The Quiet Man: And Other Stories

Maurice Walsh was born in Ballydonoghue, County Kerry, Ireland on May 2, 1879. After years in the civil service, he began writing, and in 1923 he published his most famous novel, The Key Above The Door. However, in America, he is most famous for his short story, The Quiet Man, which was later lengthened into a feature film starring John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara. This book contains five short stories (six, if you include the prelude, which is an integral part of the overarching story), which can easily be read separately, but together form an interlocking story. It is the story of a group of young people in County Kerry, Ireland, fighting against the British during the final years of the Irish war for independence. And, of their later years, as they try to put their lives back together after all that they have done. The Prologue tells the story of Nuala Kierley, who was sent to Dublin to seduce a British intelligence officer into revealing the identity of an Irish turncoat - how could have ever known that the turncoat was her own husband. Then Came The Captain's Daughter tells the story of Owen Jordan, an Irish-American doctor whose work with Sinn Fein has led him into many situations where he had to suppress many feelings of humanity, but when he is set to guard a captured Scottish Captain and his sister, he begins to see things in a new light. In Over The Boarder, we see Sean Glynn reduced to a shadow of himself after the war - haunted by what he did to Nuala Kierley. Who can help to set Sean right and keep him alive? The Quiet Man tells the story of Paddy Bawn Enright, who spent years boxing in America, and came back to Ireland to kill for independence. And now, all that he wants is peace, but for Paddy Bawn there is still one more battle that he must fight. In The Red Girl, Owen Jordan's friend, Art O'Connor has come over to visit the land that his friend talks about so often. But, when he see the famous Red Girl, it leads him to trouble...and possibly mortal peril. And finally Bad Town Dublin tells the story of Major Archibald MacDonald, retired from his service with the British Army, and his discovery of Nuala Kierley. Just what does she need, and what can Archie MacDonald do for one so badly hurt in the War? Overall, I found these stories to be very moving. They contain adventure, and romance, and suspense. They contain the tragedy of Ireland, and also it's magic. If you want to really get a feel for 1920s Ireland, then I can't suggest anything more than getting this book! I highly recommend it.

"The Quiet Man" story first appeared in the 11 February 1933 Saturday Evening Post. John Ford read it that year, and obtained the film rights in 1936. Author Maurice Walsh had finished four interconnected stories (tentatively titled "Green Rushes") about the IRA and the Black & Tans in 1920s Ireland. He changed names and made minor additions to The Quiet Man to fit it into Green Rushes (Shawn Kelvin became Paddy Bawn Enright, Big Liam O'Grady became Red Will O'Danaher). The current book (minus the Prologue) mirrors Green Rushes, originally published in 1936. I love the movie, but the book reveals more of the REAL Ireland. Maurice Walsh captures the spirit of the country and her rural folk. His writing transports the reader to Erin with poetic language and unforgettable characters. For additional history, see "The Complete Guide to the Quiet Man" by Des MacHale. Walsh wrote more about Hugh Forbes in "The Small Dark Man", available used.

These tales are told in a manner Irish tales are meant to be told. The lyrical manner and quiet truth of its telling are a rich and delicious read. From the drama of the Black and Tan War to the romance of an Irish summers evening, Maurice Walsh gets straight into your head. Irish wit never underestimates your intelligence, and this book never does either. Hints and fleeting references always come back to haunt you, and the way each of these short stories seamlessly integrate, you will find yourself smiling in admiration. The Quiet Man really captures the flavor of the time, the idealism of the Irish Republic, the heroism of its defense and the realism of hard choices made for that idealism. This is storytelling at its Celtic best, you will not be dissapointed...

I was happy to find this book republished after years of searching for out-of-print copies. Every story is connected; every story gives a different point of view. Pick up this book and you will become enthralled with the stories of the men and women who lived, loved, and fought during the early years of Ireland's fight for independence. While I realize the book is a work of fiction, I found myself, nevertheless, rooting for each person as he or she struggled with the problems the author put before each of them: alcohol, honesty, familial obligations, moral conscience, the love of country. If you like to read of adventure with your romance(or vice versa), these stories are for you. The cover doesn't do the book justice. The stories are so much more than just John Wayne as "The Quiet Man". At the end of the book I found myself wishing that the author had written another collection of stories continuing the saga of this era and these people.