From Publishers Weekly
The 16th century pirate-chieftain Grace O'Malley, often called Grania of Ireland, bestrides the turbulent cosmos created by Llywelyn (Lion of Ireland in this lusty saga. Grania, a formidable figure of hearty appetites, is the leader of fractious Irish clans and burns with zest for her seafaring life. She endures many brutalities, narrowly escapes death several times and eventually feels the power of her challenger across the water, Elizabeth of England. Their confrontation in the waning years of their lives is one highlight of the sprawling tale. Other characters include the fabled leaders of the Irish tribes who were Grania's liegemen, and her lovers, among them Sir Philip Sidney (whose poetry did not stir her). Weaving fact and legend, at times melodramatically, Llywelyn brings to life a ferocious time, making understandable the ancient enmity of Gael and Saxon. Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc.


Review
"Grania explodes from the pages of Ms. Llywelyn's best historical novel yet as one of the most remarkable women who ever lived--brave, resourceful, passionate, tender, and, finally, in her battle with the English she-king Elizabeth, victorious. A book for all those who are Irish, or who would like to be, or who like to read about the Irish." --Andrew M. Greeley

"Mary Stewart has a worthy rival." -The Baltimore Sun



Review
"Grania explodes from the pages of Ms. Llywelyn's best historical novel yet as one of the most remarkable women who ever lived--brave, resourceful, passionate, tender, and, finally, in her battle with the English she-king Elizabeth, victorious. A book for all those who are Irish, or who would like to be, or who like to read about the Irish." --Andrew M. Greeley

"Mary Stewart has a worthy rival." -The Baltimore Sun



Review
"Grania explodes from the pages of Ms. Llywelyn's best historical novel yet as one of the most remarkable women who ever lived--brave, resourceful, passionate, tender, and, finally, in her battle with the English she-king Elizabeth, victorious. A book for all those who are Irish, or who would like to be, or who like to read about the Irish." --Andrew M. Greeley

"Mary Stewart has a worthy rival." -The Baltimore Sun



Book Description
Here is an extraordinary novel about real-life Irish chieftain Grace O Malley. From Morgan Llywelyn, bestselling author of Lion of Ireland and the Irish Century novels, comes the story of a magnificent, sixteenth-century heroine whose spirit and passion are the spirit and passion of Ireland itself.

Grania (Gaelic for Grace) is no ordinary female. And she lives in extraordinary times. For even as Grania rises as her clan's unofficial head and breadwinner and learns to love a man, she enters a lifelong struggle against the English forces of Queen Elizabeth -- her nemesis and alter ego.

Elizabeth intends to destroy Grania's piracy and shipping empire--and so subjugate Ireland once and for all. But Grania, aided by Tigernan, her faithful (and secretly adoring) lieutenant, has no choice but to fight back. The story of her life is the story of Ireland's fight for solidarity and survival--but it's also the story of Grania's growing ability to love and be strong at the same time.

Morgan Llywelyn has written a rich, historically accurate, and passionate novel of divided Ireland -- and of one brave woman who is Ireland herself.



From the Inside Flap
"Grania explodes from the pages of Ms. Llywelyn's best historical novel yet as one of the most remarkable women who ever lived--brave, resourceful, passionate, tender, and, finally, in her battle with the English she-king Elizabeth, victorious. A book for all those who are Irish, or who would like to be, or who like to read about the Irish." --Andrew M. Greeley

Here is an extraordinary novel about real-life Irish chieftain Grace O Malley. From Morgan Llywelyn, bestselling author of Lion of Ireland and the Irish Century novels, comes the story of a magnificent, sixteenth-century heroine whose spirit and passion are the spirit and passion of Ireland itself.

Grania (Gaelic for Grace) is no ordinary female. And she lives in extraordinary times. For even as Grania rises as her clan's unofficial head and breadwinner and learns to love a man, she enters a lifelong struggle against the English forces of Queen Elizabeth -- her nemesis and alter ego.

Elizabeth intends to destroy Grania's piracy and shipping empire--and so subjugate Ireland once and for all. But Grania, aided by Tigernan, her faithful (and secretly adoring) lieutenant, has no choice but to fight back. The story of her life is the story of Ireland's fight for solidarity and survival--but it's also the story of Grania's growing ability to love and be strong at the same time.

Morgan Llywelyn has written a rich, historically accurate, and passionate novel of divided Ireland -- and of one brave woman who is Ireland herself.

"Mary Stewart has a worthy rival."
-The Baltimore Sun



From the Back Cover
"Grania explodes from the pages of Ms. Llywelyn's best historical novel yet as one of the most remarkable women who ever lived--brave, resourceful, passionate, tender, and, finally, in her battle with the English she-king Elizabeth, victorious. A book for all those who are Irish, or who would like to be, or who like to read about the Irish." --Andrew M. Greeley Here is an extraordinary novel about real-life Irish chieftain Grace O Malley. From Morgan Llywelyn, bestselling author of Lion of Ireland and the Irish Century novels, comes the story of a magnificent, sixteenth-century heroine whose spirit and passion are the spirit and passion of Ireland itself. Grania (Gaelic for Grace) is no ordinary female. And she lives in extraordinary times. For even as Grania rises as her clan's unofficial head and breadwinner and learns to love a man, she enters a lifelong struggle against the English forces of Queen Elizabeth -- her nemesis and alter ego. Elizabeth intends to destroy Grania's piracy and shipping empire--and so subjugate Ireland once and for all. But Grania, aided by Tigernan, her faithful (and secretly adoring) lieutenant, has no choice but to fight back. The story of her life is the story of Ireland's fight for solidarity and survival--but it's also the story of Grania's growing ability to love and be strong at the same time. Morgan Llywelyn has written a rich, historically accurate, and passionate novel of divided Ireland -- and of one brave woman who is Ireland herself. "Mary Stewart has a worthy rival." -The Baltimore Sun


About the Author
Since 1980 Morgan Llywelyn has created an entire body of work chronicling the Celts and Ireland, from the earliest times to the present day. her critically acclaimed novels, both of history and of mythology, have been translated into many languages. She is an Irish citizen and lives in Dublin.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Here is an extraordinary novel about real-life Irish chieftain Grace O Malley. From Morgan Llywelyn, bestselling author of Lion of Ireland and the Irish Century novels, comes the story of a magnificent, sixteenth-century heroine whose spirit and passion are the spirit and passion of Ireland itself.

Grania (Gaelic for Grace) is no ordinary female. And she lives in extraordinary times. For even as Grania rises as her clan's unofficial head and breadwinner and learns to love a man, she enters a lifelong struggle against the English forces of Queen Elizabeth--her nemesis and alter ego.

Elizabeth intends to destroy Grania's piracy and shipping empire--and so subjugate Ireland once and for all. But Grania, aided by Tigernan, her faithful (and secretly adoring) lieutenant, has no choice but to fight back. The story of her life is the story of Ireland's fight for solidarity and survival--but it's also the story of Grania's growing ability to love and be strong at the same time.

Morgan Llywelyn has written a rich, historically accurate, and passionate novel of divided Ireland--and of one brave woman who is Ireland herself.

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly