Real Lace

Stephen Birmingham turns his eye to the great Irish-Catholic dynasties of America-violent, colorful, charming and charmed: the Kennedys, the Cuddihys, Buckleys and Bradys, and the California "Silver Kings," the Floods, Fairs, Mackays and O'Briens. Many of these families started with every disadvantage; fleeing from the great Irish potato famine, they arrived penniless in the slums of New York and Boston.

But from desperate poverty and degradation they rose to fame and fortune, fueled by a powerful combination of driving energy, native wit, strong religion, stronger drink, and, of course, the luck of the Irish.

Remarkable characters, warring families, and fluctuating fortunes—out of this rich material Birmingham has fashioned an extraordinary social history.