At Swim, Two Boys facts for kids
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| Author | Jamie O'Neill |
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| Country | Ireland |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Fiction |
| Publisher | Scribner |
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Publication date
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2001 |
| Media type | Print (Hardcover) |
| Pages | 643 pages |
| ISBN | 0-7432-0713-0 |
| OCLC | 47037422 |
| 823/.914 21 | |
| LC Class | PR6065.N4194 A92 2001 |
At Swim, Two Boys is a novel written by Irish author Jamie O'Neill. It was published in 2001. The book's title is a clever play on words, similar to another famous Irish novel.
Many people have praised this book. For example, in 2011, a newspaper called it "unforgettable." Some critics even compare Jamie O'Neill's writing style to famous authors like James Joyce and Roddy Doyle.
Contents
Story of Friendship and History
This novel takes place in Dublin, Ireland, just before and during the 1916 Easter Rising. It tells the story of a strong friendship between two young Irish men, Jim Mack and Doyler Doyle.
Jim is a quiet and thoughtful student who attends school on a scholarship. Doyler is more outgoing and rebellious. He left school to help his family, who were struggling financially. Their fathers were also friends, having served in the army together. This shared history connects Jim and Doyler.
Key Events in 1915
Jim goes to a Catholic school and plays the flute in the school band. His Latin teacher, Brother Polycarp, takes a special interest in Jim. Jim is even offered a chance to join the church as a brother.
When Doyler joins the flute band, his old friendship with Jim starts up again. Doyler takes Jim to the Forty Foot, a popular swimming spot in Dublin Bay. There, they make an important promise. Doyler will teach Jim to swim. Then, in one year, on Easter Sunday 1916, they will swim to a faraway island called Muglins Rock. They plan to claim it as their own special place.
As their friendship grows, Jim decides not to join the church. This makes Brother Polycarp very sad, and he leaves his teaching job.
Meanwhile, many people in Ireland are thinking about their country's freedom. Madame Eveline MacMurrough is a strong supporter of Irish independence. Even the church leaders, like Father Amen O'Toiler, encourage patriotic feelings. Jim's father, Mr. Mack, who was a soldier, feels proud of the young men who support Ireland's cause.
However, Anthony MacMurrough, Eveline's nephew, does not share these strong political views. He has just returned from prison in England. His aunt wants him to improve his reputation by marrying well and supporting her patriotic ideas. But Anthony is still dealing with his past experiences.
Doyler works hard to help his family, who are very poor because his father is sick. Doyler is a strong supporter of workers' rights. He leaves home and joins the Irish Citizen Army in Dublin.
Key Events in 1916
Jim misses Doyler very much. He becomes friends with Anthony MacMurrough, who becomes a guide for Jim. Anthony teaches Jim about swimming and shares his thoughts on life.
The night before Easter Sunday, Doyler secretly leaves his army duties to visit Jim. They remember their promise to swim to Muglins Rock. The next morning, on Easter Sunday, Jim and Doyler successfully swim to the island. On their way back, Doyler nearly drowns, but Anthony MacMurrough bravely rescues both of them.
While Doyler rests at Anthony's house, Jim feels responsible for Doyler's army duties. As the Easter Rising begins, Jim puts on Doyler's uniform. He joins the fighting for the Irish Volunteers in downtown Dublin. Anthony does not know what Jim has done.
When Doyler finds out, he and Anthony go looking for Jim. As they get closer to the fighting, Doyler sees Jim. Just as they are about to meet, Doyler is badly wounded.
Main Characters
This story features several important characters:
- Jim Mack: Jim is the son of a shopkeeper in Glasthule, near Dublin. He is a quiet and shy student. He is very loyal to Doyler and sees their swim to Muglins Rock as a special symbol of their bond. Jim is thoughtful and has clear ideas, even though he can be a bit innocent.
- Doyler Doyle: Doyler is the son of Mr. Doyle, who was Jim's father's old army friend. Doyler grew up in poverty, so he knows a lot about life. He and Jim were friends when they were younger. When the story takes place, both Jim and Doyler are about 15 or 16 years old. Doyler strongly supports Irish workers and later joins the Irish Citizen Army.
- Madame Eveline MacMurrough: She is the daughter of a famous Irish leader. She actively supports the Irish cause. She sends supplies to soldiers and organizes parties to encourage patriotism. She even helps the Irish rebels by providing them with weapons for the Easter Rising.
- Anthony MacMurrough: Anthony is Eveline MacMurrough's nephew. Jim sometimes calls him McEmm. Before the story begins, Anthony spent two years in prison in England. When he returns to Ireland, his aunt wants him to become a patriotic Irishman and perhaps get married. Anthony tries to fit in, but he finds personal meaning when he guides Jim and Doyler, teaching them about swimming and life.
Awards and Recognition
At Swim, Two Boys has won several awards:
- 2002 Lambda Literary Award (Gay men's fiction category)
- 2002 Ferro-Grumley Literary Award
- 2003 International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award (nominated)
- 2003 XV Premio Letterario Giuseppe Berto (foreign fiction category in Italy)
Other Versions of the Story
The story of At Swim, Two Boys has been adapted into different art forms.
Earthfall Dance Production (2005)
A Welsh dance company called Earthfall created a dance show based on the novel in 2005. This show combined live and old film clips, live music, dance, and spoken words. It showed the growing friendship between the two young men against the backdrop of political unrest in Ireland. The show was performed in a special setting with a slowly filling lake and a waterfall. It toured for three years, with over 100 performances in many countries.
Earthfall Dance Production (2011)
Earthfall brought back their dance show in 2011. This tour happened to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the book's publication.
French Play: Deux garçons, la mer (2014)
In September 2014, a play called Deux garçons, la mer (which means "Two boys, the sea") was performed in Paris, France. Christophe Garro adapted the novel for the stage with Jamie O'Neill's permission. The characters of Jim, Doyler, and Anthony were brought to life by actors. An English version of this play is also available. You can find more information at deuxgarconslamer.com.
Rochester, NY Play (2018)
In December 2018, a play based on the novel was performed in Rochester, New York, at the Multi-Use Community Cultural Center.
Images for kids
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The cover of the novel At Swim, Two Boys.
