Dethronements : Imaginary portraits of political characters, done in dialogue

In this inventive collection, the author treats dialogue as a kind of portrait, sketching well‑known politicians through imagined conversations rather than factual speeches. The pieces blend the sharp edge of caricature with a more measured psychological insight, letting listeners hear the inner conflicts of men and women who once steered nations. Though rooted in real events, every exchange is a creative reconstruction, inviting reflection on how power is exercised and dismantled.

The opening scene, set in a seaside sitting‑room in October 1891, brings together the fallen Irish leader Charles Stewart Parnell and his wife Katharine in a tense, almost private interrogation. Their words ripple with the aftermath of scandal, divorce, and political exile, revealing how public defeat can seep into intimate moments. The crisp, theatrical style makes the listener feel as if they are eavesdropping on a historic yet wholly imagined encounter, while the prefatory essay explains the author's intent to balance satire with sincere character study.