Clippings 18: Read me, I’m Irish

In honor of today’s religious feast-cum-drinking holiday (not that the two are necessarily separate in Christian history!), here’s a little round-up of all things Irish:

From the archives of Books & Culture, Edward Short reviews the Everyman’s Library edition of the complete novels of Flann O’Brien.  I don’t believe I have read him, but I must put The Third Policeman on my TBR list. And I do love the Everyman’s Library collection — they are well-stitched and include those handy self-marking ribbons.  Whenever a paperback classic needs replacing, I seek out one of these.

If you have not read the late poet John O’Donohue, today is certainly a good day to discover him.  Pick up a copy of Anam Cara, and watch this video featuring his reading of “Beannacht”:
 

Finally, a bit about the man behind the day.  The chapter on St. Patrick in my Peril and Peace is a favorite, not just because a couple of secondary characters bear the names of a niece and nephew to whom the volume was dedicated, but also simply because his is such an interesting story.  Little is known of the details of Patrick’s life, but one can encounter the most likely possibilities by reading up on the history and culture of his region.  The most helpful book I discovered in my research — being both accurate and highly readable — is Philip Freeman’s St. Patrick of Ireland: A Biography, now out in paperback.

Sláinte!

17. March 2009 by Mindy
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