Immigrant stories are fascinating, and in the novel TransAtlantic by Irish author Colum McCann, we follow an Irish immigrant and three subsequent generations. As family historians, we benefit from reading historical accounts based on the author’s research. We can gain important contextual information and insight into the plight of our ancestors. In TransAtlantic, we view the immigration story from the Irish perspective, with young Lily Duggan braving the Atlantic Ocean to start a new life in America.

We’re reading TransAtlantic for our Winter 2026 Family Locket Book Club selection on Goodreads. The prose beautifully takes us on several journeys across the Atlantic through the eyes of very different characters. Author McCann ties each fictional character to a true story and an actual historical figure – a fascinating idea for writing our own family history. What famous people could our ancestors have encountered in their lives? The stories in TransAtlantic provide food for thought. The novel jumps around in time, but in the end, all is tied together through one document – a letter.

1845 – Lily Duggan, the Irish Immigrant, and Frederick Douglass

In 1845 and 1846, the formerly enslaved African American Frederick Douglass visited Ireland. He was writing his autobiography and sought support from the Irish in his cause of the abolition of slavery in America. Housemaid Lily Duggan meets Douglass and, inspired by his cause for freedom, seeks her own freedom from the class system in Ireland by immigrating to the US.

1919 – Emily and Lottie, and Alcock and Brown

Lily’s daughter, Emily, and granddaughter, Lottie, experience another Atlantic Crossing, this time in 1919. They witness aviators and WWI veterans Jack Alcock and Arthur Brown, who make the first non-stop Transatlantic flight from Newfoundland to Ireland in a modified bomber. Emily sends a letter with Alcock and Brown to be delivered to friends of her mother, Lily, in Ireland, should they safely land. Unfortunately, Alcock forgets about the letter and returns it to Emily unopened. The letter is passed down from mother to daughter to granddaughter.

1998 – Lottie and Senator George Mitchell

As an older woman, Lottie, Lily’s granddaughter, meets US Senator George Mitchell during a visit to Ireland, where he was brokering a peace agreement between Northern Ireland and England. This book section depicts the violence that haunted Northern Ireland during the era of bombings and shootings.

Hannah and the Letter

The final chapter of Transatlantic finds Lily’s great-granddaughter, Hannah, the keeper of the unopened letter. Having fallen into financial difficulties, Hannah wonders if the letter might be worth something to a collector, since it made the ocean crossing with Alcock and Brown.

Ultimately, the true value of the letter lies in the bond between the women of the family and the story passed down. Similarly, our memorabilia may not hold worth to anyone but us. However, sharing the story behind a letter, a dish, or a dress is the most valuable way to preserve our family’s history.

Ideas for Writing our Family History

TransAtlantic provides some interesting ideas as we ponder how to frame our own family stories.

1. Use an object that has been passed down through the generations. Perhaps we have dishes, a pocketwatch, or a piece of furniture that could serve as a focal point. In the novel, the author used the fictional letter to connect Lily’s descendants to Ireland and to each other.
2. Consider historical characters that our ancestors may have met. In Transatlantic,  we are introduced to Frederick Douglass, Alcock and Brown, and George Mitchell. Their stories are loosely tied to the fictional women. This could be an interesting way to tie historical context to our own family members who may not have left many details about their lives.
3. Research important events in the time and place our ancestors lived and how those events may have impacted them. In Transatlantic, we see three distinct snapshots of Irish history: the abolitionist movement, the first transatlantic flight, and the Northern Ireland peace process. What events were important to our ancestors? How did those events affect them?

Whether or not you have Irish heritage, Transatlantic is a fascinating read.

Best of luck in all your genealogical endeavors!