Celtic Knot is another great Chicago book. It’s a novel based on the true story of the author’s grandfather. We sat down recently with Bob Conlon to talk to him about his book.
EP: What inspired you to write this book?
As one of the last people alive who actually met my grandfather, it dawned on me that once I’m gone so go all of his amazing stories and wonderful memories. I feared Tim Conlon would be marginalized as someone sitting at a picnic table with other nameless folks in a sepia photograph framed on the wall. “Who is the young man in the hat? I’m pretty sure that was our great grandfather…Tim, I think was his name…”.
I believe it is imperative to keep alive the memory of Tim Conlon, his parents and his grandparents. We all owe a tremendous amount of gratitude to ancestors that preceded us, who sacrificed everything to provide for their families. They left their homes and loved ones to travel to a far away land seeking an opportunity for a better life for their children and generations to come. Starving, worried and unsatisfied with their lot in life, Tim’s grandparents left their quaint hamlet in Ireland where the Conlon’s had lived for centuries. As they embarked on their journey across the Atlantic, all their remaining worldly possessions were now contained in a steamer trunk. They landed in a country that was hardly welcoming, filled with hardened people living in a new world fraught with danger. The Conlons settled in Chicago, worked tirelessly and ultimately earned the respect of their employers, neighbors and community. Tim’s parents proudly became the first home owners ever from their respective clans – they were indeed living the American dream.
In 1885, tragedy struck the Conlon’s. At the age of eight Tim was unceremoniously sent off to an orphanage northwest of Chicago following his parents’ sudden and tragic deaths. At the orphanage, Tim encountered an evil intending priest, prompting Tim to plan and execute a harrowing escape from the fortress-like purgatory. Fearing Tim would blow the whistle to the police, the Brother was hot on his trail. Tim sought refuge in the frightening and corrupt red light district south of the Loop called ”Little Cheyenne”. There, he was shown kindness from the least likely of us – saloon keepers and prostitutes. Celtic Knot chronicles Tim’s struggles to elude his pursuer and survive on the rough and tumble streets of late 19th century Chicago. He survived and eventually moved on, working as a courier for Western Union, in the copy room at the Chicago Tribune, and finally at Western Electric where he successfully obtained 22 patents – all with only a second grade education. Tim’s, his parents’ and grandparents’ fascinating lives intersected with so many important historical events such as the Chicago Fire, the Eastland Disaster and the Iroquois Theatre Fire – their stories need to be told. I wrote Celtic Knot so that my children and grandchildren may appreciate that without Tim’s sacrifices, will to survive, and perseverance, we do not exist. I know all of us have stories about our own ancestors, and how they paved the way for future generations. Celtic Knot reminds us to never forget our ancestors’ journeys.
EP: Obviously the main character is your grandfather as a boy, but another major character in the story is the city of Chicago at the turn of last century. That must have taken quite a bit of research on your part to bring that time and place to life. The Little Cheyenne Red Light District. The Iroquois Theater Fire. The Eastland Disaster. The mafia. What are some things that you learned doing your research?
Celtic Knot explores multiple historical Chicago events in parallel with Tim’s journey. In the late 19th century, Chicago, like Tim, was coming of age. Each time tragedy struck the city, its vibrant spirit was determined to come back better and stronger. Chicago demonstrated tremendous fortitude following the Chicago Fire and other tragedies. Chicagoans were courageous and always comforting and nurturing to those adversely impacted. The City of Big Shoulders embraced Tim in his time of need and provided him refuge from his pursuers.
Chicago gave Tim great guidance by being his only educator and life coach after his parents died while he was in second grade. With multiple life-altering moments that presented forks in the road for Tim, the city took his hand and guided him safely and morally forward. Although Tim had been emotionally fragile to the point of nearly breaking following his personal losses and witnessing epic tragedies, he observed how the city and its amazing citizens rallied around one another, refusing to let the horrible pain and sadness ruin their life’s trajectories. Each time, Chicago tirelessly rebuilt itself. Instead of throwing in the towel, Chicago, like the bare knuckle boxer with swollen eyes and a bloodied mouth, though exhausted and in excruciating pain, somehow chose to rise to its feet again, raise its scarred fists, and snarl at fate, “Is that all you got!” It was this resilience that made Chicago a world class city. Like Chicago, the love in Tim’s heart was the engine that drove him forward, and enabled Tim to arise with his fists clenched to “fight another day.” Chicago led by example and showed Tim the way.
EP: I love the quote from fellow author Brendan Sullivan. He called Celtic Knot: “A work of non-fiction with a little poetic license and a wink of imagination thrown in. How very Irish.” This really is a very Irish story too, isn’t it?
Yes, very much so. The Conlons emigrated from Ireland to the United States in 1843, just before the onset of the Great Famine of 1845. The Conlons left everything they owned and everyone they knew and loved, searching for new lives, and set sail to America. The Conlons and the other massive influx of Irish immigrants were mostly unwelcome as they arrived. Signs were posted in businesses throughout New York during the Great Famine Immigration, “NO IRISH NEED APPLY.” The great American Melting Pot had dividers between the various neighborhoods. “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free…”; just don’t live on my street. Having several relatives in the newly incorporated town of Chicago, the Conlons were told opportunities were flush there and Irish immigrants seemed more welcome than in New York and other East Coast American cities.
Many Irish began to reside in Chicago when it was incorporated as a city in 1837. In the next several years, Irish numbers grew rapidly, particularly after the arrival of refugees from the Great Famine. By 1850, Irish immigrants accounted for about one-fifth of the city’s population. From 1850 through the end of the 19th century, large numbers of Germans, Italian, Polish, other immigrant groups began to settle in the city, making Chicago one of the most multi-ethnic urban areas in the United States. The Irish ghettoes in Chicago were rooted with people sharing similar backgrounds, commonly missing their beloved homelands, usually under adverse circumstances, and desiring to be surrounded by folks that understood their culture. Irish traditions provided comfort and connection in their new communities.
The Conlons grew up with hundreds of neighbors living on top of each other, with rows of modest homes situated five feet on either side of their house. Everyone knew everyone else. If a neighbor saw someone’s children in trouble, they would drop everything and help them. The neighborhood gave everyone a sense that they were part of something larger than themselves. If they did something untoward, they would have guilt that all the neighbors would know about it and be disappointed. If they did something great or admirable, the neighbors would beam with pride. The common bound they shared, embraced and understood was their rich and lovely Irish heritage. As with the other multitudes of ethnic neighborhoods in Chicago, those residing in the Irish ghetto hung on tightly to their traditions to keep their souls tethered to the land and the loved ones that they left behind. They fully embraced America but never forgot their culture or how they got here.
EP: I think all of us marvel at the difficulties our ancestors had to endure, and how their struggles led to our opportunities. You’ve become a very successful attorney in Chicago. Do you think your grandfather could have envisioned that as he was struggling to survive in the rough and tumble streets of Chicago?
When Tim was eight, his main concern was to stay alive, to find his next meal, to make it through one more night lying in the dirt of a back alley. Being a reflective and intelligent man, I hope Tim had moments of pride over his being able to survive, and his becoming a good father, husband and employee. He never bragged and found those that did distasteful. Tim never felt entitled to anything and knew that the only way to achieve success was through hard work and perseverance. He led his family by example and lived to see several of his children and grandchildren grow up to become morally decent citizens and successful adults. I am sure he occasionally would shake his head with wonderment at how that all happened. Was it his will to survive and toughness, his intelligence, dumb luck, or divine intervention that enabled Tim and future generations to be where they are now? I believe Tim Conlon would have said , “it was all of the above”.
EP: Attorneys often make good authors because they have to persuade judges and juries on a daily basis. They present a narrative. Do you think your day job helped you become an author, or was this much harder than you thought it would be?
Some lawyers write better than others…but I believe most are very good. Writing is a skill that our profession spends a tremendous amount of time and energy trying to hone and improve. As a commercial litigator / trial attorney, I spent many decades trying to convince juries and trial judges to side with my client’s position. Written communication is a critical tool of the trade. All trials are stories, and telling my clients’ stories in a compelling way was crucial to achieving success. In every case, I attempted to present my client’s case and position in a way that allowed people, from all walks of life and with different backgrounds, to visualize my client’s story. I tried to place the reader in the ‘room where it happened’. The same is generally true with legal briefs submitted to a trial judge or appellate panel. It is paramount to present a well-organized brief, with a catchy and persuasive beginning, a middle section discussing and analyzing supporting evidence and cases, and a conclusion based on the facts and the law that leaves the judge with no other choice but to rule in favor of my client (in theory anyways).
Throughout law school and as a young lawyer, much time is spent researching case law and background facts gleaned from interviewing witnesses and sorting through sometimes warehouses of documents. As attorneys become more experienced, they still spend time reviewing younger attorneys’ research, analyzing the more important documents and interviewing key witnesses. Being thorough and reconciling discrepancies in a reasonable and genuine manner is both an art and a science that can make a massive impact on your clients’ position and whether they win or lose the case.
The writing and research skills I developed as a trial lawyer were certainly put to use in writing Celtic Knot. I enjoyed the challenge of diving into and researching historical events, such as the Eastland Disaster, to convey to the reader an accurate and compelling account of what occurred and to do so in a respectful manner to those passengers of the Eastland who perished. I can only hope I was successful in writing this historical fiction novel based on a true story about my grandfather and honor his legacy.
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