Book Editorial May the Road Rise Up to Meet You By Peter Troy. 386 pp.

Published by Random House, Inc. New York. 2012. U.S. $26.95 And until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of His hand. This final phrase from the Old Irish Blessing that Peter Troy quotes in the title of his inaugural novel, May the Road Rise Up to Meet You, describes the spirit within the four characters whose paths are destined to cross during the American Civil War. Troy first introduces Ethan, a twelve year old in rural Ireland who barely survives the Potato Famine before crossing the Atlantic to become a fisherman in New York. Ethan makes the journey to meet his Da and brudder Seanny in America, clinging to memories of ThOld Country and of his sister Aislinn, who shared a love for classic literature with her brother before she died in The Hunger. Troy writes in a thick brogue vernacular that almost requires the sounding out of sentences such as, Aunt Em always said it wasnt really stealin, just doin the Lahrds work for Him, feedin thpoor and such, like thloaves an fishes in thBible. The adaptation of the dialect is almost overwhelming at first, but it doesnt take long to realize that its a writing tool that livens the text, especially as other characters are introduced with dialects unique to their own roots. We meet Micah, a twelve year old slave in South Carolina in 1853, whose Daddy is the finest carpenter in the state, and whose Mama learns him to be literate by drawing letters in flour on their countertops. Mary, a slave in North Carolina, has learned to read and write, as well as speak French when she works on her stitchin during the school lessons of

Miss Juss, the daughter of Marys Massa. Both Micah and Marys lives parallel long before they meet in that they both posses rare talents that mark them from the rest of the slaves. The fourth character is Marcella, a sharp-witted daughter of a Spanish businessman who resembles Louisa May Alcotts beloved heroine Jo March in her eagerness to be like a man and fight against injustices. Defying the laws of her philandering Papa, Marcella joins ranks with the Ladies Abolition Society and masterfully wins over $1400 playing poker against plantation owners, which she gives to a black reverend whose church is a major conjunction in the Underground Railroad. It is not surprising that Troy is a former high school history teacher as Ethan goes from the Potato Famine in Ireland, to the docks of Red Hook in New York, and even makes his mark on the battlefield at Antietam. Perhaps one of the greatest universal truths in the novel is presented by Micahs daddy, after the heartbreaking realization that a deal he makes with their Massa Lereoux to buy his sons freedom will not be fulfilled when the Massa dies. He tells his son, maybe it werent the Lawds plan for him to see his son be free. That maybe thats gonna be Micahs thing to do. That someday hed have a son. And maybe get him free. It is this realization that shadows the until we meet again hope for Micah and Mary when their paths cross and they take risks of their own. Ethans own dreams of studying at New York University are far from reach, but he works hard as a fisherman and soldier and develops a passion for a newly discovered career. Like Micah, his plans dont go as hoped and yet his progress is immense.

The use of language is perhaps the greatest tool Troy uses to tinker the characters and bring them to life. As more than ten years pass we see less dialect in the text, subtly showing both Ethan and Marcellas transformation from immigrants to Americans who melt into the pot. Both Micah and Mary can speak with eloquent grammar in the times they wish to abandon their rooted slang. Through it all, the different dialects remain in use in meaningful conversations or reflections, which highlights the significance of the characters heritages in their identities. May the Road Rise Up to Meet You takes place during a turning point in American history and comes to life in intertwining the lives of four people.

700 words