Reviewed by Emma Crowley
Dublin. The 1920s. As war tears Ireland apart, two young people are caught up in events that will bring love, tragedy - and the hardest of choices.
In a country fighting for freedom, it's hard to live a normal life. Winnie O'Leary supports the cause, but she doesn't go looking for trouble. Then rebel Joseph Burke steps into her workplace. Winnie is furious with him about a broken window. She's not interested in romance. But love comes when you least expect it.
Joseph's family shelter fugitives and smuggle weapons. Joseph would never ask Winnie to join the fight; but his mother and sisters demand commitment. Will Winnie choose Joseph, and put her own loved ones in deadly danger? Or wait for a time of peace that may never come?
Many thanks to Headline via NetGalley for my copy of The Woman on the Bridge to review and to Sharon for having my review on the blog.
The Woman on the Bridge is a complete change of genre for Sheila O’Flanagan. It takes her away from what we have come to know and love her for – women’s fiction and instead delves into historical fiction specifically Ireland’s fight for independence. I admit I was hesitant, given that historical fiction is one of my all-time favourite genres, that the author would be able to switch genres just like that. Well, I can safely say, I needn’t have had any worries at all. The Woman on the Bridge provides the reader with a fascinating insight into the life of an ordinary young woman living in Dublin in the 1920’s detailing her experiences of Ireland’s struggle to win independence form the British.
I learnt so much about this topic in school and it’s commonplace that the people of Ireland know what went on over 100 years ago. How so many brave and loyal people fought for what they believed was right and without them Ireland would not be in the position we are in today. Sheila O’Flanagan has shone a light on this time with a detailed and informative story. One which will help readers new to the topic become familiar with the struggle and for those of us that already know all about it she really has encapsulated the daily fear the citizens of Ireland went through and how at the times people were firmly divided as to what side they were on.
It’s the summer of 1920 in Dublin and Winifred (Winnie) has been working in Mrs Kelley’s drapery shop for five years. She is hard working and all she wants is a practical, quiet and peaceful life but the War of Independence rages around her and the streets are not safe. The last several years have been emotionally fraught full of violence and unrest. The Easter Rising of 1916 was unsuccessful and the fight for independence from the British rule rages on with people firmly divided as to what side they are on. Winnie is tired of the fighting, the curfews, the restrictions and the fear that is with her every day. The rebels and revolutionaries continue their fight and will not stop until their goal has been achieved. Not one family has been spared from the effects of the war. Her family were touched when her father was shot several years ago. Her younger brother has been sent to life in the countryside where her sister Katy is married keeping him away from the fighting. Two older sisters are now in England and Belgium respectively and Marianne who is in service to a doctor soon leaves with a young man bound for America. So it is just Winnie and her parents, Annie and Thomas, who remain at home sharing some rooms in a building. The desperate living conditions that existed at the time and the lack of good housing is explored here and it just serves as a reminder as to how far we have come in some ways and in others not very far at all.
The war comes calling directly at Winnie’s doorstep when a rock comes through the window of the drapery shop. Winnie is scared and traumatised and her anxiety is only heightened. Why is there so much violence and destructiveness? She knows things need to change especially for the working-class people but must this be achieved through death, harshness and brutality? Winnie wants change but not if it means so many lives are lost and ordinary working class people’s lives are turned upside down and in the end it could all be for nothing. Joseph Burke, a lieutenant in the Third Battalion in the Dublin Brigade, arrives at the shop to get the window fixed and the shop cleared up. The incident was merely an accident. The shop and its owner Mrs Kelley were not the intended target even though she is a Protestant. Right from the moment Winnie sets eyes on Joseph, I felt there was a real spark between the pair. Winnie becomes forthright and opinionated and gives Joseph a right going over in terms of her opinion of the incident and the situation as a whole. She knows nothing can happen without sacrifice and Joseph does have very strong views in what the long term result should be and his family are on the a different side to Winnie’s. But still there is a connection there and you can’t fight love when it comes calling.
The pair begin to step out and are soon engaged. There is a bit of trouble which causes a delay to their wedding and the story moves forward at a nice pace from that point on. The story moves from 1920 and takes us right up to 1927 and yes there was an awful lot to fit in, in terms of significant events that occur in terms of the cause as a whole and also other social aspects in terms of housing and the TB crisis but it never felt like these things were being thrown in just because they occurred during the period was set in. It all felt natural and just added to the story and they gave the reader a deeper appreciation of what people were experiencing at the time. An awful lot of ground is covered and it could have felt crammed and too rushed but instead it all weaves wonderfully around Joseph and Winnie.We see how they grow and evolve as a couple. How Winnie is tested when she realises just how involved Joseph’s family are with the cause? Sacrifices, hardship and separation come their way and a lot of commitment, responsibilities and dedication are needed from both Winnie and Joseph. There is a lot sent their way which tests their relationship and to read about it all was so fascinating and engrossing. Of course, I knew how the political situation would turn out but what kept me reading was to see would everything going on just cause too much of a strain on Winnie and Joseph’s relationship or were they strong enough to weather the many storms sent their way?
There were lots of mentions of historical figures which are well known to us all now. It felt strange to read of them in existence so to speak as Winnie encounters some of them. People that have found a place in Irish history yet at the time the significance and long last impact of what they were doing didn’t occur to those living through the time. I will say that there are several Irish terms and details of places and events that occur throughout the book and as I knew about them it was fine for me and I understood them. The inclusion of a glossary of terms at the back was welcome and is very beneficial for readers new to the topic. Although I think it would be best placed at the beginning of the book with perhaps a brief paragraph explaining the political situation at the time. I know this was explained as the story developed but people totally new to the topic a bit of initial background I feel would be helpful. That’s not to say you can’t follow the story, it is easy to comprehend but a introduction to the bigger picture would be useful.
The Woman on the Bridge was a very good read with a main character who certainly went through many changes in her stance regarding the war and the fight for freedom. In the beginning, she hadn’t wanted to be involved preferring to just continue on with her practical life. But love came calling and that changed everything and we see Winnie alter, and adapt to her new situation. She became like many other women, a woman who knew what she wanted and went about getting it. Winnie became a strong woman living in a turbulent period in a city full of danger and unease and she weathered the storms with grace and loyalty. For her first foray into historical fiction Sheila O’Flanagan did a great job and this read as if she has been writing in this genre for a long time. At no point, did it feel like I was reading a history book. Instead the historical facts and events intertwined seamlessly with the personal and emotional story that unfolded. I found it to be a quick read which you easily get sucked into as it’s a real page turner. It’s a just one more chapter kind of book and before you know it lots of pages have been turned. All in all, it’s a successful change for the author and I hope she does continue to write in this genre as well as continuing to write the stories she has become known for.
Thanks for the blog tour support x
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