Dolla author completes trilogy

An author who grew up in Dolla during the Second World War has completed the final part of his historical fiction trilogy.

'Footsteps in the Dew' by Edward Forde Hickey will be launched this Sunday, July 2nd. A novel that details the social history of rural Ireland between the two World Wars, it endeavours to match the strides of a particular generation of oral storytellers that frequented the evening card-playing fireside during the late 1940s in north Tipperary.

 

Following on from 'The Early Morning Light' (2015) and 'A New Day Dawning' (2016), the third book is based based on the author’s research on north Tipperary, where he spent his childhood. Edward was sent to live with his family in Dolla to escape the German bombings of London in 1940. The profound effect of spending his formative years in this rural part of Tipp inspired him to pen this series of books.

 

'Footsteps in the Dew' will appeal to those with an interest in Irish history, as well as fans of Edward's previous novels. In days when the immediacy of television was unavailable, the richness of human speech was the main source of daily entertainment.

 

These tales are written in a similar lyrical language as used by a past generation of storytellers. They range from the uniqueness of family law to tales of heroes, adventures and even murderers.

 

There is a dichotomy expressed in the role of men and women towards nationalism, the gentry, the clergy and also alternative faiths (for example, Protestantism and Quakerism).

 

Noticeably is the freedom of men (for it is only the men who spin tales) in contrast to the yearly struggles of women and childbearing. One tale includes the stain of illegitimacy and the ostracising of the young girl to lifelong ‘laundry work’ with the nuns.

 

As might be expected, the book ends with a tale of romantic love – of reconciliation and jubilation.

 

A retired school headmaster and inspector, Edward has been writing sporadically since leaving university, where he studied the Classics. He lives in Kent with his wife and he has three sons. Edward still regularly visits Tipp, where he has a small hillside farm in Dolla and relations living all over the Nenagh hinterland, from Portroe to Kilkeary and the Silvermines.

 

Addison and Cole's senior editor Ben Evans describes 'Footsteps in the Dew' as “a superb collection delivered by a natural storyteller... charming, poignant and thoroughly entertaining”. For the London School of Journalism, the book contains “stories that are unnervingly impressive... the language highly evocative... the emotions powerful”.

 

Published by Troubador, 'Footsteps in the Dew' will be available in both Nenagh bookshops.