The Family on Paradise Pier

by Dermot Bolger

A stunning historical saga set in the early decades of the twentieth century which follows the lives and loves of one extraordinary family. We first meet the Goold Verschoyle children in 1915. Though there is a war going on in the world outside, they seem hardly touched by it – midnight swims, flower fairies and regatta parties form the backdrop to their enchanted childhood. But as they grow older, changes within Ireland and the wider world encroach upon the family’s private paradise. Turbulent times – the Irish war of independence, the Spanish Civil War, and World War II – are woven into the tapestry upon which this magical story is spun. Events in Spain, Russia and London draw the children in different directions: one travels to Moscow to witness Communism at first had; another runs away to England to take part in the General Strike and then heads off to the Civil War in Spain; another follows the more conventional route of marriage and family. Based upon the extraordinary lives of a real-life Anglo-Irish family, Bolger’s novel superbly recreates a family in flux, driven by idealism, wracked by argument and united by love and the vivid memories of childhood. ‘The Family on Paradise Pier’ shows Bolger at the height of his powers as a master storyteller. A spellbinding and magnificent achievement.

Genres: Fiction, Ireland, Irish Literature, Historical Fiction, Novels, Historical

352 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2006

About the author

Dermot Bolger is an Irish novelist, playwright and poet born in Finglas, a suburb of Dublin.

His work is often concerned with the articulation of the experiences of working-class characters who, for various reasons, feel alienated from society. Bolger questions the relevance of traditional nationalist concepts of Irishness, arguing for a more plural and inclusive society.

In the late 1970s Bolger set up Raven Arts Press, which he ran until 1992 when he co-founded New Island Press.

Reviews

[Dem · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

An interesting read and look at an Anglo Irish family and Irish life in the first half of the 20th Century.

The book is based on a real life Donegal family and this is a fictionalized portrait of their lives. The books spans, The Spanish civil war, World War II and the Irish war of Independence. I wasn’t familiar with or had read anything previously about communism in Ireland in the 1930s and this was interesting to read.

A very well researched story and very detailed. I enjoyed the characters and their escapades. There are many historical figures mentioned who form part of the story. The book is quite long and I did get a bit bogged down half way through but the story picked up again and I did enjoy the novel.

A well written novel and a book that I will remember a year from now.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating novel based on the story of the family who was involved in founding the Irish Communist Party. Two of the sons are obsessed with the Soviet Union, and move there. Bolger met the sister of this family when she was in her 90's and she told him stories about her family which became this novel.

[Mary Lou · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book about the Goold Vershoyles- a privileged Anglo Irish family, from 1915 up the end of WWII. This golden life changes as the children grow up and their futures are influenced and family ties ultimately destroyed by the changes in Ireland and the world at that very unsettled time.
It took Dermot Bolger a long time, it seems, to make this chronicle what he wanted it to be and the result is stunning .It tells of the colourful and unusual life of Eva, the second daughter, alternating with that of two of her brothers Art and Brendan.
Her oldest brother Art, embraces communism to the exclusion of everything, family included. Brendan follows to Russia but with a different ambitions. It’s easy to look back on extreme regimes with the benefit of hindsight but this book lays out well the contrast between the smooth working systems of communism displayed by Russia to the West and how it differed radically from the suffering and torture ordinary people were enduring there as the authorities struggled to make it work.
Interesting too is the complicated political manoeuvring during the Spanish Civil War, no simple matter of facism versus communism. It must have been very tempting to join this fight in Spain at the time, but if what is written here is accurate, foreign volunteers would have been viewed with extreme suspicion form both sides.
There are times in this book when it’s difficult to get under the skin of the characters, but there are also brilliant little descriptive moments when it is so clear- like the section on the smell of the arrival of the secret police.
The horrors and tragedies are many but are tempered by things like Eva’s secret dreams of her next hidden life, away from it all.
A touching and absorbing read

[Lady Drinkwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my second attempt at this book. The first time I did not get through the prologue which I found confusing. This time I found it equally so as it presents short episodes from the lives of the characters set towards the end of the chronological book. However I bravely kept going and was glad I did as the story is absolutely fascinating and all the more so since the epilogue explained that this is based upon a true story. There is a great deal of history, not just concerning the anglo irish, but also communism as two of the characters are deeply involved in this. For me, however, the best thing about the book was the central character, Eva, a beautiful soul who struggles with lifes meaning and eventually finds her own peace despite lifes inevitable disappointments.

[Mary Crawford · Rating 4 out of 5]

This Anglo-Irish Protestant family saga covers the time line of the First World War up to the end of the Second World War. The family live in Donegal near Killybegs and Bolger describes the countryside and the people, both Catholic and Protestant, in an engaging manner. He widens the political focus from the internal to the world stage of communism in Russia, the Spanish Civil War and how Ireland maintained neutrality. The book follows members of the family as they move away and follow their own dreams. Really enjoyed reading this book.

[Robert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Covers a lot of ground and history of Ireland at the turn of the century, the Russian Revolution, Irish Socialism, and the fall of an aristocratic Irish family. Very engaging characters. Well written.

[Philip Casey · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best, if not the best novel of Ireland after Independence. Set in Ireland, Civil war Spain and Stalinist Russia, it's a while since I read it but it has stayed with me as if I'd read it yesterday. I loved it.

[Rupert Grech · Rating 3 out of 5]

Three and a half stars. An interesting and intriguing story. However, I couldn’t engage with the writing. I found the style a little monotonous; I found myself drifting off and having to read sentences and paragraphs again to grasp them. The writing seemed to lack flow to me. I found it often laboured a point or idea, and sentences and paragraphs were sometimes incongruous, as though the author was trying to include too much varied information. The multitude of characters, many underdeveloped, popping up intermittently throughout, also made it difficult to follow. I felt the last chapter was well written and redeemed the book.

[Anne and Matt O'Brien · Rating 4 out of 5]

An expansive tale of a family in crisis

Written with great surety, Bolger creates believable characters who reflect the unbreakable bonds of a family set apart from its local community. Drawing on the horrors of war and the curse of ideology, he relates a great love story that surpasses the limits of mere romance but is a testament to the bonds that hold even riven families together. Set in a well-researched historical context, this novel speaks volumes about family ties, inheritance and societal expectations.

[Bernard Joyce · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had an interest in this book because some of the characters and locations are based on my own hometown. Really good read which offers a glimpse of European and Irish history from a slightly different lens. While the book is presented as a fiction there was sometimes, a crossover between what was fact and what was fiction which was difficult to ignore as someone who was aware of the story on which it was based.

[Barbara Bryant · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a globally epic tale that spans the time period across three wars (Ireland's independence, Spain's civil war, and World War II). But its heart focuses on three of the five siblings in one Irish family who choose very different paths into the world. Beautifully written, taking me back to the free spirit, village pragmatism, and haunting energy of Donegal in Northern Ireland.

[Lynda · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sweeping tale of an Irish Protestant dynasty during the 20th century based on a true story. This novel is in some ways uncharacteristic of Bolger who is known for the lyrical quality of his writing. Enjoyable but not vintage

[Natasha]

Based on the real-life Goold Verschoyle family from Dunkineely in southwest Donegal, this book starts off in 1915, a turbulent time in Irish history, and continues through to the end of WW2. It follows the fortunes of this wealthy Protestant family in a changing Ireland, with one son devoting his life to the service of communist Russia. I loved recognising all the places and landmarks of south Donegal (and reading about a railway line sadly long gone), but most of all I loved the fascinating story. Highly recommended.

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a wonderful saga . It tells the story of a privileged family in Ireland and how its members were affected by war . It vividly describes the influence of communism in Russia ,the Spanish revolution and the injustice and fate of Brendan . It portrays Art who rebelled against his status and lived for promoting communism . The main protagonist Eva married to Freddie was very well portrayed .
Great research was done in the writing of this very informative historical novel

[Robyn333 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting

[Claire Le Mycélium · Rating 4 out of 5]

Une très agréable lecture, passionnante et avec des personnages attachants !

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[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this novel ten years ago and it has stayed with me continuously over all these years. It is hauntingly beautiful.