Dublin: A View from the Ground

Dublin: A View from the Ground

by NeilHegarty (Author)

Synopsis

Dublin is one of only a handful of cities that holds international appeal and influence - a fact made more unique because its fame is based almost exclusively on cultural output. Dublin may not have an instantly recognisable building or landmark, but ask a listener to come up with images of Dublin and the results flood in: Molly Malone, a cold pint of Guinness, a late-night pub session. Neil Hegarty examines this legacy of Dublin's 'cultural capital' to bring the city, and its people, to vivid life. A rich story encompassing art, literature, architecture, politics and more, Dublin follows a general chronology, but the chapters are organised around themes - crime and punishment, power and rebellion, urban calamity (fire, flood, disease), the sacred and the profane - that occur and recur throughout the city's history.Larger historical trends - the effects of the city's Penal Laws, the establishment of a Catholic middle class, the dizzying pace of change in the wake of the Celtic Tiger's economic reforms - are seen through the experiences of leaders and pioneers, as well as that of ordinary citizens, to create one of the most wide-ranging and nuanced portraits of Dublin ever published.

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More Information

Format: Hardcover
Pages: 350
Edition: First Edition
Publisher: Piatkus
Published: 04 Sep 2008

ISBN 10: 0749951494
ISBN 13: 9780749951498

Media Reviews
'A fond, informative and entertaining evocation of Joyce's 'dear, dirty Dumpling', and a fit companion for any visitor, or, indeed, Dubliner, ambling through these rain-washed streets.' John Banville 'This is a series of strolls around central Dublin with a charming, observant, learned and cheerful companion ... Dip into Hegarty's Dublin anywhere and you'll find yourself enrolled among the human experiences that more than battles and buildings are at the centre of the little city's history.' Nuala O'Faolain 'A most enchanting book and I think probably just about the best introduction to Dublin a visitor could have. It combines a warm and beautifully written but also realistic appreciation of the city ... Absolutely splendid.' Senator David Norris
Author Bio
Neil Hegaty holds a PhD in English from Trinity College in Dublin, and is the author of Waking Up In Dublin, a guide to the multi-faceted music scene of the city. He has written and produced the radio documentaries for RTE and NewsTalk on the Irish in the Newfoundland and the Irish in Argentina, respectively, and his radio play, The Story of Peggy Mountain, was shortlisted for RTE's PJ O'Connor Award. He lives in Dublin.