The Strangers Gaze: Travels in County Clare 1534 - 1950 [Hardcover]

Brian O'Dalaigh (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 21, 1998 | ISBN-10: 190054508X | ISBN-13: 978-1900545082 | Edition: 1 Ed

This anthology brings together over four centuries of superb accounts of County Clare by visitors from Ireland, Britain, the continent, Australia and America. These visitors include such notables as Arthur Young, William Thackery and Thomas Carlyle. While their accounts enlighten and entertain, they also provide fascinating insights into the social, religious and cultural traditions of County Clare. By studying the procession of travellers through the county over the centuries, the histories of urban and rural communities are revealed in a fresh and interesting light. Visitors brought their own particular prejudices with them which influenced their view of the countryside and the people they encountered. Their descriptions often reveal as much about themselves as they do about the people they observed. This interaction between native and stranger results in a book of complexity and extraordinary human interest. Whether written in Irish, Latin, French or English, these travellers' accounts display an exceptional richness and diversity. In almost seventy descriptions of County Clare, the historical landscape is thoroughly explored. Historical landmarks such as the Cromwellian Conquest, the Great Famine and the Land War are described by individuals who either participated in or witnessed these great events. Soldiers of fortune, mapmakers, shipwrecked clergymen, itinerant judges, social reformers, newspaper reporters, all inhabit these pages. They present a view of Clare that is compelling and unique. Richly illustrated with contemporary pictures and contemporary line drawings, The Strangers Gaze evokes the atmosphere and character of the county's past.

Editorial Reviews

Review

... an absorbing book in which you'll find an enormous amount of information. -- The Examiner, Jan. 30, 1999

A delicious anthology of about 65 accounts of the county by visitors. ... a fascinating read -- Books Ireland, Feb. 1999

All throw a unique and fascinating light on Clare and its history and the whole is enhanced by nine colour and monochrome illustrations that capture the essence of the county's past. -- The Irish Times, Aug. 14, 1999

Edited by Brian " Dálaigh, this is undoubtedly a handsome volume, beautifully presented and profusely illustrated. -- The Magpie, Feb. 1999

It is always interesting to read how others see or saw us, and this publication satisfies our curiosity in a most comprehensive way. -- The Clare Champion, Jan. 8, 1999

From the Publisher

The accounts in these pages were written by visitors to County Clare over a period of four centuries. There is a wealth of factual information in their reports - on diet, clothing, places of abode, farming practice, religious customs, political allegiances and so forth. Moreover they provide special insights into the divisions that existed within Clare society: between the colonisers and colonised, between Protestant and Catholic and between the landed classes and the landless.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 370 pages
• Publisher: Irish Books & Media; 1 Ed edition (December 21, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 190054508X
• ISBN-13: 978-1900545082
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #691,158 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)