Book description
Written in 1864 and set during the Irish rebellion of 1798, Arrah na
Pogue is is an entertaining tale of romance and misadventure with
rascally rebels, despicable villains and love struck youths. As night
falls on the Wicklow mountains, the popular but incorrigible rebel
Beamish MacCaul is lying in wait. He's out to ambush the cowardly
rent-collector Michael Feeny and relieve him of a 'big lump of money.'
That done, he's off to marry Fanny Power. Down in the valley, love is in
the air for Shaun the Post and our heroine Arrah Meelish too. But Arrah
has a secret. And Michael Feeny's found out. As Shaun and Arrah
celebrate their wedding, revenge comes a-calling. Love must conquer all
- including the hangman's noose. The play is full of Boucicault's
trademark comic roguery, farce and melodrama, which has influenced Irish
playwrights including Synge, O'Casey, Shaw and McDonagh. This edition
features an introduction by leading Boucicault scholar Dr Scott
Boltwood. Dion Boucicault, 'the most conspicuous English dramatist of
the 19th century' (New York Times), was a witty, selfish and deceitful
charmer, a bigamist, a profligate spendthrift and the author of dozens
of successful plays, only a handful of which endure. Among these his
early comedies influenced Oscar Wilde, and his Irish melodramas Shaw,
Synge, and O'Casey.
