Love Story of Thomas Davis Told in the Letter of Annie Hutton

by Joseph Hone (Editor)

Not long ago a great-grandniece of Thomas Davis, a descendant of his brother James, while looking through a bundle of newspaper cuttings of the Young Ireland period, came upon a packet of seven letters written by Annie Hutton, the young girl to whom Davis was betrothed. Six of these letters are addressed to Davis himself, and belong to the short period of the engagement which ended with Davis' death at the age of 31. The seventh was written six months after Davis' death to his sister Charlotte. The publication of the little packet is opportune in this centenary year when few will recall the patriot poet without giving some thought to the touching episode of his courtship and asking themselves what manner of girl the "Annie Aroon" of his poems may have been.

48 pages, Paperback

About the author

Joseph Hone (b. 1937) is a British author of spy novels. Born in London, he was sent to Dublin in 1939, and spent most of the next two decades living in Ireland. His first novel, The Private Sector (1971), introduced the globetrotting spy Peter Marlow—the character for whom Hone would become best known. Set during the Six Day War, The Private Sector was well received by critics, who have compared it to the work of Eric Ambler, Len Deighton, and John le Carré. Hone published three more titles in the series—The Sixth Directorate (1975), The Flowers of the Forest (1980), and The Valley of the Fox (1982)—before moving on to other work.

In addition to his espionage fiction, Hone has found success in travel writing. His most recent books include Wicked Little Joe (2009), a memoir, and Goodbye Again (2011).