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Growing Up with Ireland: A Century of Memories from Our Oldest and Wisest Citizens
'An incredible portal to our past' The Sunday Times
On 7 January 1922, Ireland became a free state. Born into that era of turbulence and hope were the twenty-six women and men whose stories and memories of a lifetime are captured by cherished Irish journalist Valerie Cox.
From living memory come stories of the arrival of electricity, story-telling at 'rambling houses', raising a family in an earlier era, the scourge of TB, the big snow of 1932 and hiding out when the Black and Tans raided. These evocative pieces reflect both a simpler time and a tougher one, where childhood was short and the world of work beckoned from an early age.
Growing Up With Ireland is a compelling portrait of an Ireland in some ways warmly familiar, and in others changed beyond recognition, from those who were there at the beginning.
'A comprehensive and evocative insight into a century of Irish life ... a valuable record' Irish Examiner
On 7 January 1922, Ireland became a free state. Born into that era of turbulence and hope were the twenty-six women and men whose stories and memories of a lifetime are captured by cherished Irish journalist Valerie Cox.
From living memory come stories of the arrival of electricity, story-telling at 'rambling houses', raising a family in an earlier era, the scourge of TB, the big snow of 1932 and hiding out when the Black and Tans raided. These evocative pieces reflect both a simpler time and a tougher one, where childhood was short and the world of work beckoned from an early age.
Growing Up With Ireland is a compelling portrait of an Ireland in some ways warmly familiar, and in others changed beyond recognition, from those who were there at the beginning.
'A comprehensive and evocative insight into a century of Irish life ... a valuable record' Irish Examiner
- GenresNonfiction
400 pages, Paperback
Published November 3, 2020
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December 31, 2022
This is a collection of snapshots of the lives of 26 people who were born in or around the creation of the independent country of Ireland from 1922 onwards. By now in their 90's, they have lived varied and interesting lives through times of huge change and turmoil, not just in Ireland but on a worldwide scale too.
Two of the people featured both coincidentally went to Germany in 1938 as part of an exchange programme in their respective schools, landing right into the midst of Nazi Germany.
The individual stories are interesting and I did learn from them but I imagine it would appeal more to older readers. I did feel disappointed that most of the people interviewed didn't seem to hold much regard for the generations coming up after them, even though it is their own children and grandchildren. I thought that was quite sad to hear.
Two of the people featured both coincidentally went to Germany in 1938 as part of an exchange programme in their respective schools, landing right into the midst of Nazi Germany.
The individual stories are interesting and I did learn from them but I imagine it would appeal more to older readers. I did feel disappointed that most of the people interviewed didn't seem to hold much regard for the generations coming up after them, even though it is their own children and grandchildren. I thought that was quite sad to hear.
Displaying 1 of 1 review