Lord of the Dance (novel)
| Company type | Novel |
|---|---|
| Industry | Literature |
| Founded | 1984 |
| Founder | Andrew Greeley |
| Products | Novel |
Lord of the Dance (1984) is a novel authored by American writer Andrew Greeley and released through Warner Books. This work serves as the third entry in the Passover Trilogy, centering on Noele Farrell, a young woman who represents a blend of Irish-American female experiences observed by Greeley.
Plot introduction
Noele is the offspring of Roger, a university professor and political hopeful with a past marked by unfaithfulness, and Irene, a woman whose early potential has been diminished by years of household challenges. She possesses psychic abilities, including mind-reading and precognition concerning those in her immediate circle.
Plot summary
Noele becomes deeply intrigued by her uncle Danny Farrell, who is regarded as the family's outcast and believed to have perished in a CIA-related airplane accident over China. The family's matriarch, Brigid, is a formidable widow guarding numerous secrets. The Farrell family exemplifies an Irish Catholic lineage ascending into the upper middle class, aligning with Greeley's sociological insights. Amid unexplained fatalities, Noele delves into her shadowed ancestry, revealing significant truths about herself.
At the heart of the story is Noele, who functions as a symbol for the Catholic Church. Notably, she leads a church gathering where she performs a guitar version of the hymn "Lord of the Dance" and delivers an unscripted sermon portraying life as a dance in which God selects partners—occasionally dancing alone with certain individuals.
Major themes
Central themes include those frequently explored by Greeley: the integral role of Irish Catholicism within Irish culture, the intricate dynamics of familial loyalty balancing affection with pragmatism, alongside persistent motifs of love, sex, and enigma.