A Place Apart: Northern Ireland in the 1970s

(Paperback)

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A Place Apart is a remarkable geographical and psychological travelogue that risesabove history, politics, theology and economics.

Created by a southern Irishwoman, cycling into the mayhem of Northern Ireland inorder to try and sort out her own opinions and emotions about this troubled land. Shecame equipped with her own childhood experiences of murder and Republicanmartyrdom, but was otherwise unfettered by sectarian loyalties and armed with adelightful curiosity, a fine ear for anecdote, an ability to stand her own at the bar and apenetrating intelligence. She travelled extensively through both town and country,frequently finding herself in horrifying situations, and sometimes among people stiffwith hate and grief: but equally, she discovered an unquenchable spirit everywhere thatrefused to die.

Reviews

Genial, tolerant and affectionate. It seems incredible that such a foul oyster should produce such a pearl. - The Times

Author Bio

Dervla Murphy (born Lismore, County Waterford, 1931) was determined to write, not to marry, and to travel to India. She realised two of these ambitions in Full Tilt, her first book, which describes her exuberant bicycle ride from Lismore - where she still lives - to India, through Iran and Afghanistan. It has been followed by some twenty further titles, including an acclaimed memoir, Wheels within Wheels. Her most recent book is A Month by the Sea: Encounters in Gaza.