Testimonials
Eoin commissioned my novel, Peeler, while at Mercier Press. He saw that the time was right for a novel which explored the darkness behind the foundation of the Irish Free State and his faith in the book was unstinting.
His editorial advice came from his vast store of historical knowledge. A pleasure to have worked with.
Kevin McCarthy ~ Author of Peeler, (Mercier Press, 2010)
West Cork. November 1920. The Irish War of Independence rages. The body of a young woman is found brutally murdered on a windswept hillside, a scrapboard sign covering her mutilated body reads ‘TRATOR’. Traitor.
Acting Sergeant Séan O’Keefe of the Royal Irish Constabulary, a wounded veteran of the Great War, is assigned to investigate the crime, aided by sinister detectives sent from Dublin Castle to ensure he finds the killer, just so long as the killer he finds best serves the purposes of the crown in Ireland. . . The IRA has instigated its own investigation into the young woman’s death, assigning young Volunteer Liam Farrell – failed gunman and former law student – to the task of finding a killer it cannot allow to be one of its own.
‘Part war story, part murder mystery, this subtle but savage thriller evokes a time, a place and a breed of men which have all been airbrushed out of Ireland’s history.’ – Ed O’Loughlin, author of the Booker longlisted Not Untrue, Not Unkind review of Peeler.
How can I describe Eoin Purcell? Hmmm. Accomplished, brilliant, charming, dashing, engaging, fascinating, generous, helpful, impressive, judicious, kind, loyal, modest, noble, obliging, perceptive, quick, reliable, smart, truthful, understanding, virtuous, wholesome, wise, witty, well mannered and wonderful. Five Ws because I can’t think of a Z.
Without Eoin, Moxie the Underdog would still be moldering away on a top shelf in my dusty little office; unloved, unwanted. In choosing to work with me, Eoin is clearly a man who believes in the concept of hope over experience.
Annie West ~ Author of Moxie The Underdog (Mercier, 2008)
Life can be hard sometimes. Especially when you’re small and scruffy and people pick on you. This is the story of Moxie: a stray dog with a huge heart. Even though he has been mistreated and bullied, he makes his way in the world with an adventurous spirit and buckets of bravery.
Moxie the Underdog is a heart-warming story of courage against all odds. Beautifully illustrated with full colour original illustrations throughout.
Eoin Purcell developed a very strong and distinctive history list at Mercier Press. This encouraged me to submit my own work, The Young Ireland Rebellion and Limerick. I felt it would be in good hands.
Eoin comissioned the book and proved very easy and enjoyable to work with; the depth of his historical and publishing knowledge clear in every conversation.
Laurence Fenton ~ Author of The Young Ireland Rebellion and Limerick, (Mercier Press, 2010)
The Young Ireland Rebellion and Limerick examines the colourful and complex local dimensions to one of the key, if inglorious, events in Irish history. Limerick was the hometown of the Young Ireland leader William Smith O’Brien and the Young Ireland club there, the Sarsfield Club, was among the most active in the country. Using a range of primary sources the book charts the myriad exciting events that occurred in Limerick during 1848, the year of the failed Young Ireland rebellion.
In the course of that year, Limerick was the scene of both joyous mass meetings between Old and Young Irelanders as well as an infamous riot between the two factions. Police spies found pikes from city stores and frantic missives were sent from magistrates to Dublin Castle detailing illegal nighttime drilling in the countryside of West Limerick and rifle practice in the city.
The book also documents the armed hold-up of the Limerick to Tralee mail coach, the ‘Rising in Abbeyfeale’, and the prolonged flight from authorities by Richard O’Gorman, a Young Irelander charged with fomenting rebellion in Limerick, which took him on a treacherous journey from the wilds of south-west Ireland to Constantinople and then finally on to New York and a successful career as a lawyer.
