THE LAST INHERITOR

by Genevieve Lyons ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 3, 1987

A generational saga and first novel set in Ireland from the time of Great Potato Famine of the mid-19th century through the present. Motor magnate Big Dan Casey lies dying at Slievelea, his Irish manor, regretting the women he's loved: Jessica, Livia, Aisling, and Deirdre. Flashback, then, to Dan's grandparents during the days of the Great Famine--life was hard, of course, but they survived as caretakers of Slievelea, Lord Rennett's massive estate. Deirdre, Big Dan's last-named love, was Rennett's beautiful daughter, who fell in love with Dan's handsome father, Conor. But Conor was sent away, unknowing and unrequiting of Deirdre's love; and Deirdre married Anthony to beget Edward, who, in turn, beget a beautiful daughter, Livia, the second-named of Big Dan's loves--and his wife. For it was Deirdre who plucked Dan from the Dublin slum where he was raised and, out of remembered love for Conor, trained him and introduced him to society. But Dan couldn't abandon his gorgeous Jewish mistress, Jessica (his first-named love), with whom he had an illegitimate son, Alexander; their affair continued past the birth of Dan's last-named ""love"" Aisling--his daughter. Aisling becomes a movie star, falling in love finally with artist Alexander, whom she doesn't know is her brother. ""Daddy"" Dan then has Alex killed; Aisling becomes an alcoholic; and, suddenly, surprising news arrives via a priest of whom we learn, ""Confession made him cognizant of the fact that there was no such thing as melodrama, only life."" We sense salvation for Aiding--and, alas, a sequel. A cumbersome, pizazz-less formula effort, burdened with an endless array of names and brogues.

Pub Date: April 3, 1987

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Doubleday

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 1987

Categories: FICTION