An Age of Innocence: Irish Culture 1930-1960 [Hardcover]

Brian Fallon (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0312219245 | ISBN-13: 978-0312219246 | Publication Date: December 15, 1998

Irish life between 1930 and 1960 is normally presented as a sort of cultural wasteland. In a radical re-examination of the period, Brian Fallon challenges this stereotype and argues that Ireland's cultural and artistic life was vigorous, continuous and fertile. He argues that despite literary censorship, literature flourished with such substantial writers as Flann O'Brien, Patrick Kavanagh, Sean O'Faolain, Frank O'Connor and Liam O'Flaherty, together with dozens of less celebrated but nevertheless important figures. In the visual arts, figures as diverse as Evie Hone, Mainie Jellett, Norah McGuinness, Louis le Brocqauy and Patrick Hennessy all either established or consolidated their careers. In addition, the period saw the firm establishment of a public broadcasting service in Ireland and its sponsorship of a national symphony orchestra. Fallon's provocative and passionate survey of this period rescues it from the neglect into which it has fallen and will prompt a lively reassessment of these important decades.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“... a brilliant contribution to the understanding of a small but very complex nation during its post-incubation period.” —The Boston Irish Reporter

“This is an interesting work by a long-time Irish journalist and art critic.” —Choice

About the Author

Brian Fallon is chief critic of The Irish Times and the author of Irish Art (1993).

Product Details

• Hardcover: 321 pages
• Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan (December 15, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312219245
• ISBN-13: 978-0312219246
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.4 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #9,263,344 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A sweeping primer on Irish art for the period, July 10, 2000

By 

Edward P. Hodder (Berea, OH USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: An Age of Innocence: Irish Culture 1930-1960 (Hardcover)

I was surprised that Mr. Fallon chose to write about culture in a narrow and classic sense but was immediately glad. He focuses on the artists of the period, touching on sociological aspects like politics and religion but always in relation to the art of the time. How exactly did the church, national politics, changing lifestyles and art interact? While more at home with the writers he also touches on visual arts and music.

There is a widespread belief that this was a sleepy time for Irish art and Mr. Fallon tears this notion down with relish. Like any simplification this ignores the facts and he uses exhaustive research and personal experience to bring the characters and their struggles into light.

There's no question that this is written for an Irish audience, or at least people with more than a passing interest in Irish art. As a novice I had a hard time keeping up with the names and events. Most of the time Mr. Fallon would provide enough background to get by. In some cases, like the Mother and Child episode which showed up several times in the book, I was left in the dark. However, he is such a good writer and so enthusiastic about his subject that the narrative moves along with a great deal of energy. Even when he is simply listing names it's easy to get through. And there are a lot of names. This volume provides more material than a college course could get through.

Fallon's writing is an absolute joy to read. It's not only clear but has a breadth of expression that is wonderful to experience. He uses an extensive vocabularly without becoming wordy or pompous. A true professional with the kind of talent that seems long lost here in America.

Scholarly and entertaining, An Age of Innocence is for the reader who is interested in more than Yeats and Joyce and would like a glimpse at other artists and Ireland itself during this time.