The Big Little Book of Irish Wit & Wisdom
by Fergus Kelly, Pat Fairon, Mary Dowling Daley
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Book Summary Information
Author: Fergus Kelly, Mary Dowling Daley, Pat FaironEdition: Hardcover
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 1997-01-09
ISBN: 1884822738
Number of pages: 368
Publisher: Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers
Book Reviews of The Big Little Book of Irish Wit & Wisdom
Book Review: "A Little Bit of Heaven,Sure They Call It Ireland." J.Keirn Brennan.Song title,1914,
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a beautiful and winsome "big little book" of the things that are Irish.
Physically,it is only 4 1/2" X 6" but 1 1/2 " thick.It has 366 pages and a hard cover.The hard cover is glossy and printed with the same charming color sketch of an Irish ,thatched-roof cottage as on the dust jacket. The book is printed on high quality gloss paper.The printing is high quality and there are 245 (I counted them) delightful sketches ,similar to the one on the cover,to accompany each wee bit of wit and wisdom. It is almost like 6 little books in one. Each section,Irish Blessings,Irish Toasts,Irish Proverbs,Irish Riddles Irish Laws and Irish Wisdom are illustrated by different artists.The book is very well constructed,comes with a book mark on a ribbon with a metalic Celtic charm.Hence,you get a captivating little treasure that nobody can resist picking up and thumbing through and enjoying.
The Irish are well known for their wit, expressions, and their unmatched use of language,much of it handed down for thousands of years,orally,as there was no written language left by the Celts.
You may come across things you have heard before,but most of what you find in this little tome,will be new to you,whether you have a little or a lot of knowledge of Irish culture.
It's impossible to select a couple of favorites,but here is just a sample;
"May the Lord keep you
in his hand
And never close His fist too tight
on you."
For a Happy Death
"When your eyes shall be closing
And your mouth be opening
And your senses be slipping away.
When your heart shall grow cold
And your limbs be old
God comfort your soul that day."
"In the New Year,may your right
hand always
Be stretched out in friendship
and never in want,"
St Patrick was a gentleman
Who through strategy and stealth
Drove all the snakes from Ireland,
Here's a toasting to his health;
But not too many toastings
Least you lose yourself and then
Forget the good St Patrick
And see all those snakes again."
"Drink is the curse of the land.
It makes you fight with
your neighbour. It makes
you shoot at your landlord--
and it makes you miss him."
"You never plough a field
by turning it over in
your mind."
"The Irish forgive their
great men when they are
safely buried."
And finally;
"May you live to be
a hundred years,
With one extra year to repent."
Summary of The Big Little Book of Irish Wit & Wisdom
A delightful look at Irish culture and experience and at the inimitable Irish way with words, this treasury includes triads dating from the ninth century, 28 riddles of traditional Irish life, 32 prayers and blessings for all occasions, 50 proverbs, the best of Ireland's toasts and 50 early "Brehon" laws. A full-color illustration adds enchantment to each spread.Humor Books
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