Description:
The horrors of the First World War devastated many Dublin families and the Brannigans weren't spared. Struggling through their heartache, they find themselves divided by both the rebellion against British rule and the wide Atlantic.
Review Quotes:
No Hero's Welcome is a superbly told story of an Irish family's struggles during and after World War One. Jeffrey K. Walker's brilliant characters reflect the intense emotions of this divided country: Eda, the mother who strives to hold her family together; Sean, the rebel who joins the IRA; Francis, crippled by war and a staunch supporter of the crown; Molly, shattered by love; Peter who provides quiet strength to the cause he believes in and the woman he loves; and Brendan, the child who observes all things. The crowning glory of No Hero's Welcome is The Gallant Fusilier, the pub that is both home and a source of income for the Brannigan family. Highly recommended historical fiction. - M.K. Tod, author of Time and Regret
"A novel of powerful and gripping fiction, with vivid scenes and realistic characters, all expertly woven together by immaculate research." -Helen Hollick, bestselling author and founder of Discovering Diamonds Historical Fiction Reviews
"No Hero's Welcome is both an epic tale of Ireland and the intimate story of one family. It is impeccably researched, exciting, and does what good historical fiction is meant to do-share the story of common people to help us understand the impact of history and how it echoes to this day.
Jeffrey K. Walker offers us a terrific stand-alone book that chronicles the violence and upheaval the Irish experienced in the wake of the First World War, but also demonstrates how one unremarkable family connects to the wider world in ways no one can imagine. Whether it's the drama of the Easter Rising or one young woman's personal tragedy, it sweeps us up in a deftly-told novel that deserves a wide audience.
In the final installment of the Sweet Wine of Youth trilogy, Jeffrey K. Walker deftly shares the heartbreak and hope of the Brannigans, and how events large and small rippled from the Dardanelles to Newfoundland's rocky coast, and from Harlem speakeasies to a single, unremarkable pub in a Dublin neighborhood. It's a satisfying end to an impressive feat of historical fiction." -Wayne Turmel, author of Acre's Orphans