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Mairead Hearne (swirlandthread.com)'s Reviews > Seaborne
Seaborne
by
by
‘Up I go, breathing the sea, the sea breathing me, until I split waves and push myself on through the water, arm over arm, pressing forward, onward, free, unsinkable’
Seaborne by Nuala O’Connor publishes April 18th with New Island Books and is described as a ‘thrilling and sensuous portrait of a young woman out of step with her time and place, but never her heart.’
Having read the exquisite NORA by Nuala O’Connor, I knew that Seaborne was going to be another exceptional and extraordinary reading experience.
Anne Bonny is a character of mythical proportions with her roots in Kinsale, a beautiful coastal town in Co. Cork. In approaching her research about this historical figure, Nuala O’Connor was very much aware that much of what was written as fact could be disputed, due to inaccuracies and fabrications over the centuries, so she set about creating a work of fiction, a novel of pure escapism and adventure. But Nuala O’Connor has a unique style to her writing, and her ability to depict such atmospheric and immersive scenes made me want to believe that everything she wrote was real.
Elaine Feeney described Seaborne as ‘a rollicking triumph of passion, and a powerful portrayal of Irish pirate, Anne Bonny––a true original' and it truly is all that. Anne Bonny’s life was dramatic, packed full with adventure and dangerous exploits. She lived on the edge and a life of domesticity was never going to be her chosen path. Over three hundred years ago Anne Bonny, alongside Mary Read, were tried for piracy. Filtering through the historical accounts over the centuries, O’Connor approached her novel with a willingness to try something different. As she says herself she would ‘draw on some of the far-fetched, fun, fictional details laid out about her, things such as her cross-dressing, her alleged bisexuality and her fierce individuality’.
Anne Bonny came into the world as the result of an affair between a lawyer and his maid. Her father, Willard Coleman left his marriage creating a new life with Anne’s mother, Mag. Born Anne Dineen Coleman, she was dressed as a boy from an early age, offering a disguise against the wagging tongues. Trouble followed them until one grey dawn when they finally left Ireland. Setting sail for the Province of Carolina, they eventually landed at the Hasty Point Plantation, where her father was employed. The change in scenery was dramatic, with Anne missing the Atlantic and the sea air but she found solace through her friendship with Bedelia, an indentured servant on the plantation.
Anne was challenged by the role she was expected to play and eventually saw a route out through marriage to Gabriel Bonny, a local seafaring man. Initially she thought that together they could sail the high seas as a team but the reality soon became very apparent. Daring deeds and excitement were side-lined for the daily drudgery of keeping house, leaving Anne Bonny restless and frustrated. Anne Bonny was stubborn with qualities that didn’t necessarily appeal to everyone, but with her friend Bedelia, she could be true to herself and share her inner dreams and secrets.
When an opportunity arose for action on the high-seas, Anne Bonny embraced it with open arms. This was it. This was her moment to explore and to fully realise her ambition to be audacious and courageous. Anne Bonny embarked on a dangerous journey, one that would be written about in myths and legends for centuries.
Nuala O’Connor brings Anne Bonny to life in this magnificent reimagining. Filled with breath-taking moments of brazen courage and perilous exploits, O’Connor completely immerses the reader into some of the more scintillating moments of this wild and rebellious woman.
When I read NORA I was astounded by the way language was used and, in Seaborne, the same holds true. O’Connor writes dialect with a freedom that is so refreshing, allowing the reader to be completely consumed by this stunning and almost tangible tale.
Seaborne is a superb novel, bursting with a buzzing vitality and sensuality. O’Connor has captured a time and place with an outstanding clarity. A powerful and remarkable portrayal, Seaborne is an exuberant and passionate novel, a cracking adventure and a fascinating insight into the life of a legend.
‘The cannon releases its ball, and the crack and cloud be enough to frighten angels from the skies.’
Seaborne by Nuala O’Connor publishes April 18th with New Island Books and is described as a ‘thrilling and sensuous portrait of a young woman out of step with her time and place, but never her heart.’
Having read the exquisite NORA by Nuala O’Connor, I knew that Seaborne was going to be another exceptional and extraordinary reading experience.
Anne Bonny is a character of mythical proportions with her roots in Kinsale, a beautiful coastal town in Co. Cork. In approaching her research about this historical figure, Nuala O’Connor was very much aware that much of what was written as fact could be disputed, due to inaccuracies and fabrications over the centuries, so she set about creating a work of fiction, a novel of pure escapism and adventure. But Nuala O’Connor has a unique style to her writing, and her ability to depict such atmospheric and immersive scenes made me want to believe that everything she wrote was real.
Elaine Feeney described Seaborne as ‘a rollicking triumph of passion, and a powerful portrayal of Irish pirate, Anne Bonny––a true original' and it truly is all that. Anne Bonny’s life was dramatic, packed full with adventure and dangerous exploits. She lived on the edge and a life of domesticity was never going to be her chosen path. Over three hundred years ago Anne Bonny, alongside Mary Read, were tried for piracy. Filtering through the historical accounts over the centuries, O’Connor approached her novel with a willingness to try something different. As she says herself she would ‘draw on some of the far-fetched, fun, fictional details laid out about her, things such as her cross-dressing, her alleged bisexuality and her fierce individuality’.
Anne Bonny came into the world as the result of an affair between a lawyer and his maid. Her father, Willard Coleman left his marriage creating a new life with Anne’s mother, Mag. Born Anne Dineen Coleman, she was dressed as a boy from an early age, offering a disguise against the wagging tongues. Trouble followed them until one grey dawn when they finally left Ireland. Setting sail for the Province of Carolina, they eventually landed at the Hasty Point Plantation, where her father was employed. The change in scenery was dramatic, with Anne missing the Atlantic and the sea air but she found solace through her friendship with Bedelia, an indentured servant on the plantation.
Anne was challenged by the role she was expected to play and eventually saw a route out through marriage to Gabriel Bonny, a local seafaring man. Initially she thought that together they could sail the high seas as a team but the reality soon became very apparent. Daring deeds and excitement were side-lined for the daily drudgery of keeping house, leaving Anne Bonny restless and frustrated. Anne Bonny was stubborn with qualities that didn’t necessarily appeal to everyone, but with her friend Bedelia, she could be true to herself and share her inner dreams and secrets.
When an opportunity arose for action on the high-seas, Anne Bonny embraced it with open arms. This was it. This was her moment to explore and to fully realise her ambition to be audacious and courageous. Anne Bonny embarked on a dangerous journey, one that would be written about in myths and legends for centuries.
Nuala O’Connor brings Anne Bonny to life in this magnificent reimagining. Filled with breath-taking moments of brazen courage and perilous exploits, O’Connor completely immerses the reader into some of the more scintillating moments of this wild and rebellious woman.
When I read NORA I was astounded by the way language was used and, in Seaborne, the same holds true. O’Connor writes dialect with a freedom that is so refreshing, allowing the reader to be completely consumed by this stunning and almost tangible tale.
Seaborne is a superb novel, bursting with a buzzing vitality and sensuality. O’Connor has captured a time and place with an outstanding clarity. A powerful and remarkable portrayal, Seaborne is an exuberant and passionate novel, a cracking adventure and a fascinating insight into the life of a legend.
‘The cannon releases its ball, and the crack and cloud be enough to frighten angels from the skies.’
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Reading Progress
March 25, 2024
–
Started Reading
March 25, 2024
– Shelved
April 2, 2024
–
Finished Reading
