Venetia Kelly's Traveling Show: A Novel of IrelandBONUS: This edition contains an excerpt from Frank Delaney's The Matchmaker of Kenmare. January 1932: Ben MacCarthy and his father watch a vagabond variety revue making a stop in the Irish countryside. After a two-hour kaleidoscope of low comedy, juggling, tumbling, and other entertainments, Ben’s father, mesmerized by Venetia Kelly, the troupe’s magnetic headliner, makes a fateful decision: to abandon his family and set off on the road with Miss Kelly and her caravan. Ben’s mother, shattered by the desertion, exhorts, “Find him and bring him back,” thereby sending the boy on a Homeric voyage into manhood. Interweaving a host of unforgettable creations—“King” Kelly, Venetia’s violent, Mephistophelean grandfather; Sarah Kelly, Venetia’s mysterious, amoral mother; and even a truth-telling ventriloquist’s dummy named Blarney—Frank Delaney unfurls a splendid narrative that spans half the world and a tumultuous decade. |
Contents
Section 18 | 258 |
Section 19 | 270 |
Section 20 | 302 |
Section 21 | 314 |
Section 22 | 346 |
Section 23 | 358 |
Section 24 | 370 |
Section 25 | 376 |
Section 9 | 112 |
Section 10 | 118 |
Section 11 | 124 |
Section 12 | 152 |
Section 13 | 174 |
Section 14 | 198 |
Section 15 | 208 |
Section 16 | 210 |
Section 17 | 218 |
Section 26 | 388 |
Section 27 | 390 |
Section 28 | 402 |
Section 29 | 404 |
Section 30 | 406 |
Section 31 | 412 |
Section 32 | 418 |
Section 33 | 420 |
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Common terms and phrases
Abbey Theatre asked audience began Billy Blarney called Cashel chair Charleville close Cody cottage County Limerick Cwawfod D'you door Dublin Eamon de Valera election everything eyes face farm Fascism father feel felt Fermoy flockin FRANK DELANEY gone Haas hall hand happened head heard horse Ireland Irish Ishka James Clare Kelly's Kilmallock King Kelly kissed kitchen knew Knockainey Large Lily laughed lived looked Lough Gur loved Luke Nagle MacCarthy Mary Lewis Miss Fay Missy Casey Mitchelstown morning Mother mouth needed never night o'clock once parents Professor Fay rose Sarah Kelly seemed seen sitting smiled spoke stay stood stopped story talk tall tell there's things thought told took town turned Valera Venetia Kelly voice vote waited walked wanted watched week woman wonderful word wore yard young