Literary journalist Yvonne Nolan (above) reviewed The Rising of Bella Casey on the Arena arts programme, RTE Radio, Monday, October 22. She was generously enthusiastic about the language of the novel and the historical research, though she admitted being disappointed to learn that the “creepy” Rev Archibald Leeper was a wholly fictional creation. A really good “bad” character. She missed him when he disappeared from the narrative. Just goes to show you, fiction always wins out. You can listen to a podcast of the show on http://www.rte.ie/radio1/podcast/podcast_arena.xml
mary morrissy 