Lha Dhu; Or, The Dark Day The Works of William Carleton, Volume Two   By: William Carleton (1794-1869)

In "Lha Dhu; Or, The Dark Day," William Carleton masterfully weaves together elements of folklore, superstition, and moral dilemmas to create a captivating and thought-provoking tale. Set against the backdrop of rural Ireland, the story follows the protagonist, Lha Dhu, a young woman who becomes entangled in a web of deceit and betrayal.

Carleton's vivid descriptions bring the Irish countryside to life, immersing the reader in a world filled with rich traditions and colorful characters. The themes of loyalty, vengeance, and redemption are expertly explored, adding depth and complexity to the narrative.

The pacing of the story is well-crafted, building suspense and intrigue with each chapter. The characters are fully fleshed out, each with their own motivations and flaws, making them feel realistic and relatable.

Overall, "Lha Dhu; Or, The Dark Day" is a gripping and poignant read that will linger in the reader's mind long after the final page is turned. William Carleton's skillful storytelling and profound insights make this a must-read for fans of historical fiction and Irish literature.

First Page:

There is no country in the world whose scenery is more sweetly diversified, or more delicately shaded away into that exquisite variety of surface which presents us with those wavy outlines of beauty that softly melt into each other, than is that of our own green island. Alas! how many deep valleys, wild glens, green meadows, and pleasant hamlets, lie scattered over the bosom of a country, peopled by inhabitants who are equally moved by the impulses of mirth and sorrow; each valley, and glen, and pleasant hamlet marked by some tearful remembrance of humble calamity of which the world never hears. How little do its proud nobility know of the fair and still beauty which marks the unbroken silence of its most delightful retreats, or of the unassuming records of love or sorrow, which pass down through a single generation, and are soon lost in the rapid stream of life. We do not love to remember sorrow, but its traces, notwithstanding, are always the most uneffaceable, and, what is strange as true, its mournful imprint remains ever the longest upon the heart that is most mirthful. We talk not now of the hollow echo, like mirth, which comes from thousands only because the soul is wanting. No; but we say that as the diamond is found in the darkness of the mine, as the lightning shoots with most vivid flashes from the gloomiest cloud, so does mirthfulness frequently proceed from a heart susceptible of the deepest melancholy... Continue reading book >>