The Uncrowned King of Ireland: Charles Stewart Parnell, His Love Story and Political Life.
Author: O’SHEA, Katherine.
Publisher: Dublin: Nonsuch Publishing, 2005 (First Published 1914). 288 pages. Paperback.
This book, first published in 1914, provides us with the greatest insight currently available into the love life and political story of Charles Stewart Parnell. Katherine O’Shea’s volume aims to ‘explain to another generation… the subtle brain and steadfast heart’ of her lover and was published nearly twenty-three years after Parnell’s death. It combines three different genres in one - firstly, an illuminating autobiography of Katherine O’Shea herself, including her early life and first marriage to Captain O’Shea, as well as romantic descriptions of her first meetings with Parnell and their subsequent passionate romance. Secondly, this books gives a slice of the political intrigue and machinations of the era — she acted as go-between and political aide to Parnell, meeting people on his behalf, most famously Gladstone. The proceedings of secret meetings are revealed and the unwritten ‘word-for-word’ messages she carried to and from Parnell and other leaders are here discussed. Finally, she offers for inspection many heretofore unread personal and political notes, telegrams and letters — offering an incredible cache of primary resources to historians and those interested in Irish politics generally.
ISBN: 1845885341