New historical novel recalls Lusitania story

A NEW book by poet, novelist and playwright Kevin Kiely tells the story of the World War 1 sinking of the Lusitania through the eyes of a 13-year-old boy.

Finbar Kennedy runs away from home in Queenstown to follow his sea-captain father onto the Lusitania.

On the return journey from New York, Finbar works as a deck-hand. He begins to see that something strange is happening on the Lusitania, something that could threaten the lives of everyone on board. But what can he do? And whom can he trust?

In May 1915, the Lusitania sank off the coast of Ireland near the Old Head of Kinsale, County Cork. But, unlike the Titanic tragedy, this was no accident.

The ship was torpedoed by a German submarine. Rumour had it that there were spies, arms and gold on board the Lusitania.

Born in Co Down, Kiely who now lives in Blackrock, is also the author of A Horse Called El Dorado, a novel for young readers.

His new book brings to life one of the most dramatic seafaring disasters in maritime history.

“We now know that arms and other war supplies as well as gold bullion were part of the cargo of the Lusitania and that certain design flaws caused the ship to sink,

? the authors states.

“The bulkheads of the Lusitania were placed in such a way that the lower deck would be flooded if the ship was hit by a torpedo which is exactly what happened.

“There are many various plots and conspiracies around the sinking of the Lusitania. Down through the years people have tried to unravel the story, but it remains a mystery to this day.

“The claim is that the sinking was not just a lucky strike by a German submarine, but was really a plan drawn up by high-ranking officials in the British Navy and their spies in order to bring America into the war.

“Close to 1,200 people died in the sinking – 200 these were US citizens, and 600 were British and Canadian.

“There was huge public reaction to the sinking of the Lusitania and this meant that America eventually decided to join in the Great War.

“Remember the Lusitania’ and

‘Avenge the Lusitania’ were slogans used on recruiting posters to persuade young men, especially Americans, to enlist as soldiers in 1917 in the First World War.

?

By mixing historical fact with fiction, Kevin creates a thrilling story that brings this important historical event to a new generation.

Kevin Kiely is a poet, novelist, playwright, literary critic, American Fulbright Scholar and has a PhD in modernist poetry. He has had two plays broadcast on RTE – Children of No Importance and Multiple Indiscretions.