Page:The best hundred Irish books.djvu/36

 studies in Ireland, of many Irishmen who on the continent shed a lustre on Ireland in the middle ages — such as Columbanus, whose poems and letters are among the chief literary monu- ments of the seventh century, and whose life by an Irish monk of Bobio, Jonas, is one of the best specimens of biography of the early middle ages ; John Scotus Erigena, the greatest philosophic thinker of Europe from the 5th to the 13th cen- tury ; Sedulius Scotus, hitherto known only by his commentaries on the Epistles of St Paul, and hiss book "De Kectoribus Christianis," but whose recently discovered numerous poems — so charac- teristically Irish — place him in the foremost rank of medifeval Latin poets ; the unknown author who calls himself "Hibernicus-Exul," whose Latin poem, written about the year 787 in hex- ameters, is, perhaps, the earliest example of epic poetry in Europe after the fall of the Ptoman Empire, Richard of St Victor, and many others. The publication of the works of aU these and other Irish Latin writers would surely be a patri- otic work for an Irish scholar and an Irish pub- lisher. Let me add that in the dearth of Irish text books why is it that no one has undertaken to publish the poems of some' of our mediaeval Irish poets, such Mac Liag, Mac Coise, Cuan O'Lothcham, Flann of the Monastery, and others. Such collections would be much better than some of the inferior pieces now used, and at aU events would give useful variety. I think "Historicus" deserves the thanks of every Irishman for directing the attention of the public so forcibly to the subject of Irish history, and indirectly to Irish literature generally. His considerable and impartially made list of books, and the many additions since made to it by your correspondents, most of which are as little known to the great majority of Irish men and women as would be a corresponding list of books relating to the history of Bohemia, will, I trust, create a wide and intelligent interest in Irish books of all kinds. While fully appreciating the compliment "His- toricus" has paid me iii suggesting that 1 should edit a new edition of Dr. Richey's book, I may state that all my spare time is fully occupied already in putting my own work on this subject into a better and more accessible form. — I remam, sir, your obedient servant, William K. Sullivan. MR. T. P. O CONNOR, M.P. TO THE EDITOR OF THE FREEMAN. 38 Grosvenor road, Westminster, S W. Sir — I am in the same position as many of your correspondents. The article of "Historicus" WAS a painful revelation to me of the depth of my own ignorance of Irish history and Irish litera- ture. Unfortunately, like so many of your corre- spondents, the study of Irish history was not part of tho curriculum in any of tlie places of educa- tion I attended in my student days. So far ss I arn a judge, 1 regard the selection by "Historicus' an very excellent. I would be disposed to add several books, nearly all of which have already been Huggest(d by |)rovious correspondents. All the clu»rter Laics of Carlcton are worth reading — especially tlic "I'oor Scholar" and the "lied AVell." i thinkt.Iieso two sketches P(|nul to any skei,eh in any language. 1 would join jMr. 'I'ro- v(dy.an in reeinnmending ]l r. Antliony 'I'rollopii's "MacUerinoUs of Ballyclorau" to any list of Irish books; it is, I think, Trollope's best story, and one of the truest pictures of Irish life ever written. The poetical works of Aubrey de Vere, especially his "Innisfail," ought also to be added. I am glad to find that some of your correspon- dents have remembered Miss Annie Keary's "Castle Daly." It is the best exposition in the shape of romance of the diflferences between Eng- lish and Irish ideas. Mrs Hartley's remarkable works ought also have a place in the list, especi- ally that splendid piece of realism, "Tatters, Flitters, and the Counsellor." Miss Edgeworch's works I have not read since I was a boy; but the profound impression they made on me still re- mains, and I believe a re-reading would show an extraordinary mastery for her time of the Iriah evils that seem now for the first time to have a chance of being redressed. Some of Mrs S C Hall's Irish tales are very powerful and very true to life. M'Carthy's "History of our own Times" and Sir Charles Cavan Duflfy's volumes ought cer- tainly to have a place in any list of the best Irish books. "Historicus" ought also to have men- tioned in Mitchel's works, "The Last Conquest," but not in the mutilated form which is issued by some publishers. I join with your various cor- respondents in their high praise of the historical writing of Mr. Lecky. I don't think I can add anything to this. — Yours very truly, T P O'Connor. DR. SIGERSON. TO THE EDITOR OF THE FREEMAN. 3 Glare-street, 28th March. Dear Sir — I regret that through indisposition I have been unable sooner to acknowledge your courtesy in sending me a proof-sheet of the re- markable article on the "Best Hundred Irish Books," nor can I at present offer any comments befitting the importance of the subject. It seems to me, in tl e first place, that of the many suggestions and criticisms made some would have been retained in secure silence had the writers considered the previous question, namely, what is the nature of a book ? A deep distinction may be drawn between books which are books and books which are not books, properly so called. Some are garbage ; but tliese need no exclusion. Of those which pass generally under the name of books three great groups may be defined — First — lVord-booL<!. Dictionaries and grammars should be classed in this category. Useful and even in- difipensable as they are, I cannot agree with the suggestion of a writer that a dictionary (though it be bilingual) should be included amongst the best books. Compilations of words are as a heap of fossil bones, until the breath of science gives them life, shows, or attempts to show tlieir modes of origin and development, their changes, relations, ami fate. -As tlie views of phi'ologists dili'er occasionally, and as the vi- vacious passions of meu seem to augment in direct ratio with the apparent vridity of tlieir occupa- tions, a keen zest is given to the study by the occurrence of cnergelio free lights. It is obvious, however, that when tho subject lias reeeivod this infusion of liunnuiiiy it is far removed from tho category of word books. In tho second group I would place Fact-books. 1'he "'I'afilo book ' is an admirable work in its way, giving essential information in languag'* which is clear, c.oiiciso, and evim "ci'isp." Kxocllont, alsi>, after the'*/ arc Tlioiu'sDirocLorj, Lhu klULuti b