{"product_id":"we-were-rich-and-we-didnt-know-it-a-memoir-of-my-irish-boyhood-9781501197109","title":"We Were Rich and We Didn't Know It: A Memoir of My Irish Boyhood","description":"\u003ch2\u003eA Heartfelt Memoir of 1940s Rural Ireland\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\"You don't have to be Irish to cherish this literary gift--just being human and curious and from a family will suffice.\" --Malachy McCourt, \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e bestselling author of \u003ci\u003eA Monk Swimming\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eIn the tradition of Frank McCourt's \u003ci\u003eAngela's Ashes\u003c\/i\u003e and Alice Taylor's \u003ci\u003eTo School Through the Fields\u003c\/i\u003e, Tom Phelan's \u003ci\u003eWe Were Rich and We Didn't Know It\u003c\/i\u003e is a heartfelt and masterfully written memoir of growing up in Ireland in the 1940s.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eLife in County Laois: A Time Before Modern Conveniences\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eTom Phelan was born and raised in County Laois in the Irish midlands, where he spent his formative years working alongside his wise and demanding father. Together, they sought to wrest a livelihood from a farm that was often wet, muddy, and back-breaking. This memoir captures a vanished world—a time before rural electrification, the telephone, and indoor plumbing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe narrative transports readers to an era when the main modes of travel were bicycle and animal cart, when small farmers struggled to survive, and when turkey eggs were hatched in the kitchen cupboard. It was a time when the Church exerted enormous control over Ireland, shaping daily life and community values.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eFrom Midwife Delivery to Coming of Age\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eWe Were Rich and We Didn't Know It\u003c\/i\u003e recounts Tom's upbringing in an isolated, rural community from the day he was delivered by the local midwife. With tears and laughter, this memoir speaks to the strength of the human spirit in the face of life's adversities. Phelan's masterful storytelling brings to life the challenges and joys of Irish farm life during a transformative period in the nation's history.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eAbout Tom Phelan\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eTom Phelan had just turned fifty when his first novel, \u003ci\u003eIn the Season of the Daisies\u003c\/i\u003e, was accepted for publication. Since then, Phelan has written five other novels: \u003ci\u003eIscariot\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eDerrycloney\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eThe Canal Bridge\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eNailer\u003c\/i\u003e, and \u003ci\u003eLies the Mushroom Pickers Told\u003c\/i\u003e. Born and reared in Ireland, he now lives in New York.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003ePerfect For\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis memoir appeals to readers who cherished Frank McCourt's \u003ci\u003eAngela's Ashes\u003c\/i\u003e, those interested in Irish family history and cultural heritage, and anyone seeking authentic accounts of mid-20th century rural life. It's an essential addition to any Irish literature collection and makes a thoughtful gift for book lovers who appreciate honest, beautifully crafted personal narratives.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gallery Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50681025528082,"sku":"9781501197109","price":12.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_fb051103-d77b-4c17-b977-d48320c37cce.jpg?v=1733947843","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/we-were-rich-and-we-didnt-know-it-a-memoir-of-my-irish-boyhood-9781501197109","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}