Books: Cork's Carney

BIRD ALONE—Sean O'Faolain—Viking ($2.50).

Few modern political upheavals have given rise to as many works of fiction as the civil war in Ireland in 1919-21. With novels by such varied talents as Frank O'Connor, Liam O'Flaherty, Peadar O'Donnell, Sean O'Faolain dramatizing different aspects of the struggle, followers of Irish literature may occasionally get the impression that the entire Republican Army was made up of accomplished novelists whose stories were better than their strategy. Of this talented crew, Sean O'Faolain has recently emerged as one of the best novelists in the ranks of fighters...