Morgan Llywelyn – författare

The struggle of the Irish people for independence is one of the epic tales of the 20th century. Morgan Llywelyn has chosen it as the subject of her major work, "The Irish Century", a multi-novel chronicle that began with 1916, and now continues in 1921, both a story and a history. The two big historical names in 1921 are Eamon de Valera and Michael Collins, both famous, mysterious, and familiar Irish figures. The year 1921 is the year of the Irish Civil War and the year of the separation of Ireland into two nations, south and north. The central character is Henry Mooney, a journalist (based upon the author's grandfather), who struggles for truth in his reporting during the terrible conflict, and falls in love with an Englishwoman in Ireland in the midst of political and military horrors.

Ned Halloran lost both his parents - and almost his own life - in the sinking of the Titanic. Determined to keep what little he has, he returns to his homeland of Ireland and enrolls at Saint Edna's school in Dublin. Saint Edna's headmaster is the renowned scholar and poet, Patrick Pearse - who is soon to gain greater fame as a rebel and patriot. Ned becomes totally involved with the growing revolution...and the sacrifices it will demand. Through Ned's eyes, "1916" examines the Irish fight for freedom - inspired by poets and schoolteachers, fuelled by a desperate desire for independence, and played out in the historic streets of Dublin against the background of World War I. It is a story of the brave men and heroic women who, for a few unforgettable days, managed to hold out against the might of the British Empire.

This story follows Amergin, druid and chief bard of the Galicians, a group of Celts living in Iberia during the fourth century BC. After years of decline, the Galicians hope that the unexpected arrival of Phoenician traders, led by Age-Nor, will help restore their prosperity. Unfortunately, neither side has anything worth trading. At a reception in the Heroes' Hall, Age-Nor is attacked by Amergin's brothers, and the druid uses his bardic talent to entrance his murderous sibling, thus saving Age-Nor. Age-Nor rewards Amergin, despite the bard's vehement protests, by giving him a servant, a shipwright named Sakkar, and regaling him with a tale of a fabled land to the north, Ierne. After a series of mishaps and bad decisions, the tribe builds a series of ships with the help of Sakkar, and sets sail. But when they arrive on Ierne, they are confronted by a mysterious people who will one day fuel legend and myth: the Tuatha De Danann, People of the Goddess Danu.

A novel of the ancient gods and goddesses of Irish myth and legend.For centuries the Tuatha De Danann lived in peace-until that peace was shattered by the arrival of invaders. The Gaels, the Children of Milesios, came looking for easy riches and conquest, following the story of an island to the west where their every desire could be granted. They had not anticipated that it would already be home to others, and against the advice of their druids, they begin to exterminate the Tuatha De Danann.Joss was on the cusp of becoming a man when the Gaels slaughtered the kings and queens of his people. Left without a mother and father, he must find a way to unite what is left of his people and lead them into hiding. But even broken and scattered, Joss and his people are not without strange powers.

In 1972, Morgan Llywelyn tells the story of Ireland from 1950 to 1972 as seen through the eyes of young Barry Halloran, son and grandson of Irish revolutionaries. Following family tradition, at eighteen Barry joins the Irish Republican Army to help complete what he sees as the unfinished revolution. Issues are no longer as clear-cut as they once were. His first experience of violence in Northern Ireland shocks and disturbs him, yet he has found a sense of family in the Army that is hard to give up. He makes a partial break by becoming a photographer, visually documenting events in the north rather than participating. Events lead Barry into a totally different life from the one he expected, yet his allegiance to the ideal of a thirty-two-county Irish republic remains undimmed as the problems, and the violence, of Northern Ireland escalate. Then Barry finds himself in the middle of the most horrific event of all: Bloody Sunday in Derry, 1972.

At age fifteen, Ned Halloran lost both of his parents and almost his own life when the Titanic sank. Determined to keep what little he has, he returns to his homeland of Ireland and enrolls at Saint Edna's school in Dublin. Saint Edna's headmaster is the renowned scholar and poet, Patrick Pearse who is soon to gain greater fame as a rebel and patriot. Ned becomes deeply involved with the growing revolution and the sacrifices it will demand. Through Ned's eyes, 1916 examines the Irish fight for freedom. Inspired by poets and school teachers, fueled by a desperate desire for independence, and played out in the historic streets of Dublin against the background of World War I. It is a story of the brave men and heroic women who, for a few unforgettable days, managed to holdout against the might of the British Empire.

Illustrated by Donald TeskeyThis internationally best-selling author, winner of many awards in adult historical fiction, now turns her hand to historical fiction for children with a personalised account of the life of Brian Boru, from his childhood in the midst of a large warrior family to his final role as High King of Ireland.'A life full of battles, intrigues, alliances and betrayals, which make a stirring tale told in realistic detail'. The Irish Times

The dramatic story of the Norman conquest of Ireland in the 12th century. Full of battles and warfare, but a story of love, too, between an unlikely pair - wilful and wild Irish princess Aoife, and Strongbow, the greatest of the Norman knights to come to Ireland. A clash of cultures and a vivid story of one of the Greats of Irish history.

In the sixteenth century, Granuaile, the Pirate Queen, warrior and leader, was the terror of the North Atlantic and the most feared woman in Ireland. Heading a large army and a fleet of ships, she lived by trading and raiding and demanding tribute from all who sailed through her territory.Told partly through letters written to her son Tibbot, it charts the gradual decline of the Gaelic chieftains and traditions of Ireland as Elizabeth Tudor, the 'Virgin Queen' of England, extended her power throughout Ireland by bribery and slaughter. It is a story of immense bravery and daring, as Granuaile takes on the great Norman lords, smuggles weapons and mercenaries for the Ulster Gaelic O'Donnell and O'Neill clans and finally goes to confront Elizabeth Tudor herself. Some of the great figures of Irish history feature, including Red Hugh O'Donnell, Hugh O'Neill, Hugh Dubh O'Donnell, and Richard Bingham.

Morgan Llywelyn gives readers a near-future, apocalyptic thriller with her signature depth and intimacy of character. In Drop by Drop, the first in a new trilogy, global catastrophe occurs as all plastic mysteriously liquefies. All the small components that make many technologies possible - navigation systems, communications, medical equipment - fail.In Sycamore River, citizens find their lives disrupted as everything they've depended on melts around them, sometimes with fatal results. All they can rely upon is themselves.And this is only the beginning.Llywelyn blends her signature character-driven portrait of small-town life with the appeal of William Fortschen's One Second After.