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Lady Gregory's Toothbrush
Colm Tóibín's Lady Gregory's Toothbrush is a beautiful insight into the life of outspoken Irishwoman, Augusta Gregory.
A remarkable figure in Celtic history, she was married to an MP and land-owner, yet retained an unprecedented independence of both thought and deed, actively championing causes close to her heart. At once conservative and radical in her beliefs, she saw no conflict in idealizing and mythologizing the Irish peasantry, for example, while her landlord husband introduced legislation that would, in part, lead to the widespread misery, poverty and starvation of the Great Famine. Nevertheless, as founder of the Abbey Theatre, an outspoken opponent of censorship, and mentor, muse and mother-figure to W.B. Yeats, Augusta Gregory played a pivotal role in shaping Irish literary and dramatic history. Moreover, despite her parents' early predictions of spinsterhood, she was no matronly figure, engaging in a passionate affair while newly-wedded and, as she approached sixty, falling for a man almost twenty years her junior.
A remarkable figure in Celtic history, she was married to an MP and land-owner, yet retained an unprecedented independence of both thought and deed, actively championing causes close to her heart. At once conservative and radical in her beliefs, she saw no conflict in idealizing and mythologizing the Irish peasantry, for example, while her landlord husband introduced legislation that would, in part, lead to the widespread misery, poverty and starvation of the Great Famine. Nevertheless, as founder of the Abbey Theatre, an outspoken opponent of censorship, and mentor, muse and mother-figure to W.B. Yeats, Augusta Gregory played a pivotal role in shaping Irish literary and dramatic history. Moreover, despite her parents' early predictions of spinsterhood, she was no matronly figure, engaging in a passionate affair while newly-wedded and, as she approached sixty, falling for a man almost twenty years her junior.
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First published March 10, 2002
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About the author
Colm Tóibín
231 books5,347 followersColm Tóibín FRSL, is an Irish novelist, short story writer, essayist, playwright, journalist, critic, and poet. Tóibín is currently Irene and Sidney B. Silverman Professor of the Humanities at Columbia University in Manhattan and succeeded Martin Amis as professor of creative writing at the University of Manchester.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
February 7, 2017
There is a maddeningly oblique quality to all of Toibin's writing, and I can never decide if I love it or hate it. This book (essay) is no different -- seemingly a biography of Lady Gregory, it spends most of its time describing people and events that are adjacent to her, producing the effect of a gentle glow, rather than a spotlight. This is punctuated by occasional moments of startling directness, where the subject is suddenly viewed head-on, in a way that feels genuinely revelatory. And then it's back to the rustle surrounding. I feel as though I had nearly caught something, but it kept slipping through my fingers. Maybe that's the most honest kind of biography there is?
March 1, 2025
Enjoyable Biography, I did not know about Lady Gregory before reading it. Enjoyable way to learn Irish history.
May 20, 2020
'"It is the old battle", she wrote to Yeats, "between those who use a toothbrush and those who
don't"'
(A brief allusion to the title for anyone who was as intrigued by it as I was).
Some would say that I'm very fortunate to have grown up in the quaint, south-Galway (NOT north-Clare, check the map) town of Gort. I would only partially agree; it suffers immensely from small-town syndrome and the Catholic Church plays a far more prominent role in the lives of the locals than you would find elsewhere, but to make up for that we have Coole Park. I spent a lot of my childhood wafting around the lofty forests, trying to catch the attention of the deer in the enclosure and racing around the Autograph Tree. It would be almost impossible for a child of Gort to grow up without the names of Lady Gregory, William Butler Yeats and George Bernard Shaw on their lips - we seemed to visit the park nearly every year for our school tour. I've known about Yeats' poetry, about the famous visitors such as J.M. Synge and Oscar Wilde, about the Abbey Theatre, for most of my life, but I always jump at the opportunity to learn more about this fantastic oasis of my childhood and its most prominent figure.
Tóibín, in this biographical essay, presents Lady Gregory to us just how she was. She dressed almost exclusively in austere black clothing even in the summer months, but always maintained a light behind her eyes like no other. She was no braggart, but she knew her worth. She jumped at the opportunity to help budding young writers, playwrights and poets reach their full potential, and welcomed the likes of Yeats and O'Casey with open arms into her home at Coole. As a woman, she was no feminist at all - she simply saw herself as no different to any man, and at no point did she even consider the possibility of gender limiting her potential.
The darker side to Lady Gregory is presented by Tóibín as well. It's one which was very much present, but rarely explored. She had an affair just a few years into her only marriage. She let her political ambiguity sometimes get in the way of life at the Abbey Theatre. She tried to oust her own son, Robert, from his position as man of the house in Coole after the death of his father and put Yeats in his stead, at the head of the table and in the master bedroom. Tóibín presents to us these criticisms, but also outlines the fact that she was only human, the same as the rest of us, and therefore we should find no great shock at any of her less pleasant attributes.
One of the most interesting things that I learned from this book was that the level of censorship within the arts in Ireland was almost, if not just as, severe, as that experienced by the likes of Voltaire in the strict court of Louis XIV of France, or earlier still, of the satirical poet Ovid in ancient Rome. Lady Gregory and her accomplice Yeats often fought hard for the plays of J.M. Synge and George Bernard Shaw, to name but a few, to have the right to be aired at the Abbey Theatre. I was aware of the issues caused by the displaying of the likes of 'The Playboy of the Western World' and 'The Plough and the Stars', but I had no idea about the extent of the riots they caused, or how hard Lady Gregory fought to defend them and the theatre, until I read this book.
I loved the inclusion of Yeats' poetry, and the account of how the two worked together to produce four works commemorating Gregory's son Robert after his plane was accidentally struck down in Italy was very touching. Tóibín's analysis of the poem 'In Memory of Major Robert Gregory' was wonderful, it really explained the fascinating way in which they put many elements of the late airman's life together to constitute this poem.
In terms of cons, there are a few. I found the writing style not to be overly exhilarating, at times rather dull, and that it sometimes focused far too much on others in Lady Gregory's life and their own stories, rather than on the lady herself. I also found the beginning far too basic and elementary, going into a lot of detail on that which I already know, but perhaps that is merely due to the fact that I have grown up knowing the histories of the people within this essay almost as well as my own.
Overall, I found this account to be wonderfully comprehensive and chilling at times, further amplified by the fact that I chose to read the first half next to the lake in Coole Park itself. I wonder if Tóibín would have been among Lady Gregory's esteemed guests, and I like to think that he would have been. A wonderfully insightful account for anybody who already knows a good bit about Lady Gregory, and also a great starting point for anyone who doesn't. A quick read - it took me less than a day - and so definitely worth it.
don't"'
(A brief allusion to the title for anyone who was as intrigued by it as I was).
Some would say that I'm very fortunate to have grown up in the quaint, south-Galway (NOT north-Clare, check the map) town of Gort. I would only partially agree; it suffers immensely from small-town syndrome and the Catholic Church plays a far more prominent role in the lives of the locals than you would find elsewhere, but to make up for that we have Coole Park. I spent a lot of my childhood wafting around the lofty forests, trying to catch the attention of the deer in the enclosure and racing around the Autograph Tree. It would be almost impossible for a child of Gort to grow up without the names of Lady Gregory, William Butler Yeats and George Bernard Shaw on their lips - we seemed to visit the park nearly every year for our school tour. I've known about Yeats' poetry, about the famous visitors such as J.M. Synge and Oscar Wilde, about the Abbey Theatre, for most of my life, but I always jump at the opportunity to learn more about this fantastic oasis of my childhood and its most prominent figure.
Tóibín, in this biographical essay, presents Lady Gregory to us just how she was. She dressed almost exclusively in austere black clothing even in the summer months, but always maintained a light behind her eyes like no other. She was no braggart, but she knew her worth. She jumped at the opportunity to help budding young writers, playwrights and poets reach their full potential, and welcomed the likes of Yeats and O'Casey with open arms into her home at Coole. As a woman, she was no feminist at all - she simply saw herself as no different to any man, and at no point did she even consider the possibility of gender limiting her potential.
The darker side to Lady Gregory is presented by Tóibín as well. It's one which was very much present, but rarely explored. She had an affair just a few years into her only marriage. She let her political ambiguity sometimes get in the way of life at the Abbey Theatre. She tried to oust her own son, Robert, from his position as man of the house in Coole after the death of his father and put Yeats in his stead, at the head of the table and in the master bedroom. Tóibín presents to us these criticisms, but also outlines the fact that she was only human, the same as the rest of us, and therefore we should find no great shock at any of her less pleasant attributes.
One of the most interesting things that I learned from this book was that the level of censorship within the arts in Ireland was almost, if not just as, severe, as that experienced by the likes of Voltaire in the strict court of Louis XIV of France, or earlier still, of the satirical poet Ovid in ancient Rome. Lady Gregory and her accomplice Yeats often fought hard for the plays of J.M. Synge and George Bernard Shaw, to name but a few, to have the right to be aired at the Abbey Theatre. I was aware of the issues caused by the displaying of the likes of 'The Playboy of the Western World' and 'The Plough and the Stars', but I had no idea about the extent of the riots they caused, or how hard Lady Gregory fought to defend them and the theatre, until I read this book.
I loved the inclusion of Yeats' poetry, and the account of how the two worked together to produce four works commemorating Gregory's son Robert after his plane was accidentally struck down in Italy was very touching. Tóibín's analysis of the poem 'In Memory of Major Robert Gregory' was wonderful, it really explained the fascinating way in which they put many elements of the late airman's life together to constitute this poem.
In terms of cons, there are a few. I found the writing style not to be overly exhilarating, at times rather dull, and that it sometimes focused far too much on others in Lady Gregory's life and their own stories, rather than on the lady herself. I also found the beginning far too basic and elementary, going into a lot of detail on that which I already know, but perhaps that is merely due to the fact that I have grown up knowing the histories of the people within this essay almost as well as my own.
Overall, I found this account to be wonderfully comprehensive and chilling at times, further amplified by the fact that I chose to read the first half next to the lake in Coole Park itself. I wonder if Tóibín would have been among Lady Gregory's esteemed guests, and I like to think that he would have been. A wonderfully insightful account for anybody who already knows a good bit about Lady Gregory, and also a great starting point for anyone who doesn't. A quick read - it took me less than a day - and so definitely worth it.
October 14, 2020
Excellent biography of Augusta Gregory which also details the relationships between the great early 20th century Irish writers. Toibin provides an interesting insight into the complex political landscape starting from the Irish Famine - for which Lady Gregory's husband can be credited with exacerbating - to the formation of the Irish Free State.
December 29, 2011
A lovely and gossipy gallop through the life of one the strongest forces of the Irish renaissance.
September 27, 2022
Lady Augusta Gregory was born on a Northern Irish estate held by her Persse family for generations.
‘She was brought up in a strict and rigid Protestantism with much Bible-reading and devotion to duty.’ The youngest and plainest of her sisters, when she was 27 she married their wealthy neighbour, Sir William Gregory, who was 35 years older than her.
The Gregorys spent much of their time in London or travelling, until his death 12 years after their marriage.
From being an apparently conventional daughter and widow of Irish Protestant landed gentry, ’steeped in the attitudes of her class’ she eventually became ‘an Irish nationalist and leader of a cultural movement that was more powerful than politics.’
In the late 19th century, she plunged into Irish folklore and myth (see Lady Gregory); translated the great tale of Cuchulain; came to understand why England was hated by many Irish; met and befriended poet W.B. Yeats and became increasingly interested in presenting Irish culture in the theatre.
She and Yeats worked together to found the Irish National Theatre, the Abbey Theatre, which opened in 1904 in Dublin and supported Irish playwrights such as Synge and O'Casey.
Much of Toibin’s short biography of Lady Gregory follows the evolution of Irish drama in the early twentieth century, emphasising the Abbey’s critical decisions not to censor works that might be contentious by inflaming either Irish nationalists; fervent Catholics or imperial supporters. They did infuriate them all, but Lady Gregory and Yeats held the line on this over the years, even to the point of theatre closure being threatened.
The toothbrush of the title came out of one of these stoushes, when she used to distinguish between the superior directors of the Abbey Theatre and ‘the Catholic nationalist mob’. ‘”It is the old battle,” she wrote to Yeats, “between those who use a toothbrush and those who don't.”’
Toibin sums up: ‘She was skilled in the politics of compromise and was a superb tactician. .. [Her] eye remained on her goal: to establish Ireland’s ancient past as part of its present culture and o produce contemporary Irish masterpieces in and Irish theatre. She put all her steely energy into this and she succeeded, turning a blind eye to the parts of her own heritage that did not suit her purpose. She lived in two worlds: one of them became the Irish Free State and she was proud of that. The other one disappeared.” The days of the landed gentry were past.
It’s an interesting glimpse into a period and a history about which I know very little.
I read it because I want to have a better understanding of Toibin as a writer. I’ve read several of his novels now, very much enjoyed The Master and The Testament of Mary, but was not in the right mood for Brooklyn or, most recently, The Magician. I think I’ll go back to The Master.
3.5 rounded up.
‘She was brought up in a strict and rigid Protestantism with much Bible-reading and devotion to duty.’ The youngest and plainest of her sisters, when she was 27 she married their wealthy neighbour, Sir William Gregory, who was 35 years older than her.
The Gregorys spent much of their time in London or travelling, until his death 12 years after their marriage.
From being an apparently conventional daughter and widow of Irish Protestant landed gentry, ’steeped in the attitudes of her class’ she eventually became ‘an Irish nationalist and leader of a cultural movement that was more powerful than politics.’
In the late 19th century, she plunged into Irish folklore and myth (see Lady Gregory); translated the great tale of Cuchulain; came to understand why England was hated by many Irish; met and befriended poet W.B. Yeats and became increasingly interested in presenting Irish culture in the theatre.
She and Yeats worked together to found the Irish National Theatre, the Abbey Theatre, which opened in 1904 in Dublin and supported Irish playwrights such as Synge and O'Casey.
Much of Toibin’s short biography of Lady Gregory follows the evolution of Irish drama in the early twentieth century, emphasising the Abbey’s critical decisions not to censor works that might be contentious by inflaming either Irish nationalists; fervent Catholics or imperial supporters. They did infuriate them all, but Lady Gregory and Yeats held the line on this over the years, even to the point of theatre closure being threatened.
The toothbrush of the title came out of one of these stoushes, when she used to distinguish between the superior directors of the Abbey Theatre and ‘the Catholic nationalist mob’. ‘”It is the old battle,” she wrote to Yeats, “between those who use a toothbrush and those who don't.”’
Toibin sums up: ‘She was skilled in the politics of compromise and was a superb tactician. .. [Her] eye remained on her goal: to establish Ireland’s ancient past as part of its present culture and o produce contemporary Irish masterpieces in and Irish theatre. She put all her steely energy into this and she succeeded, turning a blind eye to the parts of her own heritage that did not suit her purpose. She lived in two worlds: one of them became the Irish Free State and she was proud of that. The other one disappeared.” The days of the landed gentry were past.
It’s an interesting glimpse into a period and a history about which I know very little.
I read it because I want to have a better understanding of Toibin as a writer. I’ve read several of his novels now, very much enjoyed The Master and The Testament of Mary, but was not in the right mood for Brooklyn or, most recently, The Magician. I think I’ll go back to The Master.
3.5 rounded up.
October 18, 2024
I hadn't known much about Lady Gregory's life, and this provided a coherent, concise (I'm tempted to say "bare bones") summary. It reminded me of those abbreviated "Lives of Great Figures" books that schoolchildren used to be given - - 100 pages or so on Lincoln or Dolley Madison or Lafayette. This introductory approach seemed odd to me, since Toibin writes as if the reader must have some background in the politics and literature of the day (e. g. he several times emphasizes that "The Playboy of the Western World" was scandalous and offensive to various segments of Irish society, but he never bothers to tell the reader anything about the plot.) The backgrounds of the important figures in Lady Gregory's life are briefly sketched in a paragraph or two, and political events tend to be summed up in statements along the lines of "The British government sent in the Black and Tans, who terrorized the countryside" without any elaboration. In addition, Toibin's writing style, which was so brilliant and powerful in "The Testament of Mary" or "House of Names" is onl bland and serviceable here.
August 18, 2024
This was a nice pithy biography of a very interesting woman and more interesting time in Ireland. It captures well the duality of Lady Gregory and the many hats she wore throughout her life. Her influence on Irish culture of the time is astonishing. I enjoyed the excerpts from her own correspondence which were very well researched. She herself was a very good writer. I also really enjoyed the snapshot of an ever changing Ireland and the battle for cultural power in the new vacuum post Parnell and the Rising. As a critique, I did find the timelines unnecessarily confusing and the the gloss over her earlier life was perhaps too fast.
June 21, 2017
Excellent for understanding some of the context around Yeats, his friendship with Lady Gregory and the development of the Abbey Theatre. The details about Yeats, Shaw, Synge and Joyce are enlightening. Many of the references require knowledge of Irish history and authors; to make the most of Lady Gregory's Toothbrush, be prepared to do a bit of research when you finish the book (or while you're reading it). You may be, as I was, inspired to re-read Yeats' poems and enrich your knowledge of modern Irish history.
August 17, 2025
On work trips to Dublin, I stay in the Schoolhouse Hotel and have more than once found myself staying in the Lady Gregory room. Now I know more of who she is! And she was a peculiar mix. Toibin exposes her many ambiguities, and the part she played in a tumultuous period of Irish history. The great lady would view me as a member of the class of toothbrush non-users. An irony the next time I place my toothbrush in her eponymous hotel room.
February 25, 2019
Enjoyed this quirky little book about a woman I, frankly, didn't know anything about. Although I understand the lenght of it leads the book to be a little fragmentary, I was nevertheless intrigued by Augusta Gregory and the Ireland of her time. Reading it will surely lead to some follow-up reading on both subjects, so in that regards the book had an impact.
January 22, 2021
This was an entertaining commentary on the life of one of the more eccentric revolutionaries and intellectuals. Coming from a Protestant Land owning family, friend of Yeats, Shaw , Synge and O'Casey and doyen of the Abbey Theatre, Colm brings this complex character to life with scholerly precision and more than a fair share of amusing anecdotes.
March 31, 2023
An interesting and entertaining book about a bygone age of landowners and patrons of the arts that seems quite distant from the current era. Set against the political and social changes in Ireland Lady G negotiates sensitive situations with skill and pragmatism!
I must admit I had never heard of Lady Gregory before but she seems to have been a great character.
I must admit I had never heard of Lady Gregory before but she seems to have been a great character.
June 12, 2017
Whilst undoubtedly well-written (I love Colm Toibin), I just wasn't interested in the story - and despite the enormous contribution to arts and theatre, left the book not liking Lady Gregory and really not liking Yeats.
August 4, 2018
I learnt a lot about Lady Augusta Gregory and her role in the foundation of the Abbey Theatre. I don't think I liked her much though. At least it was short so I didn't have to spend too long in her company. (Unsisterly of me I know.)
March 5, 2021
Five stars because it's well-written, funny, and it's going to be extremely helpful for my final essay for Academic Writing. I'm glad I found it.
January 2, 2023
Best suited to people with some knowledge of Irish history.
November 11, 2024
A bit hard to follow, especially if you don't know all the ins and outs of Irish cultural history
December 7, 2024
I learned a lot about someone I'd never heard of--Lady Gregory--and someone I knew little about--William Butler Yeats. Well-written.
March 13, 2025
Proxy for ‘Five Bridges’ - New Yorker short story discussed w Ann’s book club. Fraught relationship between divorced father and daughter.
April 28, 2013
This book arrived in my office Friday, April 26th. I proceeded to read it over the weekend. I am an enormous fan of Lady Gregory and was distraught when told I could not make her the subject of my dissertation. I simply felt Virgil Nemoianu had no clue who she is. This book addresses so much in so few pages. Her life was the life of the Irish Renaissance, no part of it went on without her hand. She met every writer and encouraged Joyce. She doted on Yeats and O'Casey. She met kings, queens and presidents. She sat next to Roosevelt watching a Playboy of the Western World and he wasn't offended.
Colm Toibin's gift to Lady Gregory is his brilliant and engaging style. This little volume should be read by everyone interested in matters pertaining to Ireland.
Colm Toibin's gift to Lady Gregory is his brilliant and engaging style. This little volume should be read by everyone interested in matters pertaining to Ireland.
September 23, 2023
Very easy read, and ideal for people looking for an introduction to Augusta Gregory; I knew very little about her, beyond writing about faeries and Abbey with Yeats. This provides a very fair-minded explanation of her transition from imperialist, unionist, citizen of British Empire to fervent Irish nationalist; it’s also useful for anyone looking for definition of the difference between the Irish and the Anglo-Irish, the latter ‘banned forever from the candles of the Irish poor’ as MacNeice wrote.
May 28, 2008
I've said I'd read Toibin's shopping lists - this actually has "toothbrush" in the title.
I've been fascinated by Lady Gregory for a while, and Toibin's is one of the few recent introductions to her life and work. She was as much Yeat's muse as Maud Gonne, and for better reason - she could write as well as he could.
Another in a series of Anglo-Irish Protestants busy salvaging Irish Catholic heritage from the rapids of the early 20th Century.
I've been fascinated by Lady Gregory for a while, and Toibin's is one of the few recent introductions to her life and work. She was as much Yeat's muse as Maud Gonne, and for better reason - she could write as well as he could.
Another in a series of Anglo-Irish Protestants busy salvaging Irish Catholic heritage from the rapids of the early 20th Century.
August 22, 2013
Tóibín effectively and elegantly draws a brief but balanced portrait of this complex woman, showing us both her accomplishments and faults. Although I have read some of Yeats’ poems and some of Shaw’s plays, this short work makes me want to do more exploring around these figures in the Irish cultural nationalism movement and their works.
See my complete review here:
http://whatmeread.wordpress.com/tag/l...
See my complete review here:
http://whatmeread.wordpress.com/tag/l...
January 9, 2016
Good Summary of Influence
This was a fairly good summary of Lady Gregory's influence on Irish theatre and the nationalistic movement. I was a bit surprised at how antisemitism this woman was. She seemed not only to distrust but to dislike other women. Nevertheless, she played a major role in the resurrection of Irish literature and culture. She was friend and patron to Years, Singh, O'Casey and others.
This was a fairly good summary of Lady Gregory's influence on Irish theatre and the nationalistic movement. I was a bit surprised at how antisemitism this woman was. She seemed not only to distrust but to dislike other women. Nevertheless, she played a major role in the resurrection of Irish literature and culture. She was friend and patron to Years, Singh, O'Casey and others.
June 23, 2009
I learned a little bit about Lady Gregory and some other Irish authors in this brief biography, but i was disappointed in the dry writing. Toibin writes so beautifully, I would have thought he could have made this a bit more interesting. It read like a long term paper, nothing colorful or interesting about it, except for the title.
January 25, 2013
I had never heard of Lady Gregory and this short book was a fine introduction. She was full of contradictions and lived during a time of several major upheavals in Ireland (Potato Famine, Ireland's Civil War, ongoing struggles with England, WWI). Her story tells Irish history from a different (albeit aristocratic) point of view. I enjoyed the telling.
October 3, 2014
Nice short (about 120 page) summary of the life of Lady Gregory and her importance to Irish literature. Its sympathetic without glossing over her faults. The "toothbrush" reference is to a derogatory comment the Anglo-Irish Gregory made in a letter regarding the Irish peasantry. I now want to visit the Abbey theatre and read Synge and O'Casey (I'll also get to Ulysses, I promise).
January 19, 2024
I had no idea that Toibin wrote biography. A lovely book though I would have liked it to be longer because he writes to fluently and well. A great introduction to the life of the woman who owned Coole, the house which Yeats wrote about so many times.
January 29, 2016
Not sure what I expected. A bit ponderous and disjointed and it didn't help that I kept putting it down for days at a time. Given the major players and events (Lady G, Yeats, Abby Theater, Easter Uprising) I expected to learn more and be captivated.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews