In response to David Barrow: Brock claims in the foreword to the book that most of the events he describes are historical....of course, where historical fiction crosses the line is a question. At any rate, in response to your question, part of the novel deals with the "Fenians," apparently (this was news to me) sort of a 19th century American branch of today's IRA. The Fenians were a post-Civil War organization dedicated to forcing the English to "give Ireland back to the Irish," pretty much by whatever means necessary, as told in the novel. I happen to be of Irish descent. My grandparents came over, andas a kid I saw the Erin Go Bragh stuff lying around, was taken to the St Paddy's Day parade, St Patrick's Cathedral, and so forth. However, I never heard the term "Fenian" and haven't followed up on it in the library. As Brock paints it, though, this was not a very attractive movement, and neither the main character nor Twain, in the novel, is sympathetic to the militant Irish nationalists. As individuals, some of the Irish are are portrayed very warmly, and others as villains. You asked particularly about "Pap." I don't think much of this pertains very directly, although drinking does create problems for several of the characters. One sidelight. In the story, the Fenians try to invade Canada to pressure the British. Does anyone know if this is fact or fiction? Mike Dooris Penn State Univ