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Available
Description
"In 1916, the Irish nationalist Roger Casement was hanged by the British government for treason. Casement had dedicated his extraordinary life to improving the plight of oppressed peoples around the world--especially the native populations in the Belgian Congo and the Amazon--but when he dared to draw a parallel between the injustices he witnessed in African and American colonies and those committed by the British in Northern Ireland, he became involved in a cause that led to his imprisonment and execution. Ultimately, the scandals surrounding Casement's trial and eventual hanging tainted his image to such a degree that his pioneering human rights work wasn't fully reexamined until the 1960s."--Dust jacket.
User reviews
LibraryThing member FCH123
I did not know Casement's story. I appreciate the opportunity to learn of his hard-earned work in bringing the abuse of peoples in the Congo and in Amazonia to light. In the end though, his ridiculous idea to forward Irish independence by allying with the Kaiser's Germany did him and his dream of
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Irish independence in. Vargas Llosa's story got bogged down, and even though I enjoyed reading about Casement's humanitarian work, I couldn't finish the book because of his end-of-life choices. Show Less
LibraryThing member prima1
this is a long text and not really worth. it could have been a great book but Llosa is not good enough.
LibraryThing member jasonlf
My third historical novel in a row. And it was not nearly as good as Hilary Mantel's Bring Up the Bodies or Laurent Binet's HHhH (not to mention Vargas Llosa's absolutely brilliant The Feast of the Goat or epic The War at the End of the World). Although it was still worth reading.
Bring Up the
In contrast, the majority of The Dream of the Celt reads more like a history book or biography than a novel. Those parts have little dialogue, few invented characters, and very extended descriptions of Roger Casement's trips to investigate and report on the epic atrocities in King Leopold's Congo and the Putumayo region of Peruvian Amazonia. These parts are almost always interesting (and horrifying), rarely tedious, but are not infused with anything of the special possibilities that is afforded by the novel of going deeper into a character's head, shifting perspectives, showing through stories, a plot, developing multiple characters, or just about anything else.
These historical chapters alternate with somewhat shorter chapters that depict Casement's final days before his execution for treason in Pentonville prison. These are more novelistic, with dialogue, somewhat more interesting characters (e.g., the prison's sheriff), and lots of flashbacks to Casement's role in what eventually became the Easter Uprising. These are perfectly fine, fast reading, but do not come anywhere close to The Feast of the Goat.
Altogether much of the interest of the book comes from learning about Roger Casement (who was largely new to me), more about the Congo and Putumayo, and the Easter Uprising and how that period in Ireland's struggle for independence intersected with the First World War. All interestingly told. And this is reason enough to read the novel.
Bring Up the
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Bodies is deeply immersed in its history, but tells its story as a novel, largely dialogue between the characters, that makes their psychologies and motivations come alive--all while wearing its history lightly with little exposition or digressions into history. HHhH is an experimental novel that tries to faithfully recount its history, reluctantly follows novelistic conventions for short spurts (and quite well), but then retreats into the narrator's voice to apologize for fabricating anything.In contrast, the majority of The Dream of the Celt reads more like a history book or biography than a novel. Those parts have little dialogue, few invented characters, and very extended descriptions of Roger Casement's trips to investigate and report on the epic atrocities in King Leopold's Congo and the Putumayo region of Peruvian Amazonia. These parts are almost always interesting (and horrifying), rarely tedious, but are not infused with anything of the special possibilities that is afforded by the novel of going deeper into a character's head, shifting perspectives, showing through stories, a plot, developing multiple characters, or just about anything else.
These historical chapters alternate with somewhat shorter chapters that depict Casement's final days before his execution for treason in Pentonville prison. These are more novelistic, with dialogue, somewhat more interesting characters (e.g., the prison's sheriff), and lots of flashbacks to Casement's role in what eventually became the Easter Uprising. These are perfectly fine, fast reading, but do not come anywhere close to The Feast of the Goat.
Altogether much of the interest of the book comes from learning about Roger Casement (who was largely new to me), more about the Congo and Putumayo, and the Easter Uprising and how that period in Ireland's struggle for independence intersected with the First World War. All interestingly told. And this is reason enough to read the novel.
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LibraryThing member Laura400
As others have said, this is a book with an incredible subject that unfortunately does not fully flower as a novel.
Just as Roger Casement is a man whose remarkable achievements and commitment to human rights were undermined and almost lost to history by his equally considerable mistakes, so does
I can't really censure Vargas Llosa for giving us the book as it is. I feel enriched for having read it.
Just as Roger Casement is a man whose remarkable achievements and commitment to human rights were undermined and almost lost to history by his equally considerable mistakes, so does
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this book seem to suffer from a similar frustrating duality. When Vargas Llosa engages his novelistic imagination -- principally in the prison scenes and the scenes where Casement is grappling with his hidden sexuality -- the book captivates and takes us with him. But the bulk of the book consists of long, dense flashbacks, which wouldn't be a problems, except that they are told in a clunky expository style, with wooden prose, that feels like reading overlong encyclopedia entries. Perhaps some of that can be put down to problems of translation, but I don't think so. I think it's a problem of how to write a novel like this. There is so much material, so amazing and revelatory to a modern reader, yet with so much relevance to our time, that it's hard to present it all in one volume.I can't really censure Vargas Llosa for giving us the book as it is. I feel enriched for having read it.
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LibraryThing member tomilton
Another magnificent novel by Nobel Prize winner Mario Vargas Llosa. It focuses on the life of Roger Casement, a champion for human rights in the early 20th century, starting with his advocacy for oppressed workers in the Belgian Congo and ending with his efforts to gain independence for Ireland. As
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usual, Vargas Llosa explores his main character at many levels, enabling the reader to appreciate the human complexity of historical figures. Show Less
LibraryThing member gbelik
This is a fictional treatment of Roger Casement's life. He was a British civil servant who investigated corrupt, inhumane practices by the rubber companies in the Congo and in Peru. He was knighted for his praiseworthy life and works. He then became involved with the struggle for Irish
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independence. He came to see the British control in Ireland as a case of colonialism similar to the Congo and Amazonia, different only in methods. During World War 1, he was instrumental in creating an Irish Brigade to fight alongside Germany to achieve Irish independence. He was captured, convicted of treason and hung. So, what a story!! For additional spice, the British found his secret diary, detailing his formerly unknown homosexual exploits. Throw in a dose of Catholic guilt and it's quite a novel. Show Less
LibraryThing member kakadoo202
picked up the book at the library after reading a review about. however the subject was not exciting for me. i just could not connect to the main character. however, i liked the writing stlt and will look for another book of the same author.
LibraryThing member Opinionated
Roger Casement was an interesting and complex character and if anyone could bring him to life, surely its Vargas Llosa. And yet, this doesnt really work mainly because it is so repetitive and feels more like a hagiography than a novel, particularly the Congo and Amazon sections which are most of
Also the novel suffers because no other character really is drawn out in any depth. Alice Stephord Green is invoked time and again as Casement's inspiration - but its very unclear why. But perhaps Casement is meant to be seen as a lonely, focused, driven character.
A shame really. Love Vargas Llosa in general but this isn't his best work. And some of the homosexual sex scenes should be a contender for the Bad Sex Award
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the book. We quickly understand the premise - Casement finds out about and investigates horrible abuses of indigenous people in the cause of rubber harvesting. He goes through great torments and personal sacrifices to attempt to bring justice to these people and to bring the guilty to trial. Nothing happens. He begins to see a link between the oppression of the Irish people and those in Africa and Amazonia. We understand this quite quickly - but the novel gets bogged down in relentless examination of Casement's motives which, fundamentally, don't really differ from his days in the Congo to his somewhat foolish flirtations with the Germany during the first world war. But yet we go over these motivations time and againAlso the novel suffers because no other character really is drawn out in any depth. Alice Stephord Green is invoked time and again as Casement's inspiration - but its very unclear why. But perhaps Casement is meant to be seen as a lonely, focused, driven character.
A shame really. Love Vargas Llosa in general but this isn't his best work. And some of the homosexual sex scenes should be a contender for the Bad Sex Award
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LibraryThing member stevesmits
Roger Casement is a figure in the history of anti-colonialism who is no longer widely remembered. In this exceedingly well-researched historical novel, Vargas Llosa recounts Casement's remarkable work at the turn of the 20th century to draw the world's attention to the real meaning and motives of
After exposing the horrors in the Congo, Casement was dispatched to the Amazon where even viler abuses were exacted against the Indians of the basin, this also in pursuit of rubber by a British commercial enterprise. Casement's report again received world wide attention, although promises to stop the abuses were never fully realized. For his efforts, he was knighted and was a figure of admiration in many parts of the world.
Over time Casement equated the rapacity and exploitation of colonial rule with the centuries-long British domination of Ireland, his native country. He fell in with the nationalist movement and came to believe that only the violent overthrow of British rule would bring freedom to the Irish people. At the outbreak of WWI, and in collusion with other well-known nationalists, Casement conceived a scheme to enlist Irish prisoners of war in German camps to form an Irish Brigade which would, alongside German troops, engage the British in Ireland to drive them from the country. This failed to materialize, but he persuaded the German government to supply arms to the Irish patriots. Casement learned very late of the planned Easter week rising and argued against it as a futile waste of blood that would only make martyrs of the nationalist leaders. Nonetheless, the arms were shipped secretly to the west of Ireland, but the British army quickly captured them and arrested Casement.
He was put on trial for treason and sentenced to hanging. The book alternates chapters between Casement's work in the Congo and Amazon and his prison reflections in the days before his execution.
One of the controversial aspects of the story is the discovery and publication by British authorities of Casement's so-called "Black Diaries" in which he recounted his sexual encounters with men and young boys. Vargas Llosa poses the thought that, while Casement was undoubtedly a homosexual, the diaries at least in some part were his fantasies about sexual contacts and not completely the reality of his sexual life. The diaries did much to quell any efforts to spare Casement's life and may have over the many years since kept Casement from receiving the praise given to other heros of the Irish independence movement. It was only in 1965 that the British government finally consented to the reinterrment of Casement's remains in Ireland, where he was given a patriot's recognition.
While a work of fiction, Varga Llosa's book is clearly an accurate history of Casement and his campaign against the evils of colonialism. The fervor of Casement for Irish independence led him to his alliance with Germany, which was not only a foolish quest, but brought the enmity of the British toward him at this time of intense patriotism and anti-German sentiment. In pleading his oppostion to the Easter rising as bound to bring only the bloody sacrifice of the nationalist leadership, he did not imagine that it was the martyrdom of Pearse, Connolley, Plunkett and the others that would stimulate the ever-growing sentiment against British dominion that ultimately saw the independence of Ireland.
This complex and important figure in world and Irish history deserves the sensitive and thoughtful treatment given him in Vargas Llosa's excellent book.
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the colonial adventures of the European powers. Casement was a Irishman of the Protestant class who began his career with a commercial and later diplomatic posting to the Congo. There he became aware of the horrendous abuse of native people who were enslaved, tortured and often murdered by white colonists, mostly Belgians in the service of King Leopold, in pursuit of harvesting natural rubber from the jungles. Casement's report to the British government exposed to the world the atrocities committed under the guise of bringing civilization to the "savage" peoples of the region. His report brought shame to the Belgian occupiers and world sanction against their practices. (For a complete account of the horrors of the Belgians in the Congo, see King Leopold's Ghost by Adam Hochshield.)After exposing the horrors in the Congo, Casement was dispatched to the Amazon where even viler abuses were exacted against the Indians of the basin, this also in pursuit of rubber by a British commercial enterprise. Casement's report again received world wide attention, although promises to stop the abuses were never fully realized. For his efforts, he was knighted and was a figure of admiration in many parts of the world.
Over time Casement equated the rapacity and exploitation of colonial rule with the centuries-long British domination of Ireland, his native country. He fell in with the nationalist movement and came to believe that only the violent overthrow of British rule would bring freedom to the Irish people. At the outbreak of WWI, and in collusion with other well-known nationalists, Casement conceived a scheme to enlist Irish prisoners of war in German camps to form an Irish Brigade which would, alongside German troops, engage the British in Ireland to drive them from the country. This failed to materialize, but he persuaded the German government to supply arms to the Irish patriots. Casement learned very late of the planned Easter week rising and argued against it as a futile waste of blood that would only make martyrs of the nationalist leaders. Nonetheless, the arms were shipped secretly to the west of Ireland, but the British army quickly captured them and arrested Casement.
He was put on trial for treason and sentenced to hanging. The book alternates chapters between Casement's work in the Congo and Amazon and his prison reflections in the days before his execution.
One of the controversial aspects of the story is the discovery and publication by British authorities of Casement's so-called "Black Diaries" in which he recounted his sexual encounters with men and young boys. Vargas Llosa poses the thought that, while Casement was undoubtedly a homosexual, the diaries at least in some part were his fantasies about sexual contacts and not completely the reality of his sexual life. The diaries did much to quell any efforts to spare Casement's life and may have over the many years since kept Casement from receiving the praise given to other heros of the Irish independence movement. It was only in 1965 that the British government finally consented to the reinterrment of Casement's remains in Ireland, where he was given a patriot's recognition.
While a work of fiction, Varga Llosa's book is clearly an accurate history of Casement and his campaign against the evils of colonialism. The fervor of Casement for Irish independence led him to his alliance with Germany, which was not only a foolish quest, but brought the enmity of the British toward him at this time of intense patriotism and anti-German sentiment. In pleading his oppostion to the Easter rising as bound to bring only the bloody sacrifice of the nationalist leadership, he did not imagine that it was the martyrdom of Pearse, Connolley, Plunkett and the others that would stimulate the ever-growing sentiment against British dominion that ultimately saw the independence of Ireland.
This complex and important figure in world and Irish history deserves the sensitive and thoughtful treatment given him in Vargas Llosa's excellent book.
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LibraryThing member mojomomma
Roger Casement was an Irish freedom fighter in the early twentieth century who has been nearly lost to history. His work in uncovering the abuses to the native peoples of the Congo and South America by the rubber barons was applauded. But when he made the connection that the British Empire was
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endangering his own native Irish language and culture in not so different a way that colonialism was destroying the Congo, his militancy went way beyond the comfort zone. He tried to set up an Irish regiment of soldiers who fought against Great Britain supported by Kaiser Wilhelm. Although the regiment never took off and the Easter Uprising was a failure, he was captured and eventually hung for treason. Show Less
LibraryThing member nosajeel
My third historical novel in a row. And it was not nearly as good as Hilary Mantel's Bring Up the Bodies or Laurent Binet's HHhH (not to mention Vargas Llosa's absolutely brilliant The Feast of the Goat or epic The War at the End of the World). Although it was still worth reading.
Bring Up the
In contrast, the majority of The Dream of the Celt reads more like a history book or biography than a novel. Those parts have little dialogue, few invented characters, and very extended descriptions of Roger Casement's trips to investigate and report on the epic atrocities in King Leopold's Congo and the Putumayo region of Peruvian Amazonia. These parts are almost always interesting (and horrifying), rarely tedious, but are not infused with anything of the special possibilities that is afforded by the novel of going deeper into a character's head, shifting perspectives, showing through stories, a plot, developing multiple characters, or just about anything else.
These historical chapters alternate with somewhat shorter chapters that depict Casement's final days before his execution for treason in Pentonville prison. These are more novelistic, with dialogue, somewhat more interesting characters (e.g., the prison's sheriff), and lots of flashbacks to Casement's role in what eventually became the Easter Uprising. These are perfectly fine, fast reading, but do not come anywhere close to The Feast of the Goat.
Altogether much of the interest of the book comes from learning about Roger Casement (who was largely new to me), more about the Congo and Putumayo, and the Easter Uprising and how that period in Ireland's struggle for independence intersected with the First World War. All interestingly told. And this is reason enough to read the novel.
Bring Up the
Show More
Bodies is deeply immersed in its history, but tells its story as a novel, largely dialogue between the characters, that makes their psychologies and motivations come alive--all while wearing its history lightly with little exposition or digressions into history. HHhH is an experimental novel that tries to faithfully recount its history, reluctantly follows novelistic conventions for short spurts (and quite well), but then retreats into the narrator's voice to apologize for fabricating anything.In contrast, the majority of The Dream of the Celt reads more like a history book or biography than a novel. Those parts have little dialogue, few invented characters, and very extended descriptions of Roger Casement's trips to investigate and report on the epic atrocities in King Leopold's Congo and the Putumayo region of Peruvian Amazonia. These parts are almost always interesting (and horrifying), rarely tedious, but are not infused with anything of the special possibilities that is afforded by the novel of going deeper into a character's head, shifting perspectives, showing through stories, a plot, developing multiple characters, or just about anything else.
These historical chapters alternate with somewhat shorter chapters that depict Casement's final days before his execution for treason in Pentonville prison. These are more novelistic, with dialogue, somewhat more interesting characters (e.g., the prison's sheriff), and lots of flashbacks to Casement's role in what eventually became the Easter Uprising. These are perfectly fine, fast reading, but do not come anywhere close to The Feast of the Goat.
Altogether much of the interest of the book comes from learning about Roger Casement (who was largely new to me), more about the Congo and Putumayo, and the Easter Uprising and how that period in Ireland's struggle for independence intersected with the First World War. All interestingly told. And this is reason enough to read the novel.
Show Less
LibraryThing member maryreinert
If I had not read "Valiant Gentlemen" I might have had more difficulty reading this well-researched, interesting, and accurate story of Roger Casement. Casement was born in Northern Ireland to an Anglican family who had served in the British military. As Casement first visited Africa with Henry
Casement was also instrumental in relieving the plight of the Peruvian Indians also working in the rubber trade. However, his personal life and sexual preferences caused him great problems throughout this career. When he realized that the people of Ireland were suffering from many of the same indignities as those in Africa and Peru, his cause became Irish freedom from Britain. During WWI when he involved the Germans in the Irish rebellion, he became a traitor to Britain. The Irish Upraising in Dublin is well told.
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Stanley, his naivety soon vanished as he became familiar with the way the British treated the indigenous peoples especially those working in the rubber trade. He became a well-known and knighted ambassador of Britain.Casement was also instrumental in relieving the plight of the Peruvian Indians also working in the rubber trade. However, his personal life and sexual preferences caused him great problems throughout this career. When he realized that the people of Ireland were suffering from many of the same indignities as those in Africa and Peru, his cause became Irish freedom from Britain. During WWI when he involved the Germans in the Irish rebellion, he became a traitor to Britain. The Irish Upraising in Dublin is well told.
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LibraryThing member alexbolding
This novel pivots on a beautiful idea, badly executed. Roger Casement is a hero with a dark side: he is betwixt between being a perfect gentleman and lust-driven gay man; being an innocent fighter for justice while consumed by lurid forbidden lusts; being a nascent Irish nationalist and a medalled
Llhosa does seem to stick to the historic facts, interspersing a story line of the despairing Roger in prison on death row, with detailed descriptions of Roger’s trips to Congo, Putumayo (twice) and his nascent Irish nationalism. This seems a successful formula to bring out the struggles of his conscience, but… it becomes too detailed, too repetitive, to the extent that it drags on and on. Pity. A shorter version, with less long winding sentences would probably have become a classic. Not so.
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English Sir and Consul; being a fighter for Ireland and a traitor to England. Casement successfully fought the injustices and cruelties involved in rubber exploration in Leopold’s Congo Free State, first as an itinerant administrator for the Free State in the service of Leopold II and later as British Consul cum investigator; next he is sent as British consul to various Latin American countries (Argentina, Brazil) before being asked to perform an investigation into the injustices and cruelties exerted by a British rubber company in Putumayo, Peru. This second investigation takes him back to Congo, but also awakens in him a fierce nationalism for Ireland to be independent and free (or else the Irish will befall the same fate as the indigenous peoples of the Congo and Peru, he fears). So after 1912, when he has successfully published another damning report on the Putumayo scandal, he devotes himself to the cause of Irish nationalism, seeking to raise an Irish army from Irish POWs in Germany, sourcing arms from Germany and seeking to time the rising with a German offensive on the Western front, tying the British army down. Alas, it was not to be. Ferrying in weapons from Germany, Casement is caught before he can halt the spontaneous Easter 1916 rising in Dublin (which is doomed). He spends time in prison waiting for the treatment of an appeal for clemency on his death sentence, talking to a Catholic priest, seeking consolation from Christ, when his private diaries hit the press, and his fate is doomed – the lurid gay exploits (mostly imagined) of Roger condemn him to death and compromise his previous righteous stance as fighter for justice and Irish independence. Llhosa does seem to stick to the historic facts, interspersing a story line of the despairing Roger in prison on death row, with detailed descriptions of Roger’s trips to Congo, Putumayo (twice) and his nascent Irish nationalism. This seems a successful formula to bring out the struggles of his conscience, but… it becomes too detailed, too repetitive, to the extent that it drags on and on. Pity. A shorter version, with less long winding sentences would probably have become a classic. Not so.
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LibraryThing member ben_a
More notable for moral seriousness than for artistry. The prose (and this could be translation, I suppose) at times reads almost journalistically -- a surprising contrast to my memories of "The Feast of the Goat." There was more dash and snap in a few sentences of Urania's or Trujillo's stream of
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consciousness than in pages of Casement. Still, and one feels foolish writing this, an important book, a serious book. In this maybe Llosa wants to mirror casement himself -- doing what is right and required, but without excesses of flash or style. Glad I read it, skipped the last 3rd 'Ireland.' Show Less
Awards
Dublin Literary Award (Longlist — 2014)
Booklist Editor's Choice: Adult Books (Fiction — 2012)
Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the Year (Translation — 2012)
ALA Over the Rainbow Book List (Selection — Fiction — 2013)