A Star Called Henry facts for kids
First edition
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| Author | Roddy Doyle |
|---|---|
| Country | Ireland |
| Language | English |
| Series | The Last Roundup |
| Genre | Historical fiction |
| Publisher | Jonathan Cape |
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Publication date
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1999 |
| Media type | |
| Pages | 352 |
| ISBN | 978-0-224-06019-6 |
| OCLC | 57672557 |
| Followed by | Oh, Play That Thing |
A Star Called Henry (1999) is a gripping historical novel written by the famous Irish author Roddy Doyle. It's the first book in an exciting series called The Last Roundup. The story continues in the second book, Oh, Play That Thing, published in 2004, and the third, The Dead Republic, which came out in 2010. This novel follows the early life of a character named Henry Smart. It takes you from his childhood in the poor areas of Dublin in the early 1900s, through his involvement in important historical events like the Easter Rising and the Irish War of Independence.
Contents
Henry Smart's Adventures
This novel is set in Ireland during a time of big changes, between the 1916 Easter Rising and a peace agreement signed with the United Kingdom in 1921. We see all these events through the eyes of young Henry Smart, from when he's a child until he's in his early twenties.
Henry's Role in History
As a member of the Irish Citizen Army, Henry meets several real historical figures. These include important leaders like Patrick Pearse, James Connolly, and Michael Collins. When the Sinn Féin party won the 1918 General Election and formed an independent Irish Republic, Henry felt very inspired. He even helped train the men involved in the Soloheadbeg Ambush, which was the first big event of the Irish War of Independence.
Henry's Journey and Realizations
Later in the story, Henry becomes a fighter in the war against the British. He takes part in setting buildings on fire and training others. By the end of the book, Henry starts to think deeply about the fighting. He wonders if the constant conflict is truly helping to create a free Ireland or a better life for its people. He begins to question if it's more about personal gain than the original goals.
Mixing History with Fiction
In A Star Called Henry, Roddy Doyle uses a clever way to tell his story. He creates a fictional character, Henry Smart, and places him right in the middle of real historical events. Henry then interacts with actual historical figures. This is similar to how other stories like Little Big Man and Forrest Gump work.
An Example of History and Fiction
One early example in the novel shows this mix perfectly. James Connolly, a real historical leader, shows Henry a draft of the 1916 proclamation. This was a very important document for Ireland's independence. In the story, Henry suggests adding a famous line to it: "cherishing all the children of the nation equally." This shows how a made-up character can influence real history in the book.
Book Cover
One version of the cover for "A Star Called Henry" shows a young member of the Irish Republican Army on patrol. This young man is named Phil McRory.
