Review of Latest Irish and Irish-American Books

– Aliah O’Neill
(512 pages / Public Affairs / $19.95)

From rags to riches, Sir Thomas Lipton personified the American dream of making it big. Born in the slums of 19th century Glasgow, Lipton sailed to the U.S. as a boy. His story, in which Lipton eventually established himself as a millionaire sportsman mingling with Wall Street elite and European royalty, is finally told by Michael D’Antonio in A Full Cup: Sir Thomas Lipton’s Extraordinary Life and His Quest for America’s Cup. D’Antonio, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, vibrantly describes Lipton as an affable raconteur whose incredible life was the product of hard work and good service. Once in the U.S., Lipton opened a chain of grocery stores and gained international success and wealth as the creator of his namesake tea.

The true focus of the book is Lipton’s desire to win the America’s Cup sailing regatta. Winning the match to secure the coveted cup, the oldest trophy in international sports, would be Lipton’s last adventure, and though he participated in the event five times, he never won. Already famous in his day, Lipton became the underdog of the contest and charmed the American public despite his losses. D’Antonio, with great admiration for Lipton’s unwavering spirit, writes A Full Cup in light of this underdog quality, depicting Lipton’s ascent to fame as inspirational and worth celebrating.

– Aliah O’Neill
(354 pages / Riverhead Books / $26.95)

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