Valentine M'Clutchy, The Irish Agent The Works of William Carleton, Volume Two   By: William Carleton (1794-1869)

Valentine M'Clutchy, The Irish Agent is a gripping and entertaining novel by William Carleton. The story follows the title character, Valentine M'Clutchy, a cunning and manipulative Irish agent who operates in the rural countryside. The novel is set against the backdrop of Ireland in the early 19th century, capturing the political and social tensions of the time.

Carleton's writing is rich and vivid, painting a detailed picture of the Irish landscape and the characters that inhabit it. M'Clutchy is a complex and compelling protagonist, at once ruthless and charming, making this a captivating read from start to finish.

The novel also delves into themes of power, corruption, and identity, offering a thought-provoking exploration of the human experience. Carleton's insight into Irish society and culture adds depth and authenticity to the narrative, making it a rewarding read for anyone interested in history and literature.

Overall, Valentine M'Clutchy, The Irish Agent is a must-read for fans of historical fiction and those looking for a compelling story with well-drawn characters and a vivid sense of time and place. Carleton's skillful storytelling and evocative prose make this novel a standout in his body of work.

First Page:

It was not my intention to have written any Preface to this book, but to have allowed it simply to speak for itself. As it is very likely, however, that both it and the motives of its author may be misrepresented by bigoted or venal pens, I think it necessary to introduce it to the reader by a few brief observations. In the first place, then, I beg to say, that the work presents phases of Irish life and manners that have never been given to the public before by any other writer upon the same subject. So far, therefore, the book is a perfectly new book not only to the Irish people, but also to the English and Scotch. I know not whether the authenticity of the facts and descriptions contained in it may be called in question; but this I do know, that there is not an honest man, on either side, who has lived in the north of Ireland, and reached the term of fifty years, who will not recognize the conduct and language of the northern Orangemen as just, truthful, and not one whit exaggerated. To our friends across the Channel it is only necessary to say, that I was born in one of the most Orange counties in Ireland (Tyrone) that the violence and licentious abuses of these armed civilians were perpetrated before my eyes and that the sounds of their outrages may be said still to ring in my ears... Continue reading book >>