Read Ireland Book Reviews
Issue 422
Irish War on Drugs: The Seductive Folly of Prohibition by Paul O’Mahony
Large Format Trade Paperback; 25 Euro / 32 USD / 16 UK; 244 pages
This book provides the first comprehensive, critical analysis of the drugs problem in Ireland over the last thirty years with a particular focus on the role of drugs in crime and the role of prohibition in generating drug-related harms. Using Ireland's disastrous history of prohibition and the failure of its well-resourced harm reduction programme as a case study, the book goes on to challenge the global dominance of prohibitionist ideology, which is seen as an emotionally driven and fundamentally irrational belief system, which flies in the face of overwhelming evidence that prohibition does more harm than good. Prohibition's defences against the mass of evidence demonstrating its detrimental effects and ultimate futility are one by one exposed and dismantled. The book argues that international and national law should be based on a realistic appraisal of human nature and that a scientific view of human psychology and of the human condition explains not only the value and irresistible attraction of mood-altering substances, but also the young s stubborn resistance to the prohibitionist message. The book argues that society would make substantial gains from accepting the libertarian view that there is a right to use drugs so long as others rights are not infringed. A non-coercive harm reduction approach based on the right to use drugs could have major benefits, eliminating many of the ill-effects of prohibition and creating a positive attitudinal dynamic that lowers the irresponsible and destructive use of drugs.
Westlife: Our Story
Trade Paperback; 15 Euro / 22 USD / 11 UK; 304 pages, with full colour photographs [Add To Basket]
40 million albums 14 UK number 1 singles 7 UK number 1 albums
Westlife have had more number ones than any other artist apart from The Beatles and Elvis and with songs that have become modern classics like Flying without Wings, they have ensured their place in the annals of pop history.
Westlife – The Autobiography will chart the highs and lows of their phenomenonal career and a unique friendship that has seen them endure as a band for an extraordinary ten years. The book will chronicle the band’s story from the grass-roots of Sligo, Ireland to multi-platinum records, celebrity collaborations and chart achievements. But bubbling under this public face is a private and unseen story never before recorded, crammed with candid personal revelations, including of course the departure of Brian McFadden.
Westlife have been a staple part of the world of entertainment for 10 years, yet the public has no idea of the astounding life they have led – and still live – behind the headlines and soundbites. Here, for the first time, Westlife will take us into their confidence and reveal their lives and amazing ten year journey as the one of the world’s biggest pop bands as never before.
Stealing Water: A Secret Life in a South African City by Tim Ecott
Large Format Trade Paperback; 16 Euro / 22 USD / 11 UK; 303 pages
When Tim Ecott's family uprooted from Northern Ireland in 1977, they thought they were leaving behind their troubled lives, including the physical threat to Tim's father's life posed by the IRA. They hoped to exchange a hum-drum suburban existence of mortgage debts and small-town society for sunshine and servants in an ex-pat African setting. But, just six months after arriving in Johannesburg they were bankrupt, evicted from their home, and had most of their possessions confiscated by the bailiffs. Whilst friends and relatives in Britain imagined that they were living privileged lives, Tim Ecott and his family often went hungry. Forced to survive on their wits, the family entered a twilight world where their true friends were prostitutes, thieves and renegades. Stealing Water is about family, and what holds them together; it is the story of how the worst of times can become the most important and valuable period of a person's life.
Ireland’s Olympians: Beijing and Beyond by Niall O’Flynn
Hardback; 25 Euro / 32 USD / 16 UK; 250 pages, with full colour photos throughout [Add To Basket]
All men are not born equal. Some are faster, stronger, more gifted. The Beijing Olympics will showcase some great athletes. Over 10,500 from 200 countries will compete including Team Ireland, with world-class contenders and national champions, the best that Ireland can produce. Some are potential medallists, now or in 2012. Others will make Olympic finals, break records or produce personal bests. But what has Ireland done to develop these special athletes? What ingredients make up an Olympic athlete are they born or are they made? And what is life really like for a world-class Irish athlete? Ireland s Olympians is an RTÉ Sport series, produced in co-operation with the Olympic Council of Ireland and the Irish Sports Council. This book, which accompanies the TV series, gives a rare insight into the lives and minds of Olympians past and present. Featuring contributions from Olympic medallists Ronnie Delany, Michael Carruth, John Treacy, Sonia O Sullivan, Stephen Martin and Steve Redgrave, there are also in-depth interviews with leading Irish athletes and international experts across a wide range of sports from Derval O Rourke and David Gillick (athletics) to Kenny Egan (boxing), Gearoid Towey (rowing), Derek Burnett (shooting), Tim Goodbody (sailing) and Eoin Rheinisch (canoeing). Who is this book for? It s for the sports fan and the weekend warrior, the ambitious, the curious, parents, coaches, managers and athletes who strive to understand the workings of body and mind, seeking answers to questions such as: How has the sporting system in Ireland helped or hindered our athletes? How can the GAA help develop the next generation of Olympians? Why has no white man ever run under 10 seconds in the 100 m? What s the easiest gold medal to win? Why are most of Ireland s top athletes living and training overseas? What sports should a young child be playing and what is the best age to start? How does immigration help Irish sport? Why do so few promising juniors go on to senior success? And why does Ireland miss so many late developers? Can the length of toes and fingers or date of birth influence a child s ability in sport? How do great athletes override mind and body and push themselves to the limit?
The Alderman Tom Kelly, 1868-1942 and Dublin Corporation by Sheila Carden
Large Format Trade Paperback; 20 Euro / 30 USD / 15 UK; 238 pages, with black-and-white photos
This is the first full-scale biography of Alderman Tom Kelly, who was an influential member of Dublin City Council in the early decades of the 20th century, a period of radical change for Ireland and its capital city. His achievements included the replacement of slums by social housing; developing the public library service; and the foundation of the Municipal Gallery of Modern Art. A committed nationalist, Kelly was a political prisoner on two occasions after the 1916 Rising and as a result, his health broke down, preventing him from taking up the office of Lord Mayor of Dublin to which he was elected in January 1920. In later life, Kelly continued to work for his twin aims of improved housing and access to education for all, and in this spirit he was a founder-member and first President of the Old Dublin Society.
Public Opinion, Politics and Society in Contemporary Ireland by Pat Lyons
Large Format Trade Paperback; 28 Euro / 36 USD / 18 UK; 288 pages [Add To Basket]
This book demonstrates what the polling evidence tells us about changes in Irish opinion towards key issues since 1970: The economy - has the Celtic tiger economy changed Irish citizens? Northern Ireland - have aspirations for a united Ireland disappeared with the peace process? The Liberal agenda - has Ireland become less conservative and a more tolerant society on issues such as divorce, abortion, homosexuality? European integration - have Irish attitudes toward the EU changed since accession in 1973? The main source of data used in this research is media commissioned opinion polls that have been undertaken on behalf of The Irish Times and Independent Newspapers Ltd by Irish Marketing Services (IMS), Lansdowne Market Research and the Market Research Bureau (MRBI). Using a variety of techniques, this book investigates the success of opinion polls in predicting election outcomes and some key factors underpinning political satisfaction ratings. It demonstrates that while there has been considerable socio-economic change in Ireland, there has been much stability in public opinion. An important puzzle is also addressed - why is public opinion on many issues, as measured in polls, inconsistent? This study shows that quite often the public does not have overarching views but has instead bundles of opinion. The book concludes that opinion polls do provide a unique and valuable insight into Irish public opinion, however, poll results do not speak for themselves and need to be interpreted with care.
Ecoscape Ireland by Catherine Mack
Paperback; 12 Euro / 16 USD / 8 UK; 192 pages, with full colour photos throughout [Add To Basket]
Ecoescape is a new way to travel proving that holidaymakers can enjoy the environment but leave no trace behind. This practical guide contains handpicked ecoescapes around Ireland, from North to South and East to West. The experiences are all sustainable from start to finish and the author has included details of cycle , bus and rail routes for the reader to follow. Also contained in the guide is a comprehensive directory of places to stay, eat and visit, all with eco-friendly credentials. This fully illustrated edition is the ultimate handbook to responsible escapism; for those whe enjoy slow travel, green places to stay, local food and drink and eco days out.
Twentieth-Century Irish Literature: A Reader’s Guide by Aaron Kelly
Trade Paperback; 20 Euro / 28 USD / 15 UK; 200 pages [Add To Basket]
This book offers a lively survey enabling students to understand the key critical debates, themes and issues in relation to a wide variety of twentieth-century Irish poets, playwrights and novelists.It is one of the few books to survey the full range of critical responses surrounding the field of Twentieth-century Irish literature. It covers a wide variety of modern Irish novelists, poets, and dramatists. It explores 'hot' issues and debates such as national identity and nationalism, armed struggle, gender and sexuality postcolonialism and the development of Irish studies.This Guide surveys existing criticism and theory, making clear the key critical debates, themes and issues surrounding a wide variety of Irish poets, playwrights and novelists. It relates Irish literature to debates surrounding issues such as national identity, modernity and the Revival period, armed struggle, gender, sexuality and post colonialism.
Bram Stoker: A Literary Life by Lisa Hopkins
Hardback; 60 Euro / 80 USD / 45 UK; 180 pages [Add To Basket]
This book charts the major events of Stoker's life, which included friendships with many of the major figures of the age and a high public profile as manager of Henry Irving's Lyceum, and maps them onto the contours of his literary career. It offers sustained critical evaluation both of Dracula and also of Stoker's lesser-known works, which prove to yield much interest when reinserted into their original cultural contexts. Bram Stoker wrote eighteen books, but is remembered only for Dracula. Lisa Hopkins examines the whole range of Stoker's writing and finds much of it of interest for its own sake as well as for what it can tell us about his most famous work.
Oscar Wilde as a Character in Victorian Fiction by Angela Kingston
Hardback; 52 Euro / 70 USD / 40 UK; 304 pages [Add To Basket]
This documents how Oscar Wilde was appropriated as a fictional character by no less than thirty-two of his contemporaries, including such celebrated writers as Joseph Conrad, Arthur Conan Doyle, Henry James, George Bernard Shaw and Bram Stoker.
Narratives of Class in New Irish and Scottish Literature by Mary M. McGlynn
Hardback; 55 Euro / 75 USD / 42 UK; 240 pages [Add To Basket]
This book makes a controversial argument in casting the work of Roddy Doyle as textually sophisticated and deserving of serious attention for its formal choices. The book also covers the work of well-known but as yet under-examined novelists, most significantly, James Kelman and Roddy Doyle, both winners of the Booker Prize.As the first study to look at Roddy Doyle beyond an Irish context, the book is a notable break from earlier work on him, and the focus on class rather than nation distinguishes it from nearly all work on Kelman and Janice Galloway. It draws on both cultural studies, in particular urban studies, and formalist criticism, asserting the linkage rather than opposition of these approaches to literary texts.This book argues that the outskirts of cities have become spaces for a new literature beyond boundaries of traditional notions of nation, class, and gender. It includes discussions of Booker Prize winners Roddy Doyle and James Kelman.
Please note: Prices were correct at time of original posting but are subject to subsequent change without notice.
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