Homan Potterton (1946–2020)

Really enjoyed this quiet and well written Novel set in Ireland in the mid Twentieth Century.

This is one of what I call my Random Book Shop purchases a purchase where I rely on instinct and the blurb as opposed to reviews or whats on my TRL.

This is the story of an Irish Protestant family in the predominantly Catholic Ireland following the war of Independence. Knockfane "The Big House" where generations of the Esdaile family have resided. When Willis inexplicably banishes his only son and show more heir, Edward, he concocts a complex plan to protect and preserve Knockfane for succeeding generations. But time passes, and Willis dies, and soon his intentions are threatened and thwarted by unforeseen events.

I picked this lovely novel up in a book store of a small town that I happened to stop for coffee in , I loved the cover on this one and the blurb really caught my attention, its a beautifully written story, its one of those old back to basics novels that has a good story, well formed characters and lovely setting. Its a quiet story with just enough drama to keep the reader interested and turning the pages.

A really enjoyable book and another one for my real life bookshelf. show less

tom and i bought this book in 89? on a london trip and visited the gallery to see the paintings with the book. we went every morning, listened to gallery talks on different paintings. I REMEMBERED NOTHING. pretty sad.

Ireland stood at the forefront of Westem European artistic culture in antiquity, when great passage graves were built; during the 7th and 8th centuries AD, when the Irish produced masterpieces of metalwork and manuscript illumination; and during the 18th century, an age of classical elegance. The achievements of these periods and others survive largely intact. This survey describes the whole sequence of Irish art and architecture. Peter Harbison, chairman of the National Monuments Advisory show more Council, is author of "Pre-Christian Ireland" (Thames and Hudson, 1988). Homan Potterton was Director of the National Gallery of Ireland, 1980-88. Jeanne Sheehy is author of "The Rediscovery of Ireland's Past" (Thames and Hudson, 1980). show less

The National Gallery in London houses one of the richest collections of paintings in the world. As Sir Michael Levey says in his preface to Homan Potterton's guide, "No eye will ever exhaust the enjoyment these pictures provide, and a lifetime spent gazing at them is wisely spent." Homan Potterton, an Assistant Keeper at the National Gallery for many years, tells the story of the growth of this great collection and has chosen nearly 350 illustrations of its masterpieces from all periods. A show more catalogue of the National Gallery's works is included.

"Will for long remain the standard introduction to the Gallery...Mr. Potterton shows himself second to none in his selection of the principal paintings, with notes of easy authority and humor." --The Antique Collector show less