Read Ireland Book Review
Issue 184
Jack Lynch: Hero in Crisis by Bruce Arnold
Hardback; 22.80 IEP / 27.00 USD / 18.99 UK / 28.95 EURO; Merlin, 250 pages [Add To Basket]Jack Lynch led Ireland through one of the most significant crises in the nation's history. No Taoiseach before him had been forced to dismiss senior government colleagues on the suspicion of a conspiracy to subvert the State. No one so transformed thinking in the country about Northern Ireland and Great Britain, and about the use of violence, as he did. Lynch laid the foundations for reconciliation and progress in these islands. He governed firmly and fairly, but with a will a steel. This book is his story.
Oughtobiography: Leaves from the Diary of a Hyphenated Jew by David Marcus
Hardback; 20.00 IEP / 24.00 USD / 17.50 UK / 25.40 EURO; Gill & Macmillan, 280 pages [Add To Basket]For almost 50 years, David Marcus has been a central figure in the world of Irish literature. He has influenced virtually every modern Irish writer of note. In this memoir he tells of his own life, of the forces that shaped him and of the people he encountered. He writes vividly of his childhood in Cork city, and of being reared in the Jewish ghetto tradition. His passion for literature led to him founding 'Irish Writing' soon after leaving university. This was to bring him into contact with the Irish writers of the day - Frank O'Connor, Sean O'Faolain, George Bernard Shaw, Sean O'Casey, Liam O'Flaherty, James Stephens and Samuel Beckett. His account of travelling to Castletownsend to meet Edith Somerville is a jewel of exquisitely observed recollection. After some years working in London, he returned to Dublin to commence that part of his career for which he will always be remembered - indeed revered - as editor of New Irish Writing in The Irish Press and later as Literary Editor of the same paper. Almost every renowned Irish writer was published there. He was also to write three acclaimed novels of his own and a collection of short stories. The achievement of David Marcus is matched only by his self-effacement. Yet his memoirs are marked by countless revelations - not least his role as the writer of a crucial speech for his friend from student days - Jack Lynch.
Bono: The Biography by Laura Jackson
Hardback; 20.00 IEP / 24.00 USD / 17.50 UK / 25.40 EURO; Piatkus, 232 pages [Add To Basket]Bono is one of rock music's exceptional figures. For more than two decades, he as been the front man for U2, arguably the world's leading rock band. With his powerful stage presence and distinctive voice, Bono has captivated the imagination of thousands of loyal fans. In this book, the author explores the ambition and commitment that drives this remarkable man. She charts his life and the band's development, giving insights into his strong social conscience, passionate commitment to key world issues and his enduring love affair with his wife, family and music. This fascinating biography provides a detailed portrait of a man who is much more than a rock star. It explores Bono's many contradictions to expose for the first time the vulnerability and strengths, the brilliance and darkness of the man himself.
Dublin Through Space and Time edited by Joseph Brady and Anngret Simms
Paperback; 17.99 IEP / 21.00 USD / 15.50 UK / 23.00 EURO; Four Courts Press, 392 pages [Add To Basket]This book is about the development of Dublin from the earliest times. From both geographical and historical perspectives, it tries to unravel and explain the many processes that have interacted to produce the city as we know it today. It begins with the early city, piecing together research from geography, archaeology and history. As the architecture of the period shows so vividly, Dublin flowered in the 18th century; the following sections look at how this was achieved and by whom; much information is analyzed and mapped for the first time and wealth of fascinating detail is revealed. The 19th century was a tale of two cities: the better off moved to the suburbs beyond the canals, leaving social problems behind in the inner city. It was not all gloom. For the better off, Dublin was a bright and vibrant city. The final two sections of the book offer a reconstruction of Dublin at the beginning of the 20th century, looking at how it might have been seen and experienced by the people of the day. The book is lavishly illustrated with maps, diagrams and photographs.
Cleansing Rural Dublin by Frank Cullen
Paperback; 8.99 IEP / 10.00 USD / 7.50 UK / 11.50 EURO; Irish Academic Press, 63 pages [Add To Basket]The subtitle of this book is: Public Health and Housing Initiatives in the South Dublin Poor Law Union, 1880-1920. The 'slum' conditions in 19th century Dublin are a well-documented feature of the city's past. As a result, much is now known of the overcrowded tenements and their poverty-stricken inhabitants. However, yet another community existed in Dublin at this time, which also suffered the indignation of poverty and disease, yet little is know of their plight. These were Dublin's rural poor, an agricultural community populating the town-lands and villages of the wider county beyond the municipality. This book, while addressing the vital issue of public health in the late 19th century and early 20th century Dublin, instead chooses the territorial boundaries of the South Dublin Poor Law Union as it geographical unit of study. Areas covered in detail include the parishes of Rathfarnham, Clondalkin, Tallaght, and Crumlin.
In Search of Ireland's Holy Wells by Elizabeth Healy
Paperback; 10.99 IEP / 13.00 USD / 9.50 UK / 14.05 EURO; Wolfhound Press, 120 pages [Add To Basket]The veneration of water has been an integral part of Irish culture since the ancient times. Today, at thousands of holy wells scattered throughout the land, the tradition continues. The author of this book has traveled the length and breadth of Ireland, seeking out some of the more interesting wells, discovering their origins and learning the lore and customs that surround them. Fully illustrated in colour and black-and-white, the book not only outlines the cures sought at the wells, but also examines the pre-Christian practices surrounding them, and recalls the famous saints - including Brigid, Patrick, Columcille, Kilian and Feichin - remembered at different locations throughout the year.
Wild Irish Women: Extraordinary Lives from History by Marian Broderick
Hardback; 18.90 IEP / 22.00 USD / 15.99 UK / 24.00 EURO; O'Brien Press, 316 pages [Add To Basket]This book brings together a fascinating collection of unusual, unorthodox and unforgettable women. In every era of Ireland's history there have been those who have ignored society's conventions. In times when women were expected to marry and have children, they traveled the world and sought out adventures; in times when women were expected to be seen and not heard, they spoke out in loud voices against oppression; in times when women were expected to have no interest in politics, literature, art of the world outside the home, they used every creative means available to give expressions to their thoughts, ideas and beliefs. These 70-plus entertaining biographies reveal the truly irrepressible spirit of Irish womanhood over the centuries.
Zero Point One Six: Living in Extra Time by Mick Doyle
Paperback; 11.60 IEP / 14.00 USD / 8.99 UK / 14.75 EURO; Mainstream, 189 pages [Add To Basket]This autobiography vividly describes the five tumultuous years in the life of Mick Doyle - veterinarian, former Irish and Lions rugby player, coach, media correspondent, husband, father, company chairman and general bon viveur. Only 0.16 per cent of people who suffer a brain haemorrage recover, the remainder doesn't survive the trip to the hospital. On Sunday, 14 July 1996 Mick Doyle was stricken with a massive brain haemorrage. He spent the next four weeks in a coma, gradually regaining consciousness. With the help of the hospital staff, his wife and four children, as well as close family friends, he began the long road back to recovery. His inspiring story has much to say about the importance of self-motivation and how to cope with the daily trials one encounters on the road to recovery, trials for which few of us are properly equipped.
Lions of Ireland by David Walmsely
Paperback; 8.99 IEP / 10.50 USD / 7.50 UK / 11.50 EURO; Mainstream, 224pages [Add To Basket]Look for a Lions legend and the chances are you will find an Irishman. Ever since the first tour, the heroes of Irish Rugby have been at the heart of the Lions' finest hours - on and off the pitch. This book tells the stories of the lives of the Irish world-class players and characters who have contributed to Lions folklore - Willie John McBride, Tony O'Reilly, Ronnie Dawson, Karl Mullen, Jack Kyle, Fergus Slattery, Tom Kiernan, Mike Gibson, Syd Miller - and more recent players like Keith Wood and Brian O'Driscoll. This book also includes a complete reference section featuring every Irish player to have represented the Lions in Tests since the first united tour of 1910. It recalls the powerful personalities and relives the most dramatic deeds in the Lions' long history to the spectacle of the first Lions tour of the new millennium.
Ultimate Encyclopedia of Gaelic Football and Hurling by Martin Brehony and Donal Keenan
Hardback; 25.00 IEP / 30.00 USD / 20.00 UK / 31.80 EURO; Carlton, 192 large-format pages, with colour illustrations throughout [Add To Basket]Gaelic Football and Hurling are Ireland's most popular sports, generating an intense passion throughout the country while holding worldwide appeal. This books takes the reader on a fascinating journey - from the formative years of both games up to the present day - bringing to life the many memorable moments which have highlighted these two exciting sports. It contains profiles of all the top players, recounts the great games, shows how the rules have changed over the centuries, and provides a comprehensive guide to the facts associated with two of Ireland's most passionate pastimes.
Read Ireland Bookstore
392 Clontarf Road
Clontarf, Dublin 3
Ireland
Tel + Fax: +353-18-302-997
Customer Services Comments, Criticism and Questions
Subscribe to Read Ireland Book News - Our Free Weekly Email Newsletter