Product Description

From prehistoric stone circles to medieval high crosses, from seaside stone castles to Elizabethan tower houses, the monuments of Ireland fascinate scholars and travelers alike. Whether crumbling or perfectly preserved, in the midst of cities or standing alone in isolated landscapes, they bear mute but eloquent witness to the island's rich past. Now comes an insightful and stunningly illustrated guide to Ireland's historic places. Ranging from the earliest remnants of the prehistoric past to the end of the medieval era, Ancient Ireland provides an outstanding survey of the island's finest archaeological and architectural sites.

Peter Harbison provides lively and thoughtful descriptions of megalithic wedge tombs, medieval round towers, and Tudor manor houses--matched by more than 300 hauntingly beautiful photographs by Jacqueline O'Brien. Harbison also provides a narrative overview of Ireland's history, placing the architectural monuments in the context of Roman influence, Celtic migration, Brian Boru's battles, Norse and Norman invasions, Gaelic revival, and Cromwell's conquests. He describes the earliest monasteries against the background of St. Patrick's missionary efforts, examines the cultural impact of the Viking conquests, and explores the literary flowering that took place even as the Anglo-Norman aristocracy asserted its primacy in the twelfth century. The book brims with colorful details. In discussing fortifications, for instance, he explains that the round castle tower became popular after a famous battle by King John in Rochester, in which his siege engines destroyed a traditional square structure. He also explores decoration and architectural detail, as in the case of the manor house of "Black Tom," the tenth Earl of Ormonde, who was reputed to have had an affair with Queen Elizabeth I, and had two mural paintings in his main hallway--one of himself, and one of the Queen. And throughout, the carefully rendered and captioned photographs bring to life the rich physical legacy of the island's tumultuous past.

Ireland remains a favorite destination for travelers, whether tourists or scholars of its fabled culture and history. Ancient Ireland provides an essential guide for all who are bound for the emerald isle--a delightful volume for tourists and armchair travelers.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1166459 in Books
• Published on: 1996-10-17
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 256 pages

From Library Journal
Completing the trilogy that includes Great Irish Houses and Castles (LJ 10/15/92) and Dublin: A Grand Tour (coauthored with Desmond Guiness, Oxford Univ., 1994), this current work by photographer O'Brien includes over 300 stunning color photographs of Ireland's ancient monuments: forts, tombs, crosses, churches, and castles. The photographs alone would make for a worthy travel book, but Harbison, a renowned archaeologist and former magazine editor, offers a scholarly analysis of the pictured sites and detailed background information on the history, architecture, and archaeology of Ireland. The book's logical arrangement (by time period and then by type of monument), thorough index, and map of sites illustrated make it easy to use. With a reasonable price and appeal to both general and specialized audiences, the work is recommended for public and academic libraries.?Kathleen Shanahan, American Univ. Lib., Washington, D.C.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
One of Ireland's enchantments is its ruins, dating back thousands of years. This verdant album pushes the charm button for all it's worth with flattering photography, but the supporting text is quite sturdy on its own. O'Brien and Harbison, both prolific heavyweights in the cultural preservation community, combine archaeological evidence with their knowledge of Irish legends and annals to render an informative description of hundreds of sites. Beginning with a few megalithic tombs and forts, the ruins proliferate with the advent of St. Patrick, whose evangelistic success (if it was his alone, which the authors doubt) led to the Emerald Isle being covered by monasteries, churches, and that mossy relic, the Celtic cross. After an excursion round that other uniquely Irish symbol, the round towers, the authors bring their tour to the twelfth century, when larger churches and Norman castles sprang up, and they conclude with a survey of priories built by religious orders in the 1400s. A beautiful glimpse at the richness of Ireland's ruined architecture. Gilbert Taylor

Review
>From prehistoric stone circles to crosses and castles, this provides both a visual and strong supportive text analysis of the relics and history of ancient Ireland. Over 300 color photos by O'Brien compliment Harbison's beautiful overview of Ireland's history. Recommended for schools and coffee table embellishment alike. -- Midwest Book Review