The Irish Girl

Starred review from September 15, 2016

Set against the tumultuous backdrop of Ireland's fight for independence from Britain in the early 20th century, this sprawling saga gives readers a personal view of the "Troubles," as seen through the eyes of a daughter of the Anglo-Irish ascendancy in its last days. In spite of her heritage, Kitty Deverill knows herself to be Irish to the bone, and English not at all. The fiery Kitty fights for the land she loves, even as she realizes that there may be no place for her in an independent Ireland. Her story of wealth and privilege contrasts with that of her childhood friend Bridie, an Irish Catholic village girl whose family has worked for the Deverills for centuries. As the Troubles and their aftermath shatter lifetime relationships between the classes, Kitty and Bridie flee in opposite directions--Kitty to glittering parties in London, Bridie to a life of service in America. But neither forgets their sisterhood, or the home that shaped them both. VERDICT Montefiore's (The Beekeeper's Daughter) compelling family saga, the first in a trilogy, is highly recommended, particularly for lovers of Irish fiction and/or stories of World War I and the 1920s, as well as those who enjoy novels about the enduring power of women's friendships.--Marlene Harris, Reading Reality, LLC, Duluth, GA

Copyright 2016 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from August 1, 2016
The prolific Montefiore (The Beekeeper's Daughter, 2015) presents the first volume of a trilogy guaranteed to hit the bestseller list. The riveting saga revolves around three memorable women, each caught up in different ways by historical events and social circumstances. Kitty Deverill, the titular girl in the castle, is an Anglo-Irish aristocrat with seemingly unbreakable ties to Bridie Doyle, daughter of the castle's cook; Jack O'Leary, the local vet's son and her secret love; and Celia Deverill, her British cousin. Fiercely passionate and loyal, Kitty's bonds to her friends and family are severely tested during WWI and the onset of the Troubles. With Jack firmly involved in the struggle for Ireland's independence, her privileged and protected position as a Deverill becomes increasingly untenable. Interweaving Kitty's personal story and the momentous events of the time, Montefiori portrays a woman perched precariously between two worlds who eventually emerges and comes into sharp focus. Secrets abound, friendships are fractured, and life-altering decisions are made in a delicious read that leaves the reader hungry and eagerly awaiting the next course.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)