Ireland

Rating:
Summary: The Essence Of Ireland
Review: The foregoing title is culled from the Foreword written by Princess Grace Of Monaco. Her description, repeated hereunder, better sums up this volume than anything I could write:

"My pleasure in viewing the work of Gordon Wetmore in this magnificent book was, no doubt, greatly influenced by my love for the country of my paternal grandparents, John Henry Kelly and Mary Costello Kelly. They came to the United States from County Mayo, Ireland, as youngsters. They were people of remarkable character. I see that kind of character etched in the faces of these indomitable people in Gordon Wetmore's work. In this lovely book artist Wetmore has captured the gentleness and beauty of everyday life. The essence of Ireland - the splendor of its emerald beauty, the rugged men who still labor with horsedrawn carts, the thatched-roof cottages, the darling children - is here in Ireland, Portrayed by Gordon Wetmore. I shall return often to the pages of this charming book."

I know what she means, as my own family [O Laoghaire] came to Canada from County Cork many years ago.

The painting and skech reproductions, which are absolutely breathtaking, are accompanied by selected text from the works of people like W.B. Yeats, J.M. Synge, Gustave De Beaumont, James Joyce, and Elizabeth Bowen, to name just a few.

The large [26cm x 31cm] 144-page volume comes with a protective sleeve and was first published in North America in 1980 by Thomas Nelson Publishers.