Sons of an Ancient Glory

B.J. Hoff

4/14/1999<

The fourth of the Emerald Ballad Series, this novel continues the story of Nora Kavanagh Whittaker and her childhood friends Michael Burk in New York City and Morgan Fitzgerald in Dublin, Ireland. This is a story of some endings, but more beginnings.

Tierney Burk arrives in Ireland to start his new life. Within the first hour or two on shore, he gets into a fight and goes to the Dublin jail. The jailers are meaner than any other prisoner could be. Here he meets the gypsy who becomes his friend.

A child is lost, others are born. A woman dies, a family gains an unexpected daughter. A boy is abused, yet saved from his family. An immigrant enters New York, loses her only friend, and her dignity. Yet she is starting a new life.

This feels like a connecting novel. There are many sadnesses and happinesses, and some story lines are resolved. Others are started. Yet it feels like it is setting up for the novels to follow.

As usual, Hoff doesn't pull any punches on the seamier side of life. You can almost picture the carnage at the riot outside the opera hall. The description of the abused boy is frighteningly real. The conditions of an Irish immigrant coming to America did not improve once the ship docked. It takes a while after that before a person can actually start looking for a job and start that new life. Again, a telling novel. Morgan Fitzgerald has to look at himself long and hard while dealing with Tierney. Tierney has to reevaluate what he expects from himself and Ireland. The change in soil is not enough to calm his turbulent soul. Evan and Nora Whittaker have problems looming ahead, but a secure support system to carry them through. And Christ's support is what keeps them going.

You can find this book at as well as the others in this series.