Last of the high Kings
Feed is MacAnna
New Island Books
Originally published in 1991 Ferdia MacAnnas novel is a story of an Irish family living in Howth in 1977. Punk rock, Christian brothers, an irrational distrust of Britain and local politics all get raised here. It’s a functionally disfunctional family with kids growing up. The last of the high kings refers to the bloodline of the eldest son. As a proud northside Dublin son of 2 northside parents with grandparents from the same area of the city I can feel the pride in ancestry, oh and the futility and stupidity too.
Mostly based around Frankie and the summer he finishes secondary school at times reading this story you feel this really is a high tale. And then you remember what grey Ireland really was like in the 70s.
A very entertaining read
niallhope
