Books like A star called Henry by Roddy Doyle

Born in Dublin’s harsh slums in 1901, Henry Smart’s early life is defined by hardship and survival. With a one‑legged father who works as a whorehouse bouncer, Henry grows up fast, engaging in theft, begging, and street fighting. By Easter Monday, 1916, at fourteen, he stands six feet two inches tall, already a member of the Irish Citizen Army. The next year, Henry is prepared to give his life for Ireland, joining a new wave of rebels and becoming a Fenian legend. His wooden leg transforms into a weapon as he participates in acts of resistance—including striking a cop and executing assassinations on a stolen bicycle—under the leadership of Michael Collins. The novel paints a vivid portrait of Dublin’s darkness at the turn of the century, exploring themes of poverty, revolution, and the harsh realities that shape a young man's journey from survival to heroism within the Irish struggle for independence.

First publish date: 1999