Black Wreath
Based on fact, Black Wreath tells the story of young James Lovett, whose life stands in the way of his father (and his stepmother) inheriting a fortune. Unable to understand what is happening at first, James finds himself gradually pushed out of the family home – effectively disowned – and thrown onto the dangerous, even lethal, streets of Dublin. We follow his changes of fortune, from a street ragamuffin, to a member of a criminal gang, to apprentice; all the time desperate to know why his father refuses to acknowledge him. It is only when he sees the black wreath hanging on the door of his former home, that James finally realizes that he is now legally dead; his life has become an ‘inconvenience’. Even after his father’s death, things don’t get better; his uncle is determined to get rid of James for good.
The final straw is when James is indentured as a worker and effectively sold into slavery in America. Now James must struggle for his very life, try to understand what’s happened, and fight for his future.
Peter Sirr, the author, writes a stirring tale. Reminiscent of Oliver Twist, the story of 18th-century Ireland, its laws and way of life, is brought out vividly. With great sensitivity and tact, Sirr manages to get across a world which modern children might find difficult to imagine – a world where children have neither choice nor protection. Black Wreath is a well-written and intelligently plotted tale of adventure, desperation and the hero’s solid determination to do what is right and assert his claim to his inheritance. Children of 12 plus should enjoy this book.
