author
John Boyle O'Reilly
1844–1890
A poet, journalist, and political activist, he turned a life of exile and escape into writing full of conviction, feeling, and public purpose. His work blends Irish nationalism, moral courage, and a strong belief in human dignity.
1 Audiobook
The King's Men: A Tale of To-morrow
by Robert Grant, John Boyle O'Reilly, Frederic Jesup Stimson, John T. (John Tyler) Wheelwright
About the author
Born near Drogheda, County Meath, on June 28, 1844, John Boyle O'Reilly grew up in a family that valued learning and language. He began work young in the newspaper trade and became involved with the Irish Republican Brotherhood, a commitment that changed the course of his life.
In the 1860s, his Fenian activity led to imprisonment and transportation to Western Australia. He later escaped, reached the United States in 1869, and built a prominent career in Boston as a journalist, editor, poet, and public speaker. He became especially associated with The Pilot, where his writing joined literary talent with political passion.
O'Reilly is remembered for poems, essays, and fiction shaped by ideals of liberty, justice, and sympathy for the oppressed. He died on August 10, 1890, but his life story has continued to stand out for its dramatic sweep: from Irish rebel and convict to widely admired man of letters in America.