Charles: The Life and World of Charles ActonThis is a biography of the music critic and commentator, Charles Acton, chronicling his family's history over 300 years at Kilmacurragh in County Wicklow (now a celebrated arboretum in the care of the State), and his work for the Irish Times over thirty years (1955 88). \n \nThere is a comprehensive view of his Irish background, his education in England at Rugby and Cambridge and his career in Dublin. Beginning with the rich source material of Acton

and beautifully realized

a once-feted journalist/author with writer’s block

restores a personal and collective past

As a student debating society it has always debated the burning issues of the day

From cityscape to mindscape

The Waking of Willie Ryan reveals John Broderick as one of the most incisive chroniclers of mid‑century Ireland

Beautifully illustrated

Many photographs here originally featured in the IAA 2006 exhibition ‘Maurice Craig: Fifty Years of Photographing Ireland’

and on his own background and experiences as an isolated genius

written originally in Irish at Lynn monastery south of Mullingar

in London after official retirement in 1981 and on the Continent for vacations

head and tail bound Tristram Shandy is one of English literature’s most curious