Tread Softly on My Dreams - Softcover

Gretta Curran Browne

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0747236127 ISBN 13: 9780747236122

Publisher: Headline Book Publishing, 1991

Synopsis

The book some have called "THE IRISH " LES MISERABLES" And others (Ireland On Sunday) "ON AS GRAND A SCALE AS FLANAGAN'S `THE YEAR OF THE FRENCH' In her historical `faction’ novels, Gretta Curran Browne tells the story of actual people and actual events and, apart from using a few minor fictional characters, she does not change history or distort the true stories of the worthy people she has “reclaimed” from history to bring to a present-day audience. When first published in hardback, Tread Softly On My Dreams and Fire On The Hill were bought by the University of Notre Dame in the USA, The National Library of Ireland, and The Princess Grace Irish Library in the Palace of Monaco. AN EPIC NOVEL FROM IRELAND’S PAST. (Book One of THE LIBERTY TRILOGY) "Beautifully written, meticulously researched, immensely enjoyable and, by turns, heartbreaking and uplifting". Sunday Independent. The Emmets were Protestants, belonging to the elite society of Ireland’s ruling class. Born in 1778, Robert Emmet was the gentle and diffident youngest son of the State Physician of Ireland, growing up in the heart of a prosperous and loving family, one of the most respected in Dublin city. From his parents ge acquired a deep love of Ireland and a commitment to justice. From his brother Thomas he acquired an understanding of the divisions and inequalities of his country. It was in the historic year of 1798 that Robert’s life changed from its charted course to one of rebellion. A brilliant student at Trinity, he cast aside all hopes of a scientific career, all the privileges of his class, to join the United Irishmen – a society dedicated to the union of Protestant and Catholic. After the bloody ’98 Rebellion, Robert was forced to flee to France. But even as his boat sailed away from his beloved homeland, he looked back and knew he would return – to the cause of his country’s liberty, and to the beautiful girl he had fallen in love with, Sarah Curran, the daughter of Ireland’s most talented lawyer. He returned – and met Anne Devlin, a wild and brave Catholic country girl, who became his most devoted and loyal companion. Set against the background of the beauty of Ireland, the dark clouds of its past, as well as the humour and dreams of its people, this is a passionate and powerful true story of three young people, Robert Emmet, Anne Devlin, and Sarah Curran, drawn together in love, in hope, and tragedy.

About this title

From the Author

"We were taught nothing about Ireland or its history in school, and when I did learn of the part we played in that struggle, I felt shame. The world should know about young men like Robert Emmet."-------Oscar-winning actor COLIN FIRTH (Sunday Times Magazine 2012)

About the Author

Gretta Curran Browne was born in Dublin city where she spent some of her childhood years in the notorious Goldenbridge orphanage. Later she was transferred to a second orphanage in Preston in England, which was less harsh, and where, due to one special nun, she became acquainted with the magic of storytelling. In her teenage years she moved to London to study Drama, working as a telephonist at night to pay her rent and attending Drama school in the day: after which she spent some years working full time in theatre and occasionally in television. Her first attempts at professional writing began after her two children were born, and she became a full-time mother, writing at night when the world and her children were asleep. She began with two short stories, both of which won prizes. She then began her first novel, `Tread Softly On My Dream’s, based on the true story of the young Irish hero, Robert Emmet. Published by Headline and critically acclaimed by the Press, Tread Softly On My Dreams was acquired by the University of Notre Dame in the US, and The Princess Grace Irish Library in the palace of Monaco. This was followed by her second Irish novel, Fire On The Hill and later followed by her first contemporary novel, Ghosts In Sunlight. Gretta’s writing career was interrupted in full flow when her son broke his back in an accident and needed her care for some years. Now fully recovered, her son is a successful young actor and Gretta has returned to her passion for writing. She has just completed her new Historical novel, By Eastern Windows, based again on a true story, set primarily in Scotland and India, and has already started work on the sequel The Far Horizon, set primarily in early Australia. Gretta is married to a lawyer and lives in London.

About this edition

• Publisher: Headline Book Publishing
• Publication date: 1991
• ISBN 10: 0747236127
• ISBN 13: 9780747236122
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 625