Transatlantic by Colum McCann

This is the first work I've read by Colum McCann, and I'm sure now that it will not be the last. In Transatlantic, he artfully weaves together several stories of Irish and Americans on both sides of the Atlantic. At first it is odd how he takes the reader back and forth through the decades with no real semblance of order. But soon the puzzle comes together as the second half of the book unfolds. The various characters are connected through time and through a mutual love and reverence for the land of Ireland.

The book begins with the historic transatlantic flight of WWI veterans, Alcock and Brown. Their endeavor to fly from Newfoundland to County Galway sets the stage for the subsequent journeys throughout the book. We meet an American diplomat in Ireland working hard to broker a peace deal between the North and the South - all the while promising his wife and son that he'll be home by Easter. His efforts lead to the signing of the Good Friday Agreement of 1998, an historic step forward in relations between the North and the South. We meet a mother and daughter journalism team, a poor servant girl named Lily Duggan, and Frederick Douglass himself. Douglass's story intrigued me the most. I am ashamed to admit that I did not know Douglass traveled to Ireland during the Great Potato Famine. He was struck by the enduring dilemma that all great reformers must face - a sincere desire for justice coupled with an utter inability to solve all the world's problems. The abolitionist could not at the same time work to free his own people and free the Irish from their starvation and economic bondage to England. We know from the history books that the famine would bring many Irish to American shores where they would desperately seek jobs in the Northeastern factories, crowd into tenement slums, and eek out meager existences amidst a xenophobic American population.

Lily Duggan, an Irish servant girl was one such immigrant, hoping for a new life in America. Inspired by Douglass, who stayed in the home of her employer, she courageously set out for the new world, alone. After many years she would find the American Dream, if only for a fleeting moment in her life. While enduring her share of adversity and misfortune, Lily laid the foundation for future generations of strong women. These descendants eventually found themselves back in Ireland, making the country their home during the decades infamously called "The Troubles." The violence between the Catholics and Protestants hit close to home for many Irish families, and McCann does not skirt around this issue either. There is no political agenda, just a reminder of how sectarian violence instantaneously and often arbitrarily leaves families mourning in the wake of tragedy.

The stories woven together through time remind us to cherish the histories in all of our families. Our lives often take us beyond the borders of our homelands, but the lessons passed down from our parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents will always travel with along. I too am grateful for my own family legacy - for hardworking men and women who, nearly two centuries ago, carved out a livelihood despite the brutal Western New York winters. I'm so thankful that I grew up in a family that placed a high value on education, hard-work, and personal responsibility. And I am blessed to be following in the footsteps of forefathers and foremothers who've left a heritage of strong, unwavering faith in God.

Lastly, for all you fellow lovers of the Emerald Isle, it is important to understand that Transatlantic does not portray a quaint and touristy Ireland. The book honestly depicts the joys and sorrows facing Irish, Americans, and the immigrants to both continents. But Colum McCann does this beautifully. He is a true artist, whose ability to put words together on paper draws me in and kindles my own writing ambitions.