The Storyteller s Child

A child's view of her life, framed by her father's romantic tales of Old Ireland and her mother's strong Catholic faith, may not have been considered an ideal upbringing by today's standards.

Living in poor tenement housing in a time of war might have been thought of as bleak. Not so, since this story is seen through a child's eyes. Her father's stories and his way of telling them stirred her imagination. These stories never left her while her mother's faith kept her feet on the ground and left a lifelong impression.

Her parents had opposing views on the Catholic Church. For her mother, it was a lifeline; for her father, it was something of a joke. This went through their lives without disrupting them. Limited education with this background meant working life for a youngster started at age 14, which would be an eye-opener for a 14-year-old today. It is Christine Brown's unique way of telling the story through a child's eyes which makes it a heartfelt read.