REVIEW
The Girl With the Emerald Flag by Kathleen McGurl is a deeply moving dual timeline novel (with a gorgeous cover) that sweeps you into the heart of 1916 Irish history and then forward eighty two years. This is a story of great courage, sacrifice, love and heartbreak on a nationwide scale. It is about Ireland’s fight for independence—particularly the Easter Rising. One woman named Gráinne is in both timelines. In the past thread she is eighteen during the pivotal event and in 1998 she is one hundred years old when she finally shares of her part in the uprising and of others close to her through Nicky, her great granddaughter, in a writing project.
What an epic topic to cover, making it a very interesting dual time line read. Heartbreaking, too, as Kathleen takes us on a very up close journey with those who actually fought in the 1916 Rising. We all know the fight for an independent Ireland was a long and bloody one. And even though we have read about it in history books, there is nothing quite like reading a novel based on those facts to help us experience it in a more real way. For an author puts flesh on bone through words on the page to create living breathing characters. In this case, we learn of a people’s past that required great sacrifice for freedom. Storytelling allows us to enter the action and feel the characters’ anguish, frustrations, love, pain and loss. As mentioned, Kathleen has used many real persons who led the rebellion, but she has also mixed in some fictional ones, too, who are the eyes, ears and mouths of those who could have worked alongside them. It is then easy to imagine what it might have been like to have lived through those horrific times in Ireland.
I think the hardest scenes for me were the after effects of the Rising. The captured souls and executed ones. I am not giving anything away by saying this, because we all know that many died by the hand of the captors, possibly even more than during the battle itself. The horrific memories of those execution shots in 1916 would haunt anyone and this story brings that to the foreground in the 1998 thread where echoes of the past continue to ring through a battle- scarred mind.
The last one hundred and seventy four years, women have fought for rights and to be heard. This novel touches on what women were able to do in the 1916 period. One might suppose there were times when being female saved you from certain death. During the Rising of 1916, many of the women that were imprisoned who were involved were spared over the men. One might ask why was that so? But the main reason possibly was that six months prior to this uprising, the British rose up against the Germans for executing a British nurse named Edith Cavell. It would not have looked good if they had done the same to the Irish rebel women.
There have been tv series and movies on this Easter Rising. But like other events in history, it never hurts to read another story on the same topic—especially one that captures a fresh angle or perspective on such a tumultuous period. This is a story about great sacrifice—trading one’s life to make a statement for freedom and independence. This cry for freedom and independence is also seen in the 1998 timeline with the great granddaughter, Nicky, who is filled with unrest and wants to make a difference in the world through a worthy cause. She learns that not all acts of rebellion, though, are legitimate or practical. And that more than one side has a right to be heard. She has some growing up to do and through various events she learns a great deal about life. Her romantic interests help bring some of that to light. The differences in her two boyfriends are quite obvious. And their various effects and influences on her significant. I liked Conor (of course!). He is devoted, generous, appreciative and genuine but Seb is lazy, self-centred, ungrateful and rude. You might say Seb is rebellious in a bad way—mostly without a worthy cause.
Nicky’s transformation is a welcomed one but we must remember her journey is quite realistic. And anyone who has had teenagers knows this is true! I personally enjoyed how Supergran’s (the great grandmother) story touched Nicky’s life. Gráinne is a very important figure in this story. First we see her living through the experience in the past timeline and then later reminiscing with her great granddaughter. The tool of use here in bringing the past into the present is a project that Nicky must do for college. Speaking to a live activist of the past gives her project the potential for great depth and insight. This becomes living history written down.
These are some of the things I loved about this novel. There are others, of course, but if you love dual timeline novels that shake up your heart, then definitely read this one. But have plenty of tissues nearby to soak up the tears! 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Many thanks to Kathleen McGurl and HQ (HarperCollins Au) for a review copy.
