Buck Whaley: Ireland’s Greatest Adventurer - Softcover

Ryan, David

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1785372297 ISBN 13: 9781785372292

Publisher: Merrion Press, 2019

Synopsis

Thomas ‘Buck’ Whaley was one of the greatest adventurers in Irish history. In 1788 he made an extraordinary 10-month journey from Dublin to Jerusalem for a wager of £15,000, equivalent to several million today. During his journey he nearly shipwrecked in the Sea of Crete, almost died of plague in Constantinople, and met an infamous Ottoman governor known as ‘the Butcher.’ On his return, he became an overnight celebrity before suffering a catastrophic series of gambling losses that exiled him first to continental Europe (where he attempted to rescue Louis XVI from the guillotine) and then to the Isle of Man. When he died aged 34 in 1800 he had squandered an astronomical £400,000 (around €100 million) ‘without ever purchasing or acquiring contentment or one hour’s true happiness.’ Buck Whaley tells the full story of his remarkable life and adventures for the first time.

About this title

About the Author

David Ryan was born in Galway and holds an MA degree in history from NUI Galway. His first book, Blasphemers and Blackguards, was published by Merrion Press in 2012. David currently works as a television producer and scriptwriter.

Review

"Tremendously researched and snappily written ... author Ryan is a most reliable narrator, and Thomas Whaley is a thoroughly enjoyable and, dare one say, a rollicking good read." —Irish Independent

"Very entertaining ... a rollicking story." —The Irish Times

"A highly entertaining, well-written account of the life of one of 18th-Century Ireland's most famous characters ... Ryan handles his scholarship lightly and the book is a pleasure to read." —The Irish Catholic

Edition details

• Publisher: Merrion Press
• Publication date: 2019
• ISBN 10: 1785372297
• ISBN 13: 9781785372292
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 272