The Book of Fifty Irish Writers
They were rogues, adventurers, idealists, romantics, shrinking violets, ego maniacs and all the other wonders and failures of human nature besides. The men and women of established Irish Literature were once living, breathing people – ‘The Book of Irish Writers' releases them from their dust jackets and brings them to life!
Through this chronological series of easily digestible short programmes, the listener will be led in a clear and entertaining way through what might be considered by some as a stuffy and academic subject – Irish Literature!
By illuminating the lives of our famous and forgotten writers – with all their foibles, weaknesses, triumphs and tragedies unveiled – the series will be a gripping listen for all those who enjoy social history, great characters and a good story!
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Chapter 11 - Jonathan Swift, 1667 to 1745
The author of ‘Gulliver’s Travels’ is generally recognised as a great champion of Ireland – and the founder of Irish writing in the English language. Yet Swift was a man of contradictions who hankered after success in England, rather than in his native country, “I count no man truly unfortunate who has not been condemned to live in Ireland!â€
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Chapter 12 - Aodhagán Ó Rathaille, circa 1670 to 1729
Aodhagán Ó Rathaille was a Kerry poet – who had been trained in the profession since childhood. Ó Rathaille lived through the collapse of the old Gaelic social order, and its powerful aristocracy, in the period that followed King William’s victory at the Battle of the Boyne.
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Chapter 13 - George Farquhar, circa 1678 to 1707
Farquhar was born in Derry, the son of a Church of Ireland clergyman. He probably witnessed the siege of the city, and he may even have followed King William’s army to the Boyne.
In his first play, ‘Love and a Bottle’, Farquhar created the first in a long line of stage-Irish characters who were charmingly witty and roguish.
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Chapter 14 - Laurence Sterne, 1713 to 1768
Laurence Sterne was Irish by accident – his father was stationed here as a soldier. Although he moved with his family to England when he was just ten years old, Sterne is a major influence on many Irish writers because of one exuberant work – ‘The Life and Times of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman’.
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Chapter 15 - Oliver Goldsmith, 1728 to 1774
Oliver Goldsmith was a gambler, a drinker, a hack journalist and a failed medical student. He also wrote one of the most influential plays in Irish literature – ‘She Stoops to Conquer’.
