Roddy Doyle - already acclaimed for memorable portraits of Dublin such as "The Commitments" and "Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha" - turned Irish historical fiction on its ear in 1999 with his novel "A Star Called Henry." The setting was Ireland at the beginning of the 20th Century, a time of upheaval, betrayal and bloodshed. Not surprisingly, most authors have treated this time with utmost seriousness, earnestly illustrating the moral dilemmas and military struggles which dominated Ireland in the wake of the 1916 rebellion and through the terrible civil war years. Well, Roddy Doyle said, enough of that. Sure, "A Star Called Henry" had its moments of romantic rebellion and bloody warfare. (Doyle's recreation of the Easter Rising was nothing short of brilliant.) But the book's main character, Henry Smart, was, first and foremost, an undeniable rogue with a fondness for women. Doyle never forgot Henry's personal side, even as political affairs inevitably became central to the story of "A Star Called Henry." Henry turns 16 just in time for the Rising and, later, becomes an IRA recruiter and trainer. Collins, de Valera and others come and go but Doyle opts to focus on Henry and one of his colorful lovers, even as the idealism which sparked the call for Irish freedom dims. Now, Doyle is back with "Oh, Play That Thing," the second book in a planned trilogy revolving around Henry Smart and Ireland in the 20th Century. This time around, Henry has fled Ireland for New York, just one of thousands of immigrants left weary by another decade of war and poverty. After rubbing some New York mobsters the wrong way, Henry heads to Chicago, where a new kind of music, jazz, is lighting up the night. A rising star on the music circuit is a youngster named Louis Armstrong. But he, too, can't get himself out from under the thumb of the mob, which runs most of the clubs in the Windy City. Henry needs work. Armstrong needs a white manager. As unlikely as this seems, Doyle pulls it off, as this duo attempts to change the music scene in America. Along the way, Henry is reunited with his wife and daughter, before heading back to New York City. At times, "Oh, Play That Thing" reaches too far and wide with its sprawling scenes. Still, Doyle's exploration of America in the 1920s (particularly Chicago) alone makes this a fine novel. That Doyle has resurrected Henry Smart successfully is a compelling reason to look forward to the third book in this trilogy, and to also hope that perhaps there might be a fourth. ($24.95 / 384 pages / Viking)