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"The Charm Of Ireland" was written by Burton Egbert Stevenson in 1913.
Stevenson was an American writer from the state of Ohio.
Travelling the length and breadth of Ireland with his wife Betty, he compiled a travelogue which was published the following year.
Along the way, Stevenson met a fascinating and diverse array of characters, who, all in their own way, shed unique insights into the Ireland of the day.
Comprising 32 chapters in total, there are also timely diversions throughout into many aspects of Irish history, geography, mythology, traditions, culture and lore.
In this series, Stevenson's travelogue is complemented by a range of pictures from the Lawrence Collection, an accumulation of some 40,000 photographs taken all over Ireland in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Many of these originally monochromatic pictures have been "colourised" for this series, using AI technology.
The results of this process are sometimes excellent - but at other times, imperfect, to say the least.
Opinions will differ as to the merits of doing this; polite and constructive comments are very welcome.
Throughout the series, a genuine attempt has been made to closely correlate the travelogue with relevant photographs or illustrations.
Some (mostly geographical) discrepancies are likely, however - so apologies in advance for any that may arise.
The vocabulary used by Stevenson reflects the spoken language of the time. By modern standards, it may occasionally sound blunt and direct. No offence is intended.
Written just before World War I, the 1916 Rising, Irish Independence and Partition, the book offers its readers a compelling vision of an altogether different country.
This is because modern Ireland was born in the decade following its publication; for better and for worse, the events of 1914-1923 have profoundly shaped all aspects of Irish life ever since.
As such, this book may arguably serve as a coda for the country as it was - one that was about to change, and change utterly.
By turn sentimental, funny, hard-hitting, sad - and, on occasion, prescient - "The Charm of Ireland" offers us an accessible, tantalising glimpse into Ireland's rich and storied past.
The book is read here by Patrick Leonard.
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NOTE: Under the terms of the (Irish) Copyright and Other Intellectual Property Law Provisions Act 2019, this non-monetised series is made available solely for educational purposes under the relevant Fair Use/Fair Dealing provisions.
Credit: NLI
15 сен 2024
