Durango

Popular Irish writer Keane (whose play The Field was the basis for the 1991 film) uses the early days of WWII to tell a rousing adventure story set in the rural Irish hills. Mark Doran, a young man who has taken over the family farm after the death of his father, recognizes that the war will drive cattle prices up because of Britain's need to feed its army, and he understands that local prices are not competitive. So he puts together a major cattle drive of 200 animals and heads for the larger and more lucrative town of Trallock Fair. Meanwhile, he is finally beginning to admit to himself that his feelings for lovely next-door neighbor Annie Mullanney are serious, but her loud and boisterous father, Haystack, has made it clear he won't take anyone's interest in his youngest daughter kindly. Mark is also subject to the increasingly seductive and blatant charms of Sally McCarthy, whose father is an influential local publican strongly opposed to the cattle drive. The drive is the spine of the tale, but the colorful characters--including an Irish army deserter and the unforgettable sisters who own the Durango bar--make it sing. Keane tells his story with a wink in his eye and a voice inflated to just the right mock-epic Blarney pitch for this warm, delightful and thoroughly unbelievable tale. (Sept.)