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Episode 30.3 - The Scorching Wind by Walter Macken
This week we’re reading the last third of The Scorching Wind by Walter Macken.
The final section of the book brings us to the apex of the Irish struggle for independence. Dominic’s character trajectory from vacillating fellow traveler to full blooded Irish Republican is brought to fruition, as is the cementing of Dualta’s and Dominic’s relationship as brothers. The conflict between Irish Republicans and British imperial soldiers heats up to the point where Dominic is constantly on the run - sleeping in the houses of brave Irish citizens, ditches, and eventually finds himself in a tomb with Dualta after Dualta assassinates the Irish traitor Sergeant Nick.
The wiley Sam finds Dominic and Dualta to tell them that the British and Irish authorities have entered negotiations and Dualta heads to be part of the treaty settlement while Dominic goes home to his mother. The Peace Treaty is signed and two factions emerge - on the one hand the radical Republicans who see the peace treaty as a farcical betrayal and those that accept the Peace Treaty as a step towards freedom. Surprisingly Dominc takes up the former, whereas Dualta becomes an agent of the state.
The final tragedy of the book is in it’s description of the war between brothers, both generally within the Irish community and specifically between Dominc and Dualta, as the sparkish Irish Civil War takes form. The final scene is an attack on an Irish army barracks by Dominic and company where Dualta is killed by Dominic.
From the book:
“Walter Macken was born in Galway in 1915. He was a writer of short stories, novels, and plays. Originally an actor, principally with Taibhdhearc in Galway, and the Abbey Theatre, he played lead roles on Broadway in M.J Molloy’s The King of Friday’s Men and his own play Home Is The Hero. He also acted in films, notably in Arthur Dreifuss’ adaption of Brendan Behan’s The Quare Fellow. He is perhaps best known for his trilogy of Irish historical novels. Seek The Fair Land, The Silent People and The Scorching Wind. He passed away in 1967.”
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By Literal Fiction Book Club
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This week we’re reading the last third of The Scorching Wind by Walter Macken.
The final section of the book brings us to the apex of the Irish struggle for independence. Dominic’s character trajectory from vacillating fellow traveler to full blooded Irish Republican is brought to fruition, as is the cementing of Dualta’s and Dominic’s relationship as brothers. The conflict between Irish Republicans and British imperial soldiers heats up to the point where Dominic is constantly on the run - sleeping in the houses of brave Irish citizens, ditches, and eventually finds himself in a tomb with Dualta after Dualta assassinates the Irish traitor Sergeant Nick.
The wiley Sam finds Dominic and Dualta to tell them that the British and Irish authorities have entered negotiations and Dualta heads to be part of the treaty settlement while Dominic goes home to his mother. The Peace Treaty is signed and two factions emerge - on the one hand the radical Republicans who see the peace treaty as a farcical betrayal and those that accept the Peace Treaty as a step towards freedom. Surprisingly Dominc takes up the former, whereas Dualta becomes an agent of the state.
The final tragedy of the book is in it’s description of the war between brothers, both generally within the Irish community and specifically between Dominc and Dualta, as the sparkish Irish Civil War takes form. The final scene is an attack on an Irish army barracks by Dominic and company where Dualta is killed by Dominic.
From the book:
“Walter Macken was born in Galway in 1915. He was a writer of short stories, novels, and plays. Originally an actor, principally with Taibhdhearc in Galway, and the Abbey Theatre, he played lead roles on Broadway in M.J Molloy’s The King of Friday’s Men and his own play Home Is The Hero. He also acted in films, notably in Arthur Dreifuss’ adaption of Brendan Behan’s The Quare Fellow. He is perhaps best known for his trilogy of Irish historical novels. Seek The Fair Land, The Silent People and The Scorching Wind. He passed away in 1967.”