CARLETON, WHIAAm (1794-1869). An Irish novelist, born at PriRisk, Tyrone, Ireland. Bred and educated among the peasantry. he passed through the common sufferings and priva tions of Irish poverty. After receiving sonic scanty instruction in a hedge-school, he attended an academy at Glasslough. Subsequently a vague ambition led lihn to Dublin, where he arrived with only two shillings and ninepen•e in his pocket. lie soon began for a Dublin periodical, sketches of Irish life. which he published in IS:30. under the title, Traits end of the Irish Peasantry. Their freshness of style pleased the public, and won the favor of critics. A second series, issued in 1833, was also well received: ;Ind in 1839 he published Pardo rouyha th, r, an experiment in the longer novel of Irish manners. This was followed by a series of tales (3 vols., 1841). mostly of pa
thetic interest, but including a very genial and humorous sketch of the .11 isf ort u nes of Barney Branagan, which proved a great favorite. In ntine M'Clutchy, a novel. half political and half religious in its tendency. de fending the Irish Catholic priesthood. and advo cating repeal of the union. Other narratives Vody the I:orer ( 1843 ) The Black Proph( t 11s471 : and The Tithe Proctor (18491—•ontain many proofs of the author's talents. Willy illy appeared in ]S-55, and The Eril Eye in 1(4). Carleton is the true historian of the Irish people. Sharing in their qualities of mind and temperament, he had genuine sympathy with all their joys. and sorrows, and a graphic pen to describe them. Consult Traits and Sto•if'N, ed ited by O'Donogline (London and New York, 1896).