The Corncrake's Welcome

Book excerpt: The Corncrake's Welcome continues the story of William Hanna’s family, introduced in Voyages with my Grandfather. Spanning a hundred years, these memoirs delve into the turbulent birth of Northern Ireland, wartime Belfast, and the 1960s, when Hanna was growing up in Windsor Manse, next to the Presbyterian Church where his father was the Minister. Join the young boy, enthralled by both the orange sashes of Belfast and the green rugby jerseys of Dublin. See the teenager confronted by the Troubles, beginning to question his religious and national inheritance. Follow Hanna’s coming-of-age journey, from Ireland to Scotland, Switzerland, and France, and watch him set out on a diplomatic career in Dublin and in Brussels. Share his joy and sorrow when he returns to Ireland, after many years serving as EU Ambassador around the world; recalls his father’s historic meeting with Pope John Paul II; and makes poignant discoveries about events a century ago. Praise for Voyages with my Grandfather: ‘Beautifully written. Very moving’ Alexander McCall Smith ‘Extraordinary insight into life of Northern Ireland Presbyterians’ Gail Walker, Belfast Telegraph ‘Wonderful book. A remarkable family story very well told’ Sir Jonathan Faull