Quench the Lamp

by Alice Taylor

If ever a voice has captured the colors, the rhythms, the rich, bittersweet emotions of a time gone by, it is Alice Taylor's. Her tales of childhood in rural Ireland hark back to a timeless past, to a world now lost, but ever and fondly remembered. The colorful characters and joyous moments she offers have made her stories an Irish phenomenon, and have made Alice herself the most beloved author in all of the Emerald Isle.

Genres: Ireland, Memoir, Biography, Nonfiction, Biography Memoir, History

208 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1990

About the author

Alice Taylor lives in the village of Innishannon in County Cork, in a house attached to the local supermarket and post office. Since her eldest son has taken over responsibility for the shop, she has been able to devote more time to her writing.

Alice Taylor worked as a telephonist in Killarney and Bandon. When she married, she moved to Innishannon where she ran a guesthouse at first, then the supermarket and post office. She and her husband, Gabriel Murphy, who sadly passed away in 2005, had four sons and one daughter. In 1984 she edited and published the first issue of Candlelight, a local magazine which has since appeared annually. In 1986 she published an illustrated collection of her own verse.

To School Through the Fields was published in May 1988. It was an immediate success, launching Alice on a series of signing sessions, talks and readings the length and breadth of Ireland. Her first radio interview, forty two minutes long on RTÉ Radio's Gay Byrne Show, was the most talked about radio programme of 1988, and her first television interview, of the same length, was the highlight of the year on RTÉ television's Late Late Show. Since then she has appeared on radio programmes such as Woman's Hour, Midweek and The Gloria Hunniford Show, and she has been the subject of major profiles in the Observer and the Mail on Sunday.

To School Through the Fields quickly became the biggest selling book ever published in Ireland, and her sequels, Quench the Lamp, The Village, Country Days and The Night Before Christmas, were also outstandingly successful. Since their initial publication these books of memoirs have also been translated and sold internationally.

In 1997 her first novel, The Woman of the House, was an immediate bestseller in Ireland, topping the paperback fiction lists for many weeks. A moving story of land, love and family, it was followed by a sequel, Across the River in 2000, which was also a bestseller.

One of Ireland's most popular authors, she has continued writing fiction, non-fiction and poetry since.

Reviews

[Diane Barnes · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. A continuation of To School Through the Fields, about a large family in rural Ireland before such things as electricity and running water. Wonderful for quiet reading times.

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really, really enjoyed this book. Taylor fills the vignettes with colorful characters and descriptions of lots of everyday things in her youth that are now gone, except for occasional 'let's reenact how they used to do it' events. Since a good portion of my background is Irish, I found the vignettes interesting, and somehow comforting. Although I know that my life is too used to modern conveniences to make it realistic, I think I would like to live in Taylor's world before the 'lamp was quenched' to make room for electricity and progress.
A nice, quick read that goes well before bedtime or in between the rigorous events of modern life.

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always love reading Alice Taylor's books. To get a glimpse of what her life was like in rural Ireland, and to read the stories of her growing up and her family is something I always enjoy. I read Taylor's books with great excitement as Ireland is a place I've grown to love after visiting twice, and her words are like a soothing balm for the soul.

[Linda C · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second of four memoirs of rural life in a large family in Ireland covers the authors years in secondary school. Included are tales of home life, local characters, and the changing lifestyle in the mid-twentieth century. Tales are beautifully written, that get to the heart of a character, event or way of life. Thoroughly enjoyed.

[Frances Driscoll · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a charming book and an easy read. I feel like I know the author's family and I would like them.

[Catwall · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author's autobiography, growing up in Newmarket, Co. Cork, Ireland, the hometown of my maternal grandfather. Enjoyed reading about simpler days of the 1940s Ireland.

[Deborah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charming short book about growing up in a very small village in Ireland in the 50s.

[Ciara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book talked about the teenage years of Alice Taylor going to dances for the 1st time picking out dresses for said dance etc.

[Madelyn Hall · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sweet book, of a bygone time.

[Mollie · Rating 4 out of 5]

These little vignettes of Alice Taylor's childhood in Ireland make you laugh and cry. I reccommend them to anyone who likes a sweet simple story of days gone by. It will help you remember your childhood in the process.

[Sylvester (Taking a break in 2023) · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little book of recollections about her childhood in Ireland in the 1950's. Short and easy to read, each chapter is on a different topic, and Taylor vividly describes her experience of a world rapidly changing from time-honoured traditions and practices to the conveniences of electricity.

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Taylor and I are about the same age, but how very different our young lives were, she on a farm in rural—even backward—Ireland, I on the edge of a busy Midwestern city. She writes eloquently, sweetly, and honestly about her years, and I very much enjoyed meeting her and reminiscing with her.

[Jennifer Murnane]

Nice quiet read, Tales of Ireland.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book b/c it was one of her memoirs about growing up in an Irish farming community.

[Paula · Rating 3 out of 5]

Given to me by a coworker, who was born in Ireland. Nice group of short stories. Struck me as Ireland's version of Little House on the Prairie.

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stories from the authors childhood, growing up in Ireland in the 1940's and 1950's. A very enjoyable book.

[Martha · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very nice selection of stories of the author's life in a small village in Ireland. Quite an enjoyable read with some tender moments, some laugh out loud moments and many in between.

[Eileen T O'Neill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this gem of a book many years ago. Now looking forward to revisiting those happy days again, so well recalled by Alice Taylor:)