Rating: 
Summary: Not Rutherfurd's best work, but still a very good read.
Review: Having read and immensely enjoyed two of Rutherfurd's previous books - 'Sarum' and 'The Forest' - I was really looking forward to this book. It was slightly disappointing in comparison with the author's other work, but not too much so. Those who've read Rutherfurd before will know that he writes in a style very much like that of the late James Michener (though I find him much more readable than Michener). His books focus on one particular area and trace the lines of several fictional families down through time. This particular novel, the first of a two-book work, is centered around Dublin, Ireland.There are five basic sub-stories which serve as 'windows' into history. The first begins in AD 430 and tells the love story of an Irish prince and the woman whom he wishes to marry. The king himself wants the girl for his bride, so the prince and his girl are forced to flee and live in hiding. Rutherfurd weaves many real historical events into the writing, which gives the story a great richness. Toward the end of this first section we witness the arrival of Christianity in Ireland, the coming of St. Patrick, and the effect of the new faith upon those who uphold the old druidic traditions. The second story brings us forward more than five centuries to AD 981, and focuses on the events sparked by the coming of the Vikings to Ireland. The main characters here are direct descendants of those in the first story, and we see some things passed down through the generations. One Irish family carries an old, gold-rimmed drinking skull all the way down to the end of the book. As time passes, Rutherfurd brings in the famous Brian Boru, and we see the way the power balance works in Ireland - an important theme throughout the book. The middle two stories are where I found most of my disappointment. The first unfolds under the rule of the English Strongbow beginning in 1167, and the second leaps to 1370 and focuses briefly on the ongoing English / Irish struggles. Both of these two sections span only one chapter each and seem extremely underdeveloped, especially the second one. Character development is minimal, a few families are nearly entirely ignored, and the plot is brief and not memorable. The writing seems rushed as well, as if Rutherfurd himself couldn't wait to be finished with it. The final story, however, redeems the book, and I did enjoy it. Set in the 16th century, it recalls the influence in Ireland of the infamous English king, Henry VIII, his dissolution of the monasteries, and the ill-fated resistance movement of 'Silken Thomas,' the 10th Earl of Kildare. There are several interwoven and well-developed stories here, and the characters are also more fully rounded. The ending is not quite as satisfying as I would have liked, but of course one must remember that there is a second book coming, so perhaps that will give it the needed resolution. Nevertheless, the last few lines of the book are quite well done and are sure to leave the reader with a smile. Overall, it's a very good book, though not Rutherfurd's best. I wish he'd put a little more emphasis on family ties, as he has done previously. We see the drinking skull passed down, but it isn't ever used (save for the very first story, and then its demise as the end of the book). It just sits there. In Rutherfurd's other books, a passed-down object is used and loved (or sometimes abused) by the family members that possess it through the generations. Similarly, the green eyes of the Fergus descendants and the red hair of the Harold family are common themes, but there just isn't a real feeling of connectedness within the families from one period of history to the next. I found myself having to constantly flip to the geneology tables to remember who was descended from whom. In addition, not all the families trace back to the beginning of the book. The Tidy family shows up for the first time in the fourth part of the book, and only plays a major role in the final section. There is no real feeling of history behind them. I did, however, very much enjoy the historical context of the book. Rutherfurd has done a tremendous amount of research and it shows. He has done some tweaking here and there for the story's sake - this is fiction after all - but the basic framework is all there. All the major events in Irish history are wonderfully laid out here, and I even learned many new things. Rutherfurd includes a note at the end that distinguishes the factual elements of the story from the fictional. Solid fans of Rutherfurd's books may be slightly disappointed, but this is still a very good book. I'd recommend it to anyone interested in Ireland, historical fiction, or both.
Rating: 
Summary: Not worth the time spent to read
Review: I am a huge fan of historical novels and was most interested in reading this book. I found myself speed reading through the last 100 pages just to be done with it. Some of the chapters and related characters were interesting but overall the book was a disappointment.
Rating: 
Summary: The best is yet to come--and it has!
Review: I have been a fan of Mr. Rutherfurd's since I purchased a paperback of RUSSKA years ago. I have every one of his books and he never fails to entertain me. His latest is a long awaited success of Irish history. As usual, his research is impeccable and his characters are so believable. I felt I was there myself. One thing though, the book only goes up to the reign of Henry the VIII--is there more to come? And of course there is Scotland and Wales to investigate. You will not be able to put this one down!
Rating:
Summary: Another wonderful Rutherfurd book
Review: I have made a point of reading every book that I see by Mr. Rutherfurd since I read Sarum several years ago. Once again, he has written a wonderful novel that mixes historical facts, real places, real people, and an epic timeline with fictional characters to produce an entertaining and educational work.
Mr. Rutherfurd is one of those novelists that take a place and craft a story around that place over many centuries, populating it with facts and people that make history come alive. He has carried on with this effort. I must admit, I didn't find it quite as interesting as Sarum, Ruska or the Forest, but it still is one of the better historical novels that I have read in the last year or two.
My star ratings:
One star - couldn't finish the book
Two stars - read the book, but did a lot of skipping or scanning. Wouldn't add the book to my permanent collection or search out other books by the author.
Three stars - enjoyable read. Wouldn't add the book to my permanent collection. Would judge other books by the author individually.
Four stars - Liked the book. Would keep the book or would look for others by the same author.
Five stars - One of my all time favorites. Will get a copy in hardback to keep and will actively search out others by the same author.
Rating: 
Summary: Entertaining read
Review: I have read all of Rutherford's books ~~ Russka, Sarum, London, and the Forest. When Amazon announced this book was coming out, I couldn't wait to get my hands on a copy of Princes of Ireland. Normally, when I get a Rutherford's book ~~ I knew that I was in for a long haul of entertaining and informative reading ~~ and he didn't disappoint in that respect, but this book isn't as good as his others. I really enjoy reading about the Celtic culture ~~ but somehow I feel as if he skimmed over a good portion of Ireland's history.
It has been said that every Irish person is descended from kings and queens. This book shows a definitive lineage for several families that Rutherford writes about. Their stories were well-crafted in the times they lived ~~ and I found the characters interesting and real as most people are through the tests of time. There may be a bit more historical facts this time in this book than in his other books ~~ which does help me understand the times of each character and why he/she did the things they did.
It is an interesting read ~~ more suited for winter nights than a beach read as it is a heavy tome. If you are a Rutherford fan, this book will not disappoint you even if it isn't as good as the others were ~~ he still weaves a wonderful tale of people lost in the mists of time. If you are new to Rutherford's books, this is just as a good place to start.
2-27-05
Rating:
Summary: More Facts than Story
Review: I knew I was in for a good read when I found a new Rutherford book on the library shelf, and looked forward to an easy way to learn about Irish history. But I found the author's use of unpronounceable Irish names made reading very difficult despite the "how to pronounce" list in the back of the book. Further,there were just way too many facts oft repeated and unwoven into the story that added little but verbiage to this 700 page book. Throughout there were constant references to people, times and places that were not clearly, nor easily understood in the beginning of the book. I thought this redundancy confusing and certainly detrimental to the story line whenever there was,in fact, a clear storyline to follow. It's Rutherford's style to engross the reader into a story (and in this case I would think "finally ")abruptly ending it, and switching to a different century - like a book with no ending. I found it particularly frustrating in this novel which was so difficult to cull facts from story. Taking into account "literary license", I feel I've learned a lot more history from Rutherford's other books, especially enjoying the Forest and London. I often accuse myself of buying books by the pound and if it's a long novel you like, which I do, try Rutherford's books.
Rating:
Summary: Barely touches on actual history
Review: I'm not even finished reading this "historical" novel and I'm already disappointed. Perhaps I've read too much Irish history, but I was very frustrated with the way Rutherfurd barely touched on certain historical events in Ireland without elaborating, even a little.
I would recommend Leon Uris' TRINITY and REDEMPTION and also Bodie and Brock Thoene's THE GALWAY CHRONICLES for much more satisfying historical fiction on Ireland.
These series are quite informative, while also being riveting and interesting.
Rating:
Summary: Maybe Rutherfurd's Best
Review: I've read almost all Rutherfurd's books (I'm still working on London) and The Princes of Ireland is my favorite. He describes the country so well you feel like you can smell the damp air. I haven't been lucky enough to have gone to Ireland but I think I would love Dublin if I ever get the chance.
Rating:
Summary: Better than Publishers Weekly suggests
Review: If you liked London or Sarum, then you will probably like this book as well. It is written at about their standard. As such, it is, in my opinion, better than The Forest, which to my mind is the worst of Mr. Rutherfurd's books. If you have not read Mr. Rutherfurd, the best comparison is to the later books of James Michener. As an introduction to his works, this book is less than adequate as it only represents the first half of the story. It very much ends in mid story. This will make a lovely beach book. It's nicely rambling with several generations of interesting characters set in a variety of historical settings. And as such has no pretensions to high literature. It is a good read.
Rating:
Summary: Powerful Fiction, Riveting History
Review: In "The Princes of Ireland", the first of a two volume set, Edward Rutherfurd tackles the mystical and complex history of Ireland. As with his previous works of English history ("Sarum", "London", and "The Forest"), "Princes" is obviously a labor of love. Painstakingly researched and rich in historical detail, in this latest effort Rutherfurd takes the reader through eleven centuries of Irish history, starting in the 5th century AD, passing through St. Patrick, the Norse invasions, and English rule, ending during King Henry VIII's impact on Ireland's destiny. The formula will be familiar to Rutherford fans: a number of fictitious family lines are traced through a series of vignettes, connected generation-to-generation, resulting in an exceptionably pleasurable and meaningful passage through history. Rutherfurd brings otherwise dry historical events vividly to life: tales of druids and monks, of politics and passion, of armored knights and axe-wielding Vikings, of deeds of nobility and treachery. Admittedly, this is not light reading. At nearly 800 pages, there are some tedious passages to plow through, as well as the need for frequent referrals to the genealogy to keep track of the various clans and places through the ages. "Princes" may lack some of the passion and poignancy of Rutherfurd's "Sarum", and some of the irony and more familiar historical context of "London". But nonetheless, this is a powerful and informative work of fiction, highly recommended for the reader who prefers some education with the entertainment. I'll be anxiously awaiting the second volume.
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