- Hardcover
- Publisher: Canongate Books Ltd (3 May 2007)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 1841959359
- ISBN-13: 978-1841959351
- Product Dimensions: 23.4 x 15.4 x 3.8 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 769,850 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
The Law Of Dreams
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Review
"Superb. An emotional epic bearing echoes of Melville and Ondaatje, conveying scents and shimmers of a vanished world under the skin of our own." - Jonathan Lethem "A fearsome story of such prolonged agony and unquenchable spirit that you can't escape till the final page abandons you to astonished silence." Washington Post "Frequently thrilling and always arresting...Unsparing in its determination to distil both the precise eternals of a moment and the fierce interiority of the human mind. The dialogue, too, seems to emerge from the mouths of characters who...have never been allowed to talk this way before." The Globe and Mail "Stunningly lyric...a work of richly empathetic imagination that reminds us once again of how powerful historical fiction can be in skilled hands." Los Angeles Times"
The Times
Behrens has the knack of making history come alive, using the language of the period to convincing effect
--This text refers to the
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
The Law of Dreams tells the story of a year in the life of Fergus O'Brien during the Great Potato Famine in Ireland during the 1840s. It takes us from his home on a mountaintop, which he leaves after witnessing his family all burning to death - deaths which were in fact murders that committed by his landlords. From there he travels to Liverpool, then Wales and onto a harrowing boat journey across the Atlantic to America. Along the way Fergus meets all manner of people who, like himself, are all struggling to survive. He encounters violence, treachery, thieves and prostitution - at one point being groomed as a `pearl' boy. On his travels he falls in love 3 times, each time ending up with a broken heart. Fergus has very few moments of joy and often wishes it were possible to live inside his head with his dreams.
Peter Behrens transports the reader back in time, to a world that was full of hardship, sorrow and tremendous losses. It teaches us how resilient the human spirit can be in order to overcome the horrors we sometimes have to face. Behrens has written a fantastic piece of historical fiction and Fergus's story will stay in my mind forever.
Peter Behrens transports the reader back in time, to a world that was full of hardship, sorrow and tremendous losses. It teaches us how resilient the human spirit can be in order to overcome the horrors we sometimes have to face. Behrens has written a fantastic piece of historical fiction and Fergus's story will stay in my mind forever.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I finished this book about a month ago, and regarded it as one of the finest books I have read in some years. My vague thoughts of leaving a review were crystallised by the average reviews I saw had been recently added to this book's listing. I cannot disagree more with the views expressed.
The plot of the book is there to be read on the description, so I won't go into it. Suffice it to say that the plotline is realistic (I say this having studied the Famine in school and visited the Famine museum in Strokestown, Co. Roscommon, Ireland several times), and the lyrical writing is of stunning quality. The story is tragic and extremely poignant and moved me to tears on a number of occasions. A couple of minor errors (doves in Ireland is the one that springs to mind - they didn't reach the country until well into the 20th century) were easily glossed over in what I regard as a masterpiece. Like Shantaram, this is a book which I will give to lots of people as a present.
Ben Kane, author of The Forgotten Legion.
The plot of the book is there to be read on the description, so I won't go into it. Suffice it to say that the plotline is realistic (I say this having studied the Famine in school and visited the Famine museum in Strokestown, Co. Roscommon, Ireland several times), and the lyrical writing is of stunning quality. The story is tragic and extremely poignant and moved me to tears on a number of occasions. A couple of minor errors (doves in Ireland is the one that springs to mind - they didn't reach the country until well into the 20th century) were easily glossed over in what I regard as a masterpiece. Like Shantaram, this is a book which I will give to lots of people as a present.
Ben Kane, author of The Forgotten Legion.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Set in 1846 'The Law of Dreams' is a tragic and moving account of a young boy's journey from the starvation of Ireland, through a false dawn in Liverpool, to a brave new world in America. Suffering tragedy and betrayal this is ultimately a boy-to-man story under the worst possible circumstances.
One of the best things about this book is the way Behrens avoids making a hero out of Fergus. Creating a character who acts perfectly according to modern morality is one of the main stumbling blocks in many similar books. Behrems character is embroiled in a constant fight to survive in a world bereft of innocence and its this sense of reality that gives the book its substance.
Behrems research is impeccable and brings to life worlds that were merely dates and places before I read this book. Although a fiction book 'The Law of Dreams' really gives you a sobering insight into scenes such as the reality of life and death during the potato famine and the squalor of an Atlantic crossing below decks.
This is a brilliant book and should be read by fiction lovers and amateur historians alike. Both a fascinating read and an eye opening account. I can't wait for Behrems next novel.
One of the best things about this book is the way Behrens avoids making a hero out of Fergus. Creating a character who acts perfectly according to modern morality is one of the main stumbling blocks in many similar books. Behrems character is embroiled in a constant fight to survive in a world bereft of innocence and its this sense of reality that gives the book its substance.
Behrems research is impeccable and brings to life worlds that were merely dates and places before I read this book. Although a fiction book 'The Law of Dreams' really gives you a sobering insight into scenes such as the reality of life and death during the potato famine and the squalor of an Atlantic crossing below decks.
This is a brilliant book and should be read by fiction lovers and amateur historians alike. Both a fascinating read and an eye opening account. I can't wait for Behrems next novel.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Familiar but surprising
The 19th c. emigration from Ireland and the tyranny of the landlords has been a rich source of literature over the years - there's echoes of Joseph Connor's Star of the Sea and... Read more
Published 15 months ago by Brian
Absolute Perfection
This is my favorite book of all time. I have reread it so much that it actually fell apart and needed to purchase another one in its place. Read more
Published 21 months ago by Booknerd
"We are all trying to break out of something."
Fergus, the hero of this historical adventure story, feels compelled to keep moving, so that he can stay "in his life" and the past, the dreams, and the memories of the loved-ones,... Read more
Published 23 months ago by Friederike Knabe
Great novel!
I strongly disagree with Sean Gainford's comments re The Law of Dreams:
-rabbits have both pink flesh on their chins and whiskers, hence the comparison. Read more
-rabbits have both pink flesh on their chins and whiskers, hence the comparison. Read more
Published on 1 May 2010 by Deirdre
Awkwardly Written
The writing in this book can be very awkward, and sometimes can just be plain bad. The narrative voice is also confusing. E.g. Read more
Published on 20 Aug 2009 by Sean Gainford
Average...
I thought for a while there that I would really enjoy this book, but after a while I got quite bored. Read more
Published on 18 Jun 2009 by C. Ball
an interesting read
This novel tells the young life of Fergus. Fergus is a young man running to escape the famine in Ireland to a place of hope, dreams and food. Read more
Published on 29 May 2007 by Ms. K. Thomas
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