The Sunken Road: ‘A powerful and authentic novel about the First World War’ William Boyd

A great book that was a little rough in parts but WW 1 and the Irish Rebellion was a little rough. We’ll written.

This is a fantastic read which grips you right from the start, with Francie having to go on the run with the British after him in the midst of the Irish war of independence. It skilfully goes back and forward in time - I absolutely love the flashbacks to childhood and teenage years with Francie making friends with Archie (protecting him right from the start), and Archie's sister Annie - and the three of them are thick as thieves from then on. Francie and Annie fall in love.But everything changes when Archie signs up to fight for King and country in WW1 - and Francie can't let him go by himself... even though he is the only Catholic in the regiment; a fact which is duly pointed out by his commander Crozier, who turns out in my opinion to be one of the best "baddies" ever... something happens out there in France to make Crozier hate Francie all the more, and he pursues him relentlessly back home but now on opposing sides.Annie ends up on the run (reluctantly) with Francie - but why has she not seen him for six years, and what has happened to Archie? The narrative shifts back and forward in time between Fermanagh, Donegal, and France; and we as the reader know we're going to find out what happened. We're rooting for Francie and Annie, yet he's changed... he's become hardened, traumatised by something in the war - can their love survive? As the war Francie's in now intensifies and Crozier tightens the net, we also are gradually learning what happened in France and to Archie. The ending of the novel really delivers and all I will say is that I cried - a lot!Annie is a fantastic character, I just loved her. I loved Francie too, but he is so damaged and has done some brutal things since he came back. It's understandable and ultimately this book is very anti-violence (you've got the brutality of the Black and Tans, and on the other hand it certainly doesn't romanticize the IRA who also are depicted with blood on their hands). The historical fiction aspect of it is excellent, and so well researched. It's came out coinciding with one hundred years since the Irish War of Independence and is from such an interesting perspective -someone fighting in the trenches with the British and then fighting against them only a few years later - which of course did happen to a lot of men. But I think it also has something so important to say about World War 1, I won't say more about it as I don't want to spoil the story.You don't have to be a history buff or into "war" books to get into this book as everyone will appreciate the themes of friendship, love, loyalty and revenge. It should make an amazing film. 10 out of 10 and extra points for making me emotional - it's a rare book that manages that.

good read

Ciaran McMenamin proves himself as one of the most versatile modern Irish writers. Completely different to his first outing ‘Skintown’, ‘The Sunken Road’ is fantastic historical fiction. I cannot wait for the next one!

Powerful ending. Read a few books with a similar theme but beautifully and poignantly handled. A must read.