Best-selling Irish author Eimear Lawlor releases her hotly-anticipated second novel, “Kitty’s War”.
Following on from her #1 debut novel Dublin’s Girl, Kitty’s War is a compelling blend of historical fact and fiction.
Inspired by a deathbed confession from her father-in-law, a World War II reservist stationed on Spike Island, Kitty’s War is set against the backdrop of Ireland’s neutrality during World War II, delving deep into the personal battles faced by those caught in the tide of history.
Following the life, and loves, of protagonist Kathleen ‘Kitty’ Flinn, a young Irish nurse whose life is a tapestry of complex emotions and daring decisions. From the bomb-ravaged streets of London to the serene yet conflicted Irish countryside, Kitty navigates love, loss, and survival during the tumultuous years of WWII, revealing the personal and societal impacts of the war.
Forced to give up her out-of-wedlock child to a mother and baby home at seventeen, Kitty escapes to London in search of a fresh start before returning home to Kilkenny in 1941, upon hearing her brother had been injured during the Spanish Civil War.
Kitty’s journey extends onto Co.Kildare, where she initially works as a nurse’s aid in Naas General Hospital before taking up a post at The Curragh Military Camp, in which her controversial ties to Germany see her bilingual skill set utilised by G2, the Irish Intelligence, to extract information from the German internees.
Inspired by real-life events, Kitty’s story navigates identity, loyalty, and the moral ambiguities of war alongside the human cost of conflict, the bonds of family, and the quest for personal redemption.
Eimear Lawlor’s emerging voice in historical fiction places her as one of the country’s most exciting authors within the genre. Eimear’s inspiration for “Kitty’s War” and her debut best-selling novel Dublin’s Girl, which reached #1 on Amazon, #6 on the Irish Times New Fiction list and named as one of Eason’s Summer Reads, stems from her deep interest in historical events and personal family stories.
Kitty’s War reflects extensive research supported by the Irish Arts Council and the Kilkenny Arts Office, with Eimear’s commitment to historical accuracy and emotional depth offering readers an authentic and moving reading experience.