Robert Lloyd Praeger (1865–1953)

Robert Lloyd Praeger takes us on an amble around Ireland, visiting many parts and exploring the flora, mostly, landscape, and fauna, occasionally, with a love for the space and a genuine regard for his subject. He does have some ranty moments, but what really struck me was his love of the land.

Originally written in 1937 it's shocking how this comment echoes through time "And Ireland is a very lovely country. Indeed, there is only one thing wrong with it, and that is that the people that are in it have not the common-sense to live in peace with one another and with their neighbours. Past events and political theory are allowed to bulk much too large in our mental make-up, and the result is dissatisfaction, unrest and occasionally shocking violence."

Indeed.… (more)

This, by far, has been my favorite book concerning Ireland that I have ever read. It is dated by a century, true, but that is what lends so much of its charm to the reader. It is a rambling account of gentleman scholar as he takes the reader through a somewhat circuitous route through the whole of the island of Ireland. Along the way, we stop in every county and dabble among the subjects of botany, zoology, history, archaelogy, geology, and spread throughout is linguistics. On one page one will find a snippit of poetry, the next a humble explanation of the strata of local sediment formations, and then perhaps an ancedote on local myths about lake monsters or faeries. The clear tone of the scientist rings true throughout the book, but a scientist with a well schooled background in the humanities. Praeger was a well traveled man, but you can tell through his writing that he loves his native Ireland more than any of the other place he has travlleled to. I highly recommend this book for those admirers of Ireland who crave the well rounded education traditions of the turn of the century.… (more)