Description
Book SynopsisArthur Clery, a college contemporary and debating opponent of James Joyce, is an unusual figure in Irish history: a supporter of the anti-Treaty cause yet an advocate of the partition of Ireland. He was an outspoken supporter of women's suffrage and opponent of corporal punishment in schools. For 30 years he commented on Irish life in the "Leader", and some of his most engaging and shrewd pieces were reprinted in "The Idea of a Nation" in 1907. For this edition they are supplemented by other pieces, including the first statement of Clery's partitionist views, an early review of James Joyce's "Chamber Music", and the ageing and embittered Clery's final thoughts on the Abbey Theatre.
Trade Review"Clery's forum was The Leader and they represented best, perhaps, what Moran tried to give voice to: an emerging, strong, confident, Catholic professional class aspiring to political independence and to a society pervaded by the Gaelic League philosophy ... Another amusing and prophetic piece." Paidraig O Snodaigh Books Ireland Summer 2003 "increases our understanding of these critical years ... His essays give us a palpable sense of the stifling restrictive proposals put forth during this time." James Joyce Literary Supplement Spring 2005 "University College Dublin Press has now published over thirty 'Classics of Irish History'. These contemporary accounts by well known personalities of historical events and attitudes have an immediacy that conventional histories do not have. Introductions by modern historians provide additional historical background and, with hindsight, objectivity." Books Ireland Nov 2007 "Scholars of nineteenth-century Irish and Irish-American politics should reacquaint themselves with these classics, part of a long running and immensely useful series from University College Dublin Press. Patrick Maume has edited and written the introductions for no less than nine of the books in this series, lending them his breadth of knowledge and keen analysis that have made him one of the most learned and intellectually generous young scholars in the field." Irish Literary Supplement Fall 2008
Table of ContentsOn tram-car's top; nationhood and politics; the theory of nationhood; looking beyond England; after the Abbey is over; art and nationality; the revival of the English language; the commercial value of patriotism; going to Trinity; nationality and music; nationality and culture; Gaelicophile poetry and two new poets; nationality and amusements; the philosophy of an Irish theatre; silly people and the Irish movement; a tea-shop idyll; respectability and nationality of sourness; the island of protestants; the partition of Ulster; free Ulster and federated Ireland; cosmopolitanism and nationality. other writings by Arthur Clery - joy of gold and of silver; Pearse and Pontius; outlanders of Ulster; Armagh Virumque; Corkery's Synge; dog-collars and conventions.
