Ireland Ever: The Photographs of Jill Freedman (Hardcover)

~ Frank McCourt (Author), (Author), Jill Freedman (Photographer)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

For a country so identified with the color green, it seems odd to photograph Ireland in black and white. Freedman’s approach, however, brings out the spirit of the Irish people and landscape in less familiar ways. The stone cliffs and walls of The Burren in County Clare spread solidly over two pages, and a robust man sets off rowing under a darkened sky in Dingle. In her prefatory note, Freedman says she tries to get away from "the ugly, noisy modern world" when she visits Ireland, and instead seeks out people living as they have for ages. To this end, she photographs scenes such as an elderly man journeying with his mule and dogs in County Leitrim, a man giving his pony a sip of Guinness and a small boy leading cows up a road in County Kerry. Earlier in her life Freedman was a musician, and she clearly still loves music makers: the book includes several striking pictures of old men playing their pipes in solitude and many more of fiddlers and accordionists. Other standbys of Irish life—pubs, the Catholic Church, hunting—are present, but in an unobtrusive, unconventional way. A few photos (a trio of mud wrestlers; a group of college lads with their pants around their ankles) briefly take the book away from Freedman’s romantic rural vision, but for the most part, she succeeds in presenting a photo-journal that lovingly captures the enduring aspects of Irish tradition. 90 duotone photos.
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Product Description

In describing his beloved land, the late Irish short story writer Sean O'Faolain wrote: "There is some alchemy of climate in Ireland that bedews the countryside with an unmistakable personality: it is in the softness of color, the mobility of the light, the gentleness with which sound caresses the ear." In this heartwarming photographic portrait, award-winning photographer Jill Freedman captures that softness, mobility, and gentleness in the Irish landscape and in the character of its people.

With texts by best-selling Irish American authors Frank McCourt (Angela's Ashes) and Malachy McCourt (A Monk Swimming), Ireland Ever commemorates the traditional life of Ireland in bygone days, just as the modern world began to creep up on it. Freedman celebrates the beauty of the land, the warmth of her people, the simplicity of the old ways, the humor and conviviality, the sharp wit and black moods, and the kindness of the "old country." Beautifully designed and produced, this elegant gift book is a love poem to that wild and passionate beauty that is Ireland ever. AUTHOR BIO: Jill Freedman is a highly respected documentary photographer whose award-winning work is included in the permanent collections of The Museum of Modern Art, the International Center of Photography, the Smithsonian Institution, and the Bibliothèque Nationale. She lives in East Hampton, New York.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 144 pages
• Publisher: Harry N. Abrams; illustrated edition edition (November 9, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0810943409
• ISBN-13: 978-0810943407
• Product Dimensions: 11.2 x 10.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #987,845 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful, Poetic Images of Ireland from Jill Freedman, February 12, 2005

By	John Kwok (New York, NY USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Gutsy acclaimed documentary photographer Jill Freedman is probably best known for her splendid documentary photographs of New York City police officers and civil rights demonstrations in Washington, DC. So it may surprise people who are unfamiliar with her work that she is also a superb documentary photographer of the Irish people and landscape. Her images show much empathy for both the people and landscape of Ireland, capturing both the honesty of its inhabitants and the beauty of its rural countryside. This book is a collection of the best images of her Irish oeuvre, accompanied by text written by the brothers McCourt, old friends of hers from their days at the Lion's Head, a famous, now departed, Greenwich Village, New York City tavern frequented by many distinguished Irish and Irish-American writers and musicians.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Ireland, beautiful and human, November 13, 2005

By	Mike "ahollowvoice" (New Jersey, USA) - See all my reviews

I am a great fan of Frank McCourt, he has lit the fire in me to read again. Although his contribution to this book is little more than a foreword, it is Ireland through his eyes, and through the eyes of the people who adore it.
The images are amazing, from the quiet fields to the pubs, it shows Ireland in all it's lush culture. It is a book that photographers can admire, and people of Irish descent can hold close to their hearts. Although it is expensive (its only downfall), it is more than worth buying, to sit on a coffee table. Where it will never gather dust, because you will always crack it open to see a favorite picture.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Old Country as seen through Jill Freedman's poetic lense, May 18, 2005

By	Andrew Thomann (Shepherdstown, WV USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Amazon Verified Purchase

I had never heard of Jill Freedman before I bought this book, but I'm glad I did. She captures a world that is part fun, part sad, and all authentic. From scenes of children to musicians to pint drinkers, the black and white photography is key to viewing a world that is endearing to so many.