Synopses & Reviews
Island light is magical. And none more so than Irelands. Irelands light floods the landscape, luring the senses with a restless presence. The water surrounding and carving through the island reflects back to us the ever-changing movement of the wind-blown clouds and light. Stop for a minute and the settings change: what was straight is bent, light is dark, still is in motion. It is as though an unseen hand directs the wind, the clouds, and the light to harness our attention.
Ireland: A Luminous Beauty is a collection of stunning full-color photographs by some of Ireland's finest landscape photographers with concise text blending history, myth, and a sense of place. Many of the photographs were taken in the early morning light or as the sun set. That hour after sunrise and before sunset, with the sun low in the sky, is known to photographers as the golden hour and favored for its soft, diffused light.
We take a journey to one of the most beautiful places in the world. From the ancient stone monuments of the Boyne Valley to the treacherous stone steps of Skellig Michael; from the distinctive columns of the Giant's Causeway and the spectacularly sited Dunluce Castle ruins to lush, green countryside and fields of heather; from the limestone of the Burren (the rockiest part of Ireland) to exuberant stretches of flowers and gardens; from a moody sea and crashing surf to massive stone cliffs battered by the relentless pounding of the waves, and from steely rivers to tranquil lakes, it's all here.
The Irish respond to this dramatic environment by transforming it into one that solidifies and enriches their own sense of place. We all have this instinct to create our own space, but the Irish have made an art of it. Through the ancient, natural, and cultivated landscapes, surrounded by history and legend, we discover and celebrate the spirit of Ireland and its luminous beauty.
Review
Praise for Spectacular Ireland:
“Page after page of frame-worthy pictures provide a breathtaking and awe-inspiring look at the hills, villages, cities and glowing country scenes that constitute Ireland.” —Irish America Magazine
Praise for The Irish: A Treasury of Art and Literature (edited by Leslie Conron Carola):
“This book successfully conveys the beauty and tragedy of Irish history and its rich legacy in art and literature. An effective introduction to the country, a visual joy, and delightful browsing, this is recommended for general collections.” —Library Journal
Synopsis
Island light is magical, and none more so than Irelands. Irelands light lures the senses with a restless presence, flooding the landscape from above and below the surface. The water surrounding and carving through the island reflects back to us the movement of light and shadow. It is as though an unseen hand directs the clouds, the wind, the light to harness our attention.
Images of the country—a land of contrasts—stay with us, firing our imaginations. Stop for a minute and the settings change: what was straight is bent, light is dark, still is in motion. The land itself whispers the cues. A mythic and mysterious landscape full of ritual and imagination leads us to that indelible sense of place that is Ireland.
From the icons and artifacts of the ancient world to the dramatic landscapes of the natural world, Peter Harbison's Ireland: A Luminous Beauty explores the spirit of this fascinating island with its magical light—a spirit rich with imagination and style. This spirit is everywhere: it moves our souls.
About the Author
PETER HARBISON, one of Irelands most distinguished archaelogists, art historian, entertaining lecturer and writer, was for many years editor of Ireland of the Welcomes, an internationally acclaimed magazine devoted to Irish culture. Former Chairman of the National Monuments Advisory Council, Dr. Harbison is currently Honorary Academic Editor of the Royal Irish Academy, of which he has been Vice-President. He is the author of many books on Irelands art and archaeology, including Ancient Ireland, The Golden Age of Irish Art, as well as Spectacular Ireland and Irelands Treasures, edited by Leslie Conron Carola.
LESLIE CONRON CAROLA, writer, editor, and book producer, is the editor of The Irish: A Treasury of Art and Literature. She has developed, edited, and produced two previous books with Peter Harbison, Spectacular Ireland and Irelands Treasures: 5000 Years of Artistic Expression, and is the director of Arena Books Associates, LLC, her own book packaging company in Westport, Connecticut.