Ireland's Misfortune: The Turbulent Life of Kitty O'Shea

Description

'Enthralling . . . An infinitely complicated and multi-layered story of passionate commitment, involving poor judgement, character blind-spots and, above all, a chronic problem with money.' Literary ReviewAt the end of the nineteenth century, Charles Stewart Parnell, MP, was the only man who both the English government and Irish radicals believed could secure Home Rule for Ireland. But when Parnell met and fell in love with 'Kitty' O'Shea, a married woman, the course of Ireland's history was radically changed. It also triggered the most notorious scandal of the Victorian era.Elisabeth Kehoe's evocative biography recreates the boisterous character and courageous actions of a vastly underestimated woman. From this book emerges, for the first time, the real Katie O'Shea: a far cry from the home-wrecker of history. 'Excellent . . . I suspect this book tells us all we can ever know about Charles Parnell and Katharine O'Shea. If it hasn't solved some of the mysteries about Katharine's relationships with her husband, Captain William O'Shea, and Parnell, no one else is likely to get any closer to doing so.' Garret FitzGerald, Guardian'Katie, as she was always known, was an exceedingly well-connected woman, cultivated, intelligent and astute . . . [Ireland's Misfortune is] thoroughly researched and filled with a wealth of social detail.' John Campbell, Independent

Elisabeth Kehoe took her doctorate in history at the School of Advanced Study of the University of London, where she now teaches. Her first book, Fortune's Daughters: The Extravagant Lives of the Jerome Sisters, was published by Atlantic Books in 2004.

Thoroughly researched and filled with a wealth of social detail. -- John Campbell * Independent * Excellent... I suspect this book tells us all we can ever know about Charles Parnell and Katharine or Katie O'Shea. -- Garret FitzGerald * Guardian * A scholarly, painstakingly researched work... [Kehoe gives us] an up-close and personal seat in the claustrophobic rooms of the many mansions that Katie occupied during her strange married life. -- Helen Rock * Sunday Tribune * Fascinating... Enthralling... Far from being a saucy sexpot Mrs O'Shea was a strong-minded, cultivated and self-assured Victorian matron with whom the otherwise frighteningly icy Parnell was utterly smitten. -- Mary Kenny * Literary Review *