A Must Read Debut Novel
Writing ‘Forbidden Love’ – It has taken me 8 years to write ‘Forbidden Love’ Many rejections and bad advice, so I decided to self publish. In 2012 all I had to go on was self belief and my love for Ireland and my grandmother. All I knew about Nana’s Irish family, was her two brothers, Alec and Christy, and the story of Kevin Barry. Then Joseph Knox, Chrissie’s grandson, made contact from Dublin. He devised a wonderful family tree. From this I found James, Chrissie, Essie, Mary Josephine and many more of my Irish relatives.
He travelled from Dublin to Cardiff with his brother Bernard to meet with me and other members of my family. When I met with my two Irish cousins they were astounded how much I looked like their grandmother Christina (Chrissie) and when I visited them in Dublin their sister said the same.
How strange I had a job at Jacobs Biscuit factory like Chrissie but I turned it down. I chose to work in a sewing factory like Nana. I also took part in many demonstrations, like Chrissie and Maggie. ‘The Right to Work’ March, shouting “out, Maggie, out, out, out,” the Miners’ Strike, Greenham Common Marches, the ‘Stop the War Coalition.’ I marched against the invasion of Iraq and resigned as a councillor over the invasion, I also marched for Syria.
In 2014, I visited Christy’s son, Christopher, in Limerick. Chris gave me the layout of Red Cow Lane, O’Donovan Rossa and the story of my father looking like Elvis. Sadly, Chris Crosbie died in 2016. I also visited Kilmainham Gaol and wept where they shot the Sixteen. I walked the streets Nana walked, played and lived.
In 2015, I walked the coast of Donegal and Antrim. I was flying home from Dublin. The night before I flew home to Wales, I called in to ‘Cobblestones’ that was once called ‘Carolans’. The pub was opposite where Nana lived. I read and performed my poetry, the same place my father sang in 1957 and where my Nana and her family drank. I had many drinks bought for me that night. Irish, Brazilian, Germans, Americans and Spanish. I declined most of the drinks because I was flying home early in the morning. At the end of the evening and after many goodbyes I walked outside Cobblestones, looked up to the summer clear sky and I knew my father and my Irish relatives were looking down.
Nana never spoke of what she witnessed, only Kevin Barry. I believe that Nana was too traumatised. Dublin from 1916 to when Nana left 1921 was equivalent to Syria and Iraq. War torn and broken. I took up the pen and chose to write what Nana could not talk about.
Top reviews from United Kingdom
Colin 5.0 out of 5 stars An absolute must read Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 30 July 2021 Verified Purchase
Julie Griffin’s beautifully written ‘family oral tradition’ narrative of Maggie Caffery’s romance with British soldier Dick Griffin during the early twentieth century troubles in Ireland will fill you with equal measures of hope and horror. The story clearly demonstrates how love can shine through and transcend even the starkest, harshest forms of biased preconceptions, prejudice and poverty and leave a special place in your heart for it’s two main protagonists.
As the poet Rupert Brooke once rightly said: “Someday I will rise and leave my friends and seek you again through the world’s far end you whom I found so fair”.
In some ways the story parallels Ernest Hemingway’s classic “A Farewell to Arms” which was written around the time Julie’s story was set; especially the flight from the fight for the right to be together part of the storyline. This book is for lovers everywhere and makes an ideal Christmas, birthday, anniversary or Valentine gift. Great job, Julie!
BaarbaaratheSheep 5.0 out of 5 stars Harrowing & emotional this is a saga that has everything, a must read.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 24 May 2021Verified Purchase
A wonderful debut novel from published author and performance poet, Julie Griffin Pritchard. The first part of a trilogy, Forbidden Love is a saga that spans generations of a traditionally large Irish family. It is harrowing in many parts due to the poverty and tragedies that befall them, but it is also uplifting with extremely well written characters that you can empathise, cry and laugh with. The main characters are Maggie and Dick and the love they have for each other causes a huge rift. Maggie is forced to choose between love and family. Situated in Ireland and Wales the Anglo/Irish war plays a big part in the story. There is a lot of attention to historical detail that gives this fictional novel a reality beyond the imagination of the author. A brilliant read, but keep the tissues handy.
baarbaarathesheep 