Library Showcase: Out of Ireland
The savage loves his native shore, Though rude the soil and chill the air; Well then may Erin's sons adore Their isle, which nature formed so fair! What flood reflects a shore so sweet, As Shannon great, or past'ral Bann? Or who a friend or foe can meet, As generous as an Irishman? ~James Orr, Irish poet (1770-1816) Ireland is a very small country that has produced a very rich and dense body of writing. This month the Jessup library showcases Irish fiction. Come and take a bit o' the Isle home. (All descriptions are the publishers'). At Swim-Two-Birds A wildly comic send-up of Irish literature and culture, At Swim-Two-Birds is the story of a young, lazy, and frequently drunk Irish college student who lives with his curmudgeonly uncle in Dublin. When not in bed (where he seems to spend most of his time) or reading he is composing a mischief-filled novel about Dermot Trellis, a second-rate author whose characters ultimately rebel against him and seek vengeance.