CAPTAINS & KINGS-JOHNSTON

CAPTAINS & KINGS-JOHNSTON

13,42 $

*Captains and Kings* by Jennifer Johnston, a poignant and award-winning novel, explores the themes of isolation, memory, and unlikely friendship in post-war Ireland. Set in the 1970s, the story revolves around Mr. Prendergast, a solitary widower living in his family’s ancestral home, haunted by the past and the loss of his loved ones. His life is unexpectedly brightened by a young boy named Diarmid, whose curiosity about the Big House and its history sparks an unusual bond. This relationship forces Prendergast to confront the outside world he has long shunned, leading to a powerful and moving climax. Published by HarperCollins, this hardcover edition offers a compelling glimpse into the Anglo-Irish experience and the enduring power of human connection. Discover a story of redemption, memory, and the unexpected friendships that can reshape a life. A must-read for fans of Irish literature and character-driven narratives.

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Winner of the Authors Club First Novel Alone with melancholic memories of his past, a widower finds new life after striking up a friendship with a village boyIn County Wicklow, south of Dublin, Mr. Prendergast lives alone in the Big House of his village. A remnant of the long-gone days of the Anglo-Irish Ascendancy, Prendergasts mansion has been witness to many of the most important years of his life, including his childhood, marked by his mothers open preference for his older brother, Alexander. Following Alexanders death in the First World War, Prendergast traveled the world, returning home decades later to a greatly changed place. Now in the 1970s, his wife and daughter are both gone, leaving the house an empty monument to his isolation and melancholy. But when the young, redheaded Diarmid arrives on Prendergasts doorstep, the boys thrill at the houses history sparks an unlikely friendshipone that revives in Prendergast a sense of vitality and sets in motion a final, fateful confrontation with the outside world hed shunned for so many years.

Delve into the poignant world of Jennifer Johnston's *Captains and Kings*, a hauntingly beautiful novel that explores themes of loss, friendship, and the lingering echoes of a bygone era. This 1985 HarperCollins edition, presented in a sturdy hardcover binding, offers a window into the life of Mr. Prendergast, an aging widower residing in the "Big House" of County Wicklow, Ireland. Winner of the prestigious Author's Club First Novel Award, *Captains and Kings* is a testament to Johnston's masterful storytelling and her ability to capture the nuances of human emotion. Haunted by the ghosts of his past, Prendergast lives a solitary existence, his grand home now a silent monument to a life marked by loss. The absence of his wife and daughter amplifies the loneliness that permeates the once-vibrant halls. Memories of his childhood, particularly his mother's favoritism towards his brother Alexander, who tragically perished in World War I, cast a long shadow over his present. After Alexander's death, Prendergast embarked on a life of travel, only to return to a world irrevocably changed. Set against the backdrop of 1970s Ireland, Johnston paints a vivid picture of a society grappling with its history and the fading remnants of the Anglo-Irish Ascendancy. Prendergast, a relic of this past, embodies the isolation and melancholy of a generation struggling to find its place in a rapidly evolving world. The arrival of Diarmid, a spirited young boy with a shock of red hair, disrupts Prendergast's carefully constructed solitude. Diarmid's innocent fascination with the Big House and its history ignites a spark within Prendergast, rekindling a sense of vitality he thought long extinguished. Their unlikely friendship blossoms, offering Prendergast a renewed connection to the world and a glimpse of hope amidst the lingering despair. However, this newfound connection is not without its challenges. As Prendergast rediscovers a zest for life, he is forced to confront the outside world he has long avoided, a world that threatens to shatter the fragile peace he has found with Diarmid. *Captains and Kings* is a delicate exploration of the complexities of human relationships and the power of friendship to transcend age and circumstance. It's a moving portrayal of a man grappling with his past, finding solace in the present, and facing the future with newfound courage. Readers will be captivated by Johnston's evocative prose and the deeply human characters that populate this unforgettable novel. A relatively short read at 144 pages, this powerful novel packs an emotional punch that will resonate long after the final page is turned. Experience the beauty and sorrow of *Captains and Kings*, a timeless story of love, loss, and the enduring power of the human spirit.
Additional information
Authors

Binding

Condition

ISBN-10

0006541046

ISBN-13

9780006541042

Language

Pages

144

Publisher

Year published

Weight

129

SKU: G-9780006541042-3 Category:
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