Round Ireland in Low Gear

A hilarious gallimaufry skillfully put together by that prince among travel writers, the literary conqueror of the Hindu Kush. The author has put humor and poetry to a savage test.

There was another review that complained – among other criticisms – that Eric had ‘lifted’ great chunks of his narrative about touring Ireland from guide books. Even that he “admitted and acknowledged it” in the book. Now, apart from Eric Newby using citations correctly when he does quote from other works, there is no such confession of plagiarism in the book’s footnotes. In fact running several likely paragraphs through the teacher’s plagiarism website my son often uses revealed only a reference to one touring guide book, and that one Eric had co-authored anyway! So the author’s narrative is as original as ever, and is delightfully sprinkled with Wanda’s usual put-downs and ‘back-to-earth’ asides.

And Ireland and show more its climate of course, offered Wanda Newby plenty of opportunities for those biting wifely comments, especially while being toured on bicycles! In winter, with overloaded panniers and chancing to luck and B&Bs for a bed at night, and Pubs or remote country-stores for meals.

Eric was perhaps rather “asking for it” with this idea. The resulting chaotic and riotous trip makes for a humorous romp through the Dingles and bogs in the near-continuous ‘soft mists’ of Ireland, supported by the usual Newby need to give the reader the information and history of what the author(s) discover, see, experience and visit. The book is thoroughly enjoyable and is as tempting a portrait of Ireland as Pete McCarthy’s McCarthy’s Bar and, yes, it is as informative as any Bord Failte official touring-guide.

On yer bike says Eric! show less

An interesting read. Enjoyed his occasional comical descriptions of people, places and situations.

Great read, hilarious, full of history of ire!

Not at all what i expected, in fact very boring. Was hoping for a light hearted tour of Ireland but got a history of almost every dilapidated church

Less said the better

wie haalt het in z'n hoofd om in februari door Ierland te fietsen....
Eric Newby natuurlijk, deze, inmiddels overleden, Engelse wereldreiziger blijft op een aardige manier de typsisch Engelse exentriekeling. Heerlijk voor de leunstoelreiziger. Je krijgt wel zin om ook naar Ierland te vertrekken, maar liever toch in juni of zo.