This captivating book of Irish history and civilization is without a doubt, not your usual humdrum historical account of names, dates and battles. It is written in plain language for people of all ages. There is an enormous amount of information packed into a fairly short book. According to one review,
Brighid O'Sullivan has worn many hats. She attended college for nursing and writing. She ran two businesses of her own, one in sales and the other sewing wedding gowns. Now she writes Irish historical fiction and all about Ireland, which she visits often. Brighid has written for History Magazine, History Channel magazine, and also writes a blog centered on history, travel, and all things Irish . She lives in Western NY with her adoring husband, her amusing grand-children and a few goldfish.
Its true the Irish were great storytellers but I had no idea these 2 famous men were Irishmen but delighted to find out. Having an imagination as a child is the most wonderful thing in the world but many of us are discouraged from using that imagination when we approach adulthood. We're told to grow up, tell the truth, and get our heads out of the clouds. Thank God people like Bran Stoker and Jonathan Swift did not heed those words or we'd never have read Gulliver's Travels or Dracula! The only thing I love more than reading is writing. What a world it opens up inside me head!
Book Excerpt
100 Things You Didn't Know About Ireland
21. Less Known facts of 2 Famous Irish Authors: 1. Bram Stoker, author of the best known horror story of all time, Dracula was bedridden from an unknown illness until the age of seven. In the 1980s, his original 541 page manuscript, previously believed to have been lost, was found in a barn in Pennsylvania, Bram Stoker's name scrawled at the bottom, riddled with corrections and the original title changed from The Un-dead to Dracula. 2. Jonathan Swift, most known for his children's story Gulliver's Travels was Dean of St Patrick's Cathedral and an ordained priest for the Church of Ireland. A kind generous man, he worked hard toward social injustice in Ireland and was known to run up and down the cathedral stairs to keep fit, earning him an odd reputation to the public. He never married but had 2 loves in his life. Esther Johnson was an impoverished child whom he tutored from the age of eight. He nicknamed her "Stella" and they had a life-long ambiguous relationship, leading some to believe they were secretly married although Stella was known to have female companions even though she lived in Swift's house. In 1707 a sort of love triangle blossomed and Swift had two women on his hands. He met Esther Vanhomrigh, daughter of Lord Mayor of Dublin, whom he nicknamed "Vanessa." The two became infatuated with each other, with Vanessa following Swift to Ireland. This did not sit well with Stella and the three were known to quarrel. In 1723 the threesome's relationship was tense as Vanessa was seriously ill and dieing. She begged Swift to throw Stella out but he would not. In a fit of rage, Vanessa destroyed her will, which had previously been favorable to Swift. Stella stayed with Swift until her own death. She is buried in St Patrick's Cathedral alongside Swift.
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