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They said giants were only legends, but the truth is they are real.
A rare genetic mutation. A centuries-old mystery. A journey that spans folklore, science, and family.
In Search of Giants: The Quest to Find the Genetic Giants of Northern Ireland is a gripping blend of medical mystery, personal memoir, and Irish history. It follows Colleen Snyder, the first person in the United States identified with a rare Irish genetic mutation that causes gigantism, as she meets fellow giant Brendan Holland from Co. Tyrone and uncovers a forgotten legacy.
What's inside:
Rare disease and genetic discovery - Learn how a mutation in the AIP gene causes life-threatening gigantism and how it can remain undiagnosed in many for years. True medical mystery - Explore the story of Charles Byrne, the 18th-century Irish giant whose body was stolen-and how his DNA cracked open centuries of scientific secrets. Irish history and folklore - Dive into the legends of Fionn Mac Cumhaill and the rich mythos of giants in Ulster, where fact and folklore intertwine. Personal journey and identity - Follow Colleen's quest from a pandemic-era Google search to her discovery of ancestral ties, newfound Irish kin, and a global network of others with the same mutation that caused their gigantism. Genetic genealogy and ancestral connections - See how London researcher Professor Marta Korbonits traced this mutation back 2,000 years to a hotspot between Lough Neagh and the Sperrin Mountains, linking families from Mid-Ulster in Northern Ireland to Scotland, Canada, Australia, and beyond. Interviews and lived experiences - Hear the voices of modern-day giants, including co-author Brendan Holland, as they reflect on what it means to carry this condition, this history, and this legacy.
Perfect for readers who love:
Medical nonfiction Rare disease memoirs Genetic genealogy Irish culture and ancestry True stories of science and identity
The giants are real. Their stories are unforgettable.
Join us in the search by scrolling up and ordering your copy of In Search of Giants to uncover the astonishing truth that links myth, medicine, and memory across generations.
