults and for someone who is okay with some foul language.
February 8, 2017
This review was originally posted on Between My Lines
2016 is the 100th year anniversary of the 1916 Easter Rising in Dublin so it’s a subject that is very topical in Ireland at this time. And it’s also the subject of Through the Barricades by Denise Deegan. What I loved in particular about this book is that it brought history to life in a meaningful way that reminds you yet again how nothing is ever black and white.
First Line of Through the Barricades by Denise Deegan
My Thoughts on Through the Barricades by Denise Deegan:
I was addicted to this book when I was reading it. It transported me back to a troubled Dublin and gave me a 360 degree view of the various thoughts of it’s citizens. Those that wanted a rebellion in order to gain freedom from England, those that wanted Home Rule (a lesser freedom where Ireland would have it’s own parliament) and those who were content with the status quo.
But as much history as I absorbed, the main focus of this book is on the main characters. Their lives, their hopes, their dreams all held me enthralled as I read.
Maggie who wants to make a difference and is willing to sacrifice all for her country
Daniel who loves Maggie and is willing to sacrifice himself for her. Thought not in a way that Maggie would ever approve of.
I took both of these characters into my heart. I felt the pain and conflicted feelings that each of them went through. We see Maggie’s heart break while she tries to fulfil what she thinks is her destiny in helping Ireland become a republic. We experience the horrendous conditions of World War 1, as Daniel enlists in the British Army, and has to endure endless misery in the trenches.
Both characters face adversity with bravery, but are also both troubled with doubts and I loved the realistic angle that this added. I had no clue what way the book would end, so I read with trepidation, hoping and praying that love would somehow conquer all.
Overall I loved this one and couldn’t read it fast enough. And it will be a long time before I forget Maggie and Daniel’s story.
Who should read Through the Barricades by Denise Deegan?
I recommend this to you if you love history (especially Irish history or World War 1 settings), strong characters, an epic romance and a book that will make you feel all the emotions. Fans of books such as The Girl from The Savoy by Hazel Gaynor and Conspiracy of Blood and Smoke by Anne Blankman should also enjoy.
2016 is the 100th year anniversary of the 1916 Easter Rising in Dublin so it’s a subject that is very topical in Ireland at this time. And it’s also the subject of Through the Barricades by Denise Deegan. What I loved in particular about this book is that it brought history to life in a meaningful way that reminds you yet again how nothing is ever black and white.
First Line of Through the Barricades by Denise Deegan
“Maggie woke coughing.”
My Thoughts on Through the Barricades by Denise Deegan:
I was addicted to this book when I was reading it. It transported me back to a troubled Dublin and gave me a 360 degree view of the various thoughts of it’s citizens. Those that wanted a rebellion in order to gain freedom from England, those that wanted Home Rule (a lesser freedom where Ireland would have it’s own parliament) and those who were content with the status quo.
But as much history as I absorbed, the main focus of this book is on the main characters. Their lives, their hopes, their dreams all held me enthralled as I read.
Maggie who wants to make a difference and is willing to sacrifice all for her country
Daniel who loves Maggie and is willing to sacrifice himself for her. Thought not in a way that Maggie would ever approve of.
I took both of these characters into my heart. I felt the pain and conflicted feelings that each of them went through. We see Maggie’s heart break while she tries to fulfil what she thinks is her destiny in helping Ireland become a republic. We experience the horrendous conditions of World War 1, as Daniel enlists in the British Army, and has to endure endless misery in the trenches.
Both characters face adversity with bravery, but are also both troubled with doubts and I loved the realistic angle that this added. I had no clue what way the book would end, so I read with trepidation, hoping and praying that love would somehow conquer all.
Overall I loved this one and couldn’t read it fast enough. And it will be a long time before I forget Maggie and Daniel’s story.
Who should read Through the Barricades by Denise Deegan?
I recommend this to you if you love history (especially Irish history or World War 1 settings), strong characters, an epic romance and a book that will make you feel all the emotions. Fans of books such as The Girl from The Savoy by Hazel Gaynor and Conspiracy of Blood and Smoke by Anne Blankman should also enjoy.
February 1, 2017
Through the barricades by Denise Deegan.
Through the barricades is a stunningly written novel set in Ireland between 1913-1916 and it propels the reader into the Lockout and in later stages the Easter Rising. The story introduces us to a young lady named Maggie who is hoping to use her life to make a difference as her Father told her to do so before he died in a house fire after heroically saving all his family. Maggie is everything a young heroine should be independent, feisty and lippy though she too has a heart of gold and a talent for making up spiels! One day by chance Maggie meets a young fella Daniel and his pal Michael and though Maggie plants Michael with a punch Daniel is instantly stunned by her passion and energy.
Daniel makes it his business to seek her out and when he finally tracks the young lass down she challenges him to work at the soup kitchens with her believing that he will only last a few minutes. From there on begins a friendship like no other and Daniel though from an affluent family excels at everything Maggie throws at him! Daniels Father warns him not to become distracted but for Daniel it is too late for that as he is rather taken with the passionate and beautiful Maggie.
However, Maggie isn’t one to sit on her laurels and watch her country burn as she is determined to fight and Daniel wants to protect her. They both (together and separately) begin a journey of self-discovery, love and war when everything they hold dear is threatened. Not only are Maggie and Daniel paramount to this novel but the supporting characters are just as charming and relatable. You are reminded of the love and care neighbours had for one another and the true meaning of loyalty. Not wanting to give too much away the book is enthralling, riveting and heart wrenching at times.
Beautifully told giving you a real insight into the historical events of 1916 and with a true heart running through the novel it is one spectacular piece of writing. Reminding you of the sacrifices people made and how it affected our ancestors this is a book that will leave you with a new-found respect for the people of Ireland during the rising.
I loved it and I have already asked Denise for a follow up and soon please!
Through the barricades is a stunningly written novel set in Ireland between 1913-1916 and it propels the reader into the Lockout and in later stages the Easter Rising. The story introduces us to a young lady named Maggie who is hoping to use her life to make a difference as her Father told her to do so before he died in a house fire after heroically saving all his family. Maggie is everything a young heroine should be independent, feisty and lippy though she too has a heart of gold and a talent for making up spiels! One day by chance Maggie meets a young fella Daniel and his pal Michael and though Maggie plants Michael with a punch Daniel is instantly stunned by her passion and energy.
Daniel makes it his business to seek her out and when he finally tracks the young lass down she challenges him to work at the soup kitchens with her believing that he will only last a few minutes. From there on begins a friendship like no other and Daniel though from an affluent family excels at everything Maggie throws at him! Daniels Father warns him not to become distracted but for Daniel it is too late for that as he is rather taken with the passionate and beautiful Maggie.
However, Maggie isn’t one to sit on her laurels and watch her country burn as she is determined to fight and Daniel wants to protect her. They both (together and separately) begin a journey of self-discovery, love and war when everything they hold dear is threatened. Not only are Maggie and Daniel paramount to this novel but the supporting characters are just as charming and relatable. You are reminded of the love and care neighbours had for one another and the true meaning of loyalty. Not wanting to give too much away the book is enthralling, riveting and heart wrenching at times.
Beautifully told giving you a real insight into the historical events of 1916 and with a true heart running through the novel it is one spectacular piece of writing. Reminding you of the sacrifices people made and how it affected our ancestors this is a book that will leave you with a new-found respect for the people of Ireland during the rising.
I loved it and I have already asked Denise for a follow up and soon please!
January 3, 2017
Through The Barricades is an Irish based historical fiction.
The prologue opens in 1906, a house fire. Maggie Gilligan's father gets her to safety out of a bedroom window. His last words to her are "Make a difference in the world, Maggie".
Chapter one begins in 1913, Dublin. It is seven years after her father's death. Maggie meets Daniel and Michael, two boys who help her with a flat bicycle tyre. They talk of trouble in the city, strikers are causing riots, Maggie fiercely defends them to the surprise of the boys.
Daniel is intrigued by Maggie, his privileged upbringing has sheltered him from the plight of the poor. He is determined to see Maggie again and learn more. Maggie challenges Daniel to help her at a food kitchen and her determination to help those in need and fight for their rights opens his eyes to so much more.
They become friends, joining the Na Fianna, a scouts youth group, but one of many rebel groups within Ireland wanting equality and an end to British rule. Daniel realises that all his education has been about British history, he hears of the 1695 Penal laws used to suppress the Irish. As his love for Maggie grows, so does her determination to fight for Ireland. Desperate to protect her he believes that when WW1 breaks out if he signs up and fights for the British army they will allow home rule for the Irish once the war is over.
The war for Daniel and Michael is terrible, they are sent to Gallipoli and the reality is devastating. Back home Maggie cannot rest, she takes on dangerous work for the rebels which culminates in the Easter Rising of 1916.
I really enjoyed this book, I read it all in one afternoon and evening as I was so engrossed in the storyline, the passion of the characters, the historical detail and the experience I came away with from reading this. Like Daniel I learnt about the background to the Easter Rising, and I learnt about what it was probably like fighting in Gallipoli. Truly horrific on both accounts.
Recommended for those who like a good detailed historical fiction, yes it is laced with a romantic theme, but it was subtle enough to be part of the passion of the book.
The prologue opens in 1906, a house fire. Maggie Gilligan's father gets her to safety out of a bedroom window. His last words to her are "Make a difference in the world, Maggie".
Chapter one begins in 1913, Dublin. It is seven years after her father's death. Maggie meets Daniel and Michael, two boys who help her with a flat bicycle tyre. They talk of trouble in the city, strikers are causing riots, Maggie fiercely defends them to the surprise of the boys.
Daniel is intrigued by Maggie, his privileged upbringing has sheltered him from the plight of the poor. He is determined to see Maggie again and learn more. Maggie challenges Daniel to help her at a food kitchen and her determination to help those in need and fight for their rights opens his eyes to so much more.
They become friends, joining the Na Fianna, a scouts youth group, but one of many rebel groups within Ireland wanting equality and an end to British rule. Daniel realises that all his education has been about British history, he hears of the 1695 Penal laws used to suppress the Irish. As his love for Maggie grows, so does her determination to fight for Ireland. Desperate to protect her he believes that when WW1 breaks out if he signs up and fights for the British army they will allow home rule for the Irish once the war is over.
The war for Daniel and Michael is terrible, they are sent to Gallipoli and the reality is devastating. Back home Maggie cannot rest, she takes on dangerous work for the rebels which culminates in the Easter Rising of 1916.
I really enjoyed this book, I read it all in one afternoon and evening as I was so engrossed in the storyline, the passion of the characters, the historical detail and the experience I came away with from reading this. Like Daniel I learnt about the background to the Easter Rising, and I learnt about what it was probably like fighting in Gallipoli. Truly horrific on both accounts.
Recommended for those who like a good detailed historical fiction, yes it is laced with a romantic theme, but it was subtle enough to be part of the passion of the book.
February 25, 2017
“Friendship, love, war and revolution” – a perfect description. But really so much more than that – characters you care deeply about, history (and the Irish background was something I knew shamefully little about) brought vividly to life, scenes of war so searingly real they’re totally impossible to forget, a series of friendships that are so desperately moving, and a love against all odds that has your heart beating faster and your whole being wanting everything to work out as it should.
After the prologue, this is a story told the way only a great story can be, and the way only an exceptional story teller can – absolutely straight, the parallel lives of Maggie in Dublin at such a significant point in its history, Daniel on the battlefields of Gallipoli and Salonika, their stories converging at points and so very dramatically towards the book’s conclusion. The descriptions and resulting images are quite exceptional, and there were times when I felt every moment – the soldier catching and returning grenades on the battlefield, the cleansing of wounds in the tented field hospital, the stifling heat and the clouds of flies, the ice on eyelashes, and the almost unbearable tension back in Dublin as the story played out to its conclusion.
The characters were quite wonderful – Maggie herself is complex and driven, fearless and frightened, to be admired while you also want to shake sense into her. Daniel is equally strongly drawn, his family background fascinating, his love for Maggie achingly real. The supporting characters too – young Lily, Daniel’s closest friend Michael, Maggie’s secretive brother Tom, larger than life Madame and a whole cast of characters so totally real and alive on the page. Yes, I learned about the history too, but that was just a wonderful bonus – and what a magnificent way to learn.
This is quite a book – simply stunning – and I absolutely loved every moment. Go on, you can tell, can’t you? Just make sure you don’t miss it…
After the prologue, this is a story told the way only a great story can be, and the way only an exceptional story teller can – absolutely straight, the parallel lives of Maggie in Dublin at such a significant point in its history, Daniel on the battlefields of Gallipoli and Salonika, their stories converging at points and so very dramatically towards the book’s conclusion. The descriptions and resulting images are quite exceptional, and there were times when I felt every moment – the soldier catching and returning grenades on the battlefield, the cleansing of wounds in the tented field hospital, the stifling heat and the clouds of flies, the ice on eyelashes, and the almost unbearable tension back in Dublin as the story played out to its conclusion.
The characters were quite wonderful – Maggie herself is complex and driven, fearless and frightened, to be admired while you also want to shake sense into her. Daniel is equally strongly drawn, his family background fascinating, his love for Maggie achingly real. The supporting characters too – young Lily, Daniel’s closest friend Michael, Maggie’s secretive brother Tom, larger than life Madame and a whole cast of characters so totally real and alive on the page. Yes, I learned about the history too, but that was just a wonderful bonus – and what a magnificent way to learn.
This is quite a book – simply stunning – and I absolutely loved every moment. Go on, you can tell, can’t you? Just make sure you don’t miss it…
December 13, 2016
THROUGH THE BARRICADES by Denise Deegan is by far my favourite book of 2016. Through the hypnotic characters of Maggie Gilligan and Danny Healy, not only do we get to see an important moment in Irish history come alive in front of our eyes, we also get to understand the harrowing life that so many lived back then, and the undeniable strength and spirit of those that changed the face of Ireland forever. But this is not just a history lesson. This is a story about love and friendship. I fell in love with Danny and Maggie's relationship as it evolved, with Maggie's fierce determination to make a difference and improve life for all those she encounters, while Danny literally places his life on the line to protect the woman he loves like no other. We follow them along their dangerous journey as they make new friendships and try to make a change for everyone's future, and we also get to see the effect this has on their families, watching on the sidelines. THROUGH THE BARRICADES by Denise Deegan does not shy away from the harrowing impact of war or death, and it certainly made me emotional at times, but it was the moments of pure love in this tale that really brought a tear to my eye. THROUGH THE BARRICADES by Denise Deegan is a powerful, emotional story about love - love for one's country, love for one's family - and the need to stand up and make yourself heard, to make a difference. Something we all need to be aware of today. THROUGH THE BARRICADES by Denise Deegan is nothing short of stunning and I know it is a book I will re-read for many years to come.
*I voluntarily reviewed this book from the author
*I voluntarily reviewed this book from the author
July 31, 2017
Although I was raised in England, my mother is Irish Catholic and I spent every summer of my childhood in County Donegal, on the north west coast of Ireland. I have always been fascinated by the history of this small but beautiful island and am an avid reader of Irish fiction. Denise Deegan's Through The Barricades is a wonderfully written, evocative story that really does invoke a real feeling of Ireland and the Irish, concentrating on one of the most important times in history.
Between the years of 1913 and 1916 as the First World War raged on, Ireland was in the grip of a revolution of its own, and Maggie and Daniel also played out their own personal war alongside this. Denise Deegan has perfectly captured the romance of their story, along with the struggles and the horror of the battlefields.
Maggie and Daniel appear at first, to have opposing views. Maggie supports the strikers whilst Daniel is the son of a policeman, and their chance meeting one day shapes their future as both of them, in their own way tackle the social issues of their time.
I read Through The Barricades as I sat by the pool in Corfu and was totally immersed by the story, hardly putting the book down at all. Maggie and Daniel are an absolute delight; characters that the reader can identify with and cheer on throughout the story. This author can certainly transport her readers to an entirely different era, with ease and with flair.
An excellent story, packed with history and romance. A novel to savour.
https://randomthingsthroughmyletterbo...
Between the years of 1913 and 1916 as the First World War raged on, Ireland was in the grip of a revolution of its own, and Maggie and Daniel also played out their own personal war alongside this. Denise Deegan has perfectly captured the romance of their story, along with the struggles and the horror of the battlefields.
Maggie and Daniel appear at first, to have opposing views. Maggie supports the strikers whilst Daniel is the son of a policeman, and their chance meeting one day shapes their future as both of them, in their own way tackle the social issues of their time.
I read Through The Barricades as I sat by the pool in Corfu and was totally immersed by the story, hardly putting the book down at all. Maggie and Daniel are an absolute delight; characters that the reader can identify with and cheer on throughout the story. This author can certainly transport her readers to an entirely different era, with ease and with flair.
An excellent story, packed with history and romance. A novel to savour.
https://randomthingsthroughmyletterbo...
April 5, 2017
I watched Revolution on Netflix a few months ago. Had I not, everything contained within this novel would have been new to me. Because I watched the series, I knew what the heroine was getting herself into and that she was stupid. But she has heart and spunk, I'll give her that, and I enjoyed her tale. It's a tale of brother against brother, country against country, lover against lover, as she is an Irish rebel and he's in the British Army. At the same time he's fighting his own friends. Of course we don't realize this going into the novel at first, not unless you know your Irish history.
I loved the love story. The hero stole my own heart and that's rare. I also really liked the lesson in the pages..about how people are kept down with poverty, and nobody rises above their station without education.
The novel also showed us the kindness of many people during that time, folks who worked in soup kitchens, landlords who tried to help tenants... They may be few and far between but there was good with the bad. THOUGH I didn't really buy into Daniel's dad's change of heart.
Loved the heroine despite that fact I knew she was doing something rather idiotic--though I guess it depends on how you look at it, because as the heroine states at the end of the tale...they made a difference by changing the way some people thought and that was a start for some, while an end for others.
I loved the love story. The hero stole my own heart and that's rare. I also really liked the lesson in the pages..about how people are kept down with poverty, and nobody rises above their station without education.
The novel also showed us the kindness of many people during that time, folks who worked in soup kitchens, landlords who tried to help tenants... They may be few and far between but there was good with the bad. THOUGH I didn't really buy into Daniel's dad's change of heart.
Loved the heroine despite that fact I knew she was doing something rather idiotic--though I guess it depends on how you look at it, because as the heroine states at the end of the tale...they made a difference by changing the way some people thought and that was a start for some, while an end for others.
February 21, 2017
Set in Ireland during the First World War, this incredibly well-researched novel follows the lives of Danny and Maggie after a chance meeting changes their lives forever. Maggie opens Danny's eyes to the poverty, deprivation and inequality that exists in the Dublin of 1913. She is determined to fight for change and Danny is determined to protect her at all costs. Each chooses their own path to achieve these goals and through their eyes we see the tragic loss of life in the ill fated Gallipoli campaign and the Easter Uprising of 1916. Even though I kept looking things up to supplement my pathetic lack of knowledge on these events, I still read the book in two days.
The characters are so richly woven that you can't help but get caught up in their story and it has been a real education for me.
My thanks to TBConFB for the opportunity to read this wonderful book.
The characters are so richly woven that you can't help but get caught up in their story and it has been a real education for me.
My thanks to TBConFB for the opportunity to read this wonderful book.
December 10, 2016
I'm trying to buy Irish books for family & friends for Christmas this year & there are so many brilliant ones to chose from that it's really no bother for adults & for little kids. I have a few nieces in their early teens (I have 7 sisters!) and I'm giving them a copy of Denise Deegan's Through The Barricades. It's a really brilliant story about a 15 year old Irish girl who lives in Dublin in 1913 and gets involved in the upheaval that hits Dublin during the years that follow. It has a lovely romance at its heart and, most importantly, the historical information is very accurate. Denise has a great track record with books for teens with her butterfly books.
October 4, 2017
The story is for the most part set in Ireland 1913-1916 WWI is on the horizon however in Ireland the downtrodden people of Ireland are planning and thinking of their own revolution and the Easter uprising.
Maggie Gilligan was willing to sacrifice her life for her own country,when she first meets Daniel Healy,whose Father is a Judge,when Daniel meets Maggie he at first intrigued, on a dare from Maggie to help at the food kitchen he begins to see and understand the plight of the poor. While Maggie working to become a part of the revolution in Ireland,Daniel has joined the British Army,he assumes that he will be fighting the Germans,however he ends on the beaches of Gallipoli ( the only victory of the Ottoman Empire) The discriptions of the violent deaths of the men who died on the beaches of Gallipoli are something that I had never read about in any of the books I had about WWI.
After Daniel is wounded and sent back to Ireland he is once again with Maggie,who at this time is more interested in the upcoming Easter uprising.
Although this was in many ways a sad story there was joy in reading the epilogue.
A very good read.
Maggie Gilligan was willing to sacrifice her life for her own country,when she first meets Daniel Healy,whose Father is a Judge,when Daniel meets Maggie he at first intrigued, on a dare from Maggie to help at the food kitchen he begins to see and understand the plight of the poor. While Maggie working to become a part of the revolution in Ireland,Daniel has joined the British Army,he assumes that he will be fighting the Germans,however he ends on the beaches of Gallipoli ( the only victory of the Ottoman Empire) The discriptions of the violent deaths of the men who died on the beaches of Gallipoli are something that I had never read about in any of the books I had about WWI.
After Daniel is wounded and sent back to Ireland he is once again with Maggie,who at this time is more interested in the upcoming Easter uprising.
Although this was in many ways a sad story there was joy in reading the epilogue.
A very good read.
December 7, 2016
Denise Deegan is one of my favourite authors, one of those rare writers whose books I always look forward to. No-one writes characters as well as she does; her characters are warm, well-rounded, thoroughly researched and relatable. Through The Barricades is no different. Set at a time of great global upheaval, as well as a time of revolution in Ireland, her characters are strong, and conflicted, and ambitious, and as determined to find a way to be together as a reader would ever want them to be. Several weeks after reading it, Maggie and Daniel keep walking back into my mind. If you don't fall completely in love with both of them, as well as their families and friends, you had better get Maggie to check your pulse because you're probably dead.
I was given an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review; and if I don't like a book, I won't review it.
I was given an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review; and if I don't like a book, I won't review it.
April 11, 2017
Once again Denise brings us characters in colour, a wonderful peep inside the lives of ordinary Dubliners in the rising of 1916. This is a lovely read. It's about teenage love and will appeal to adults and children alike. I read Denise's books before I came to know her and to be fortunate to count her among my friends. Denise is a people person and a sensitive storyteller, and it shows in this book. Already I can't wait for her next work!
I was given an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review; and if I don't like a book, I won't review it
I was given an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review; and if I don't like a book, I won't review it
February 25, 2017
What an enthralling book which captured me from page one and kept me hooked until the final word.
Set in Ireland just before the start of WW1 we meet two children, Maggie and Daniel..Little did they realise that this chance meeting would be the start of a great friendship.
Maggie is a fighter, who wants a free Ireland whereas Danny is 'posh' and represents everything that despises Maggie.
The book takes us through Ireland's political history: British rule, WW1 and finishing with the Easter uprising
This book has lots of historical facts, love and friendship.
Set in Ireland just before the start of WW1 we meet two children, Maggie and Daniel..Little did they realise that this chance meeting would be the start of a great friendship.
Maggie is a fighter, who wants a free Ireland whereas Danny is 'posh' and represents everything that despises Maggie.
The book takes us through Ireland's political history: British rule, WW1 and finishing with the Easter uprising
This book has lots of historical facts, love and friendship.
May 5, 2017
Outstanding!
Five stars because this book was impeccably written, not only with excellent characters, several exciting plot lines, and a moving history of Ireland's fight for freedom from British rule, but because Ms Deegan writes using language and punctuation correctly. It was a pleasure to read. I loved the characters, especially Maggie, such a strong, brave, and passionate woman. The plot made my heart alternately race, pound and nearly stop beating, so exciting and terrifying were the events of the Easter Rising.
Five stars because this book was impeccably written, not only with excellent characters, several exciting plot lines, and a moving history of Ireland's fight for freedom from British rule, but because Ms Deegan writes using language and punctuation correctly. It was a pleasure to read. I loved the characters, especially Maggie, such a strong, brave, and passionate woman. The plot made my heart alternately race, pound and nearly stop beating, so exciting and terrifying were the events of the Easter Rising.
August 20, 2017
I enjoyed this book even though I felt it a bit of a guilty pleasure. It's sweet almost to the point of sacharine, but not quite. Just as sweet as I could stand. The descriptions of trench warfare in Gallipoli were as real as any I have read: harsh without being brutal. The lead-up to Easter 1916 in Dublin felt real and true. As storytelling, the tale is told truly and, again, sweetly. Why not have a love/war story with a sentimental, happy ending? It's fiction already! There's enough brutality in the real world. Nicely done, Ms. Deegan.
October 1, 2017
I love reading historical novels and this one didn't disappoint me. I have learned a lot about the Irish struggle for independence and the passionate people of Ireland. I gained insight into some of the problems between the Irish and the British. This isn't just the story of a romance between a young girl, and a young boy, it is also a story of their love for their country and also about the Easter uprising. It is history through the eyes of romance. The book is well written, with all of the characters believable.
December 7, 2016
I was lucky enough to be given an advance copy in exchange for a review. Denise Deegan knows how to tell a great story, she hooks you in straight away and the characters are believable. This book is set in Ireland but tells a universal story of survival and love. I read this in one sitting, literally couldn't put it down.
February 7, 2017
So I gave this 4* but more importantly I read it in less than 24 hours which, to me, is always a sign of a good book. This is a terrific story, brings the 1916 story to life, with real people, real situations and, so well written, the reader can smell the poverty of the day. This is a book for everyone and one which, in my opinion, all will enjoy. It has everything
June 19, 2018
A historical romance between two Irish people that have different ideas about the problems in Ireland.
October 19, 2017
It's 1913 and Maggie wants to make her late father proud by making a difference. Girls are not supposed to fight for their country, but Maggie is determined to contribute. Maggie cares about the poor and wants to help them to improve their situation. Daniel is rich and doesn't know much about politics. When he meets Maggie he's intrigued, which is why he accompanies her to a food kitchen for those who have nothing at all to volunteer. It's the beginning of his awareness and a friendship that will soon grow into something more.
Maggie wants to join the revolution. She will do anything she can to help the cause she believes in. Daniel is prepared to make a huge sacrifice and joins the army at the beginning of the First World War. They don't realize that they will be on opposite sides of the same battle. Will their love survive this difficult situation and will they be able to remain unscathed during the many years of armed combat?
Through the Barricades is a beautiful raw and gripping story. Maggie is fierce, stubborn and capable. She has strong beliefs and isn't afraid to fight for them. Daniel is gentle and loving and he's willing to go far for Maggie. They both make huge sacrifices for what's in their hearts. It's clear from the start that what they feel for each other is true love, but their situation is far from ideal, a lot is standing in their way, both personally and professionally. Nothing is certain, they aren't safe and there are no guarantees they will ever see each other again. This kept me on the edge of my seat. I flew through the pages, because I had to find out if they'd find happiness or disaster together. I absolutely love it when a story makes me feel so much.
Denise Deegan's writing is amazing. She has a great way with words that immediately captivates me every time I read one of her books. Through the Barricades isn't a light story, it's set in a dark time, but there's plenty of hope as well. I loved how well researched this story is and learned a lot about Ireland at the beginning of the twentieth century. Denise Deegan's detailed descriptions of battles, gatherings and dire situations moved me to tears. She's honest and doesn't stay away from the difficult parts, which is something I greatly admired. I highly recommend Through the Barricades, it's a brilliant emotional roller coaster.
Maggie wants to join the revolution. She will do anything she can to help the cause she believes in. Daniel is prepared to make a huge sacrifice and joins the army at the beginning of the First World War. They don't realize that they will be on opposite sides of the same battle. Will their love survive this difficult situation and will they be able to remain unscathed during the many years of armed combat?
Through the Barricades is a beautiful raw and gripping story. Maggie is fierce, stubborn and capable. She has strong beliefs and isn't afraid to fight for them. Daniel is gentle and loving and he's willing to go far for Maggie. They both make huge sacrifices for what's in their hearts. It's clear from the start that what they feel for each other is true love, but their situation is far from ideal, a lot is standing in their way, both personally and professionally. Nothing is certain, they aren't safe and there are no guarantees they will ever see each other again. This kept me on the edge of my seat. I flew through the pages, because I had to find out if they'd find happiness or disaster together. I absolutely love it when a story makes me feel so much.
Denise Deegan's writing is amazing. She has a great way with words that immediately captivates me every time I read one of her books. Through the Barricades isn't a light story, it's set in a dark time, but there's plenty of hope as well. I loved how well researched this story is and learned a lot about Ireland at the beginning of the twentieth century. Denise Deegan's detailed descriptions of battles, gatherings and dire situations moved me to tears. She's honest and doesn't stay away from the difficult parts, which is something I greatly admired. I highly recommend Through the Barricades, it's a brilliant emotional roller coaster.
February 19, 2017
This is a rollercoaster of a book which is essentially a love story, but it is also so much more than that.
The story begins in Ireland in 1906 when young Maggie Gilligan wakes to find the house on fire. She is rescued by her father who, as he is about to throw her into the arms of a waiting neighbour for safety, makes her promise that she will make a difference in the world.
The story then jumps to 1913 when two young men, Michael Hegarty and Daniel Healy are almost knocked over by a pretty girl on a bike. When Michael challenges her he gets a punch on the jaw for his troubles and at that moment Daniel falls in love with Maggie Gilligan.
He then plans to 'accidently' meet her again and she challenges him to follow her and help her as she volunteers in the soup kitchens feeding the working class during an industrial lock out resulting from an urge to bring in unions to keep men safe and conditions fair. Daniel accepts Maggie's challenge and begins his education in the history and challenges of the country he lives in. he soon comes to realise that at his posh school he is learning only about England and its empire, instead of the place of his birth.
What follows is a story of the southern Irish bid for Home Rule culminating in the Easter Risings and along side that is one of the most realistic portrayals of the life of soldiers in World War 1 in a book that doesn't have that as its main subject.
I loved the 3 main characters in this book - Maggie, Daniel and Michael. They were written in a very realistic way yet had their own little quirks. I laughed at bits of this book and cried at others.
As someone who had relatives in Ireland at that time it was interesting to get an idea of how the people lived and worked. I have read a fair bit about the Easter Uprising and I found the book to be accurate in its portrayal.
All in all a good book for someone interested in social history in Ireland during that period and for others who just want a great read.
The story begins in Ireland in 1906 when young Maggie Gilligan wakes to find the house on fire. She is rescued by her father who, as he is about to throw her into the arms of a waiting neighbour for safety, makes her promise that she will make a difference in the world.
The story then jumps to 1913 when two young men, Michael Hegarty and Daniel Healy are almost knocked over by a pretty girl on a bike. When Michael challenges her he gets a punch on the jaw for his troubles and at that moment Daniel falls in love with Maggie Gilligan.
He then plans to 'accidently' meet her again and she challenges him to follow her and help her as she volunteers in the soup kitchens feeding the working class during an industrial lock out resulting from an urge to bring in unions to keep men safe and conditions fair. Daniel accepts Maggie's challenge and begins his education in the history and challenges of the country he lives in. he soon comes to realise that at his posh school he is learning only about England and its empire, instead of the place of his birth.
What follows is a story of the southern Irish bid for Home Rule culminating in the Easter Risings and along side that is one of the most realistic portrayals of the life of soldiers in World War 1 in a book that doesn't have that as its main subject.
I loved the 3 main characters in this book - Maggie, Daniel and Michael. They were written in a very realistic way yet had their own little quirks. I laughed at bits of this book and cried at others.
As someone who had relatives in Ireland at that time it was interesting to get an idea of how the people lived and worked. I have read a fair bit about the Easter Uprising and I found the book to be accurate in its portrayal.
All in all a good book for someone interested in social history in Ireland during that period and for others who just want a great read.
March 27, 2017
Dublin & Gallipoli, Revolution & War + Love
A cleverly spun story weaving historical facts from Ireland's Easter Rising in 1916 to the fighting in WWI as seen through the eyes of two very different young people.
Maggie and Daniel are both at school in Dublin when, after a chance meeting, Maggie draws Daniel into her world where she opens his eyes to the plight of the Irish people under British rule. As their bond develops, Daniel realises that Maggie's first love will always be her country, whereas his first love is Maggie herself. In an attempt to save her from getting involved in dangerous revolutionary activities, Daniel joins the army and finds himself fighting at Gallipoli.
Set during the years 1913 - 1916 the chapters alternate between Maggie's story and Daniel's. The readers follows their love story, whilst learning about the effect of British rule on the working people of Ireland and how the Irish Republican Army came to be formed. Throughout the book, including during the Gallipoli pages, the author conveys drama, action and the horrors of war, against a backdrop of love and family life, without resorting to graphic descriptions of gore
I found this quite a light read, even though the subject matter was so serious. The writing flows well and the story moves at a good pace with much interesting detail and information about Ireland's history. Through Maggie and Daniel's great characterisations I learnt a lot about the history of Ireland, the different revolutionary bodies that were growing and why.
Recommended.
A cleverly spun story weaving historical facts from Ireland's Easter Rising in 1916 to the fighting in WWI as seen through the eyes of two very different young people.
Maggie and Daniel are both at school in Dublin when, after a chance meeting, Maggie draws Daniel into her world where she opens his eyes to the plight of the Irish people under British rule. As their bond develops, Daniel realises that Maggie's first love will always be her country, whereas his first love is Maggie herself. In an attempt to save her from getting involved in dangerous revolutionary activities, Daniel joins the army and finds himself fighting at Gallipoli.
Set during the years 1913 - 1916 the chapters alternate between Maggie's story and Daniel's. The readers follows their love story, whilst learning about the effect of British rule on the working people of Ireland and how the Irish Republican Army came to be formed. Throughout the book, including during the Gallipoli pages, the author conveys drama, action and the horrors of war, against a backdrop of love and family life, without resorting to graphic descriptions of gore
I found this quite a light read, even though the subject matter was so serious. The writing flows well and the story moves at a good pace with much interesting detail and information about Ireland's history. Through Maggie and Daniel's great characterisations I learnt a lot about the history of Ireland, the different revolutionary bodies that were growing and why.
Recommended.
December 22, 2016
Set against the turmoil of Irish life from 1913-1916, the Lockout, the First World War and the Easter Rising, Through the Barricades follows Maggie and Daniel as their sense of duty and honour threaten to tear them apart. This is a gorgeous romance, but also an insight into a complex time. Deegan captures the different viewpoints, a country divided, classes pitted against each other, with a careful and light hand. Each character brings their own opinions and views. Both fictional and historical figures leap off the page. It is refreshing to see 1916 portrayed through the eyes of ordinary Dubliners as well as the rebels.
Thought-provoking, heart-rending and uplifting, Through the Barricades takes a vivid look at the turmoil of events leading to 1916 through authentic and diverse eyes. It is not to be missed. A love story grounded in real history.
Thought-provoking, heart-rending and uplifting, Through the Barricades takes a vivid look at the turmoil of events leading to 1916 through authentic and diverse eyes. It is not to be missed. A love story grounded in real history.
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