<p> From a land famous for storytelling comes an epic novel of Ireland that captures the intimate, passionate texture of the Irish spirit. </p> <p> One evening in 1951, an itinerant storyteller arrives unannounced at a house in the Irish countryside. In exchange for a bed and a warm meal, he invites his hosts and their neighbors to join him by the wintry fireside, and begins to tell formative stories of Ireland?s history. Ronan, a nine-year-old boy, grows so entranced by the storytelling that, when the old man leaves abruptly under mysterious circumstances, the boy devotes himself to finding him again. </p> <p> Ronan?s search for the Storyteller becomes both a journey of self-discovery, long unspoken family secrets, and an immersion into the sometimes conflicting histories of his native land. </p> <p> A sweeping novel of huge ambition, <i>Ireland</i> is the beautifully told story of a remarkable nation. It rings with the truth of a writer passionate about his country and in full command of his craft. </p>