Hidden City: Adventures and Explorations in Dublin

by Karl Whitney

Dublin is a city much visited and deeply mythologized. In Hidden City, Karl Whitney, who has been described as 'Dublin's best psychogeographer since James Joyce', explores the places the city's denizens easily overlook. Whitney haunts Dublin's edgelands, underground rivers and sewers, ghost estates and dark corners. Whether he is visiting each of the twenty addresses at which James Joyce lived in and around the city, or skulking around the Georgian estate that once belonged to Charles Haughey, Karl Whitney shows us a Dublin – or a collection of Dublins – that we've never seen before.

Genres: Nonfiction, Travel, Irish Literature, History, Cities

288 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2014

Reviews

[Darragh Geraghty · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a nation thoroughly obsessed with our own history it’s not surprising how many books have been written about our capital city. In a market so over-saturated with countless volumes seeking to explain and re-explain ourselves, it is something of a relief to read Hidden City. It is a book of great charm and sly simplicity which explores the oft-ignored landscapes of Dublin and her surrounding environs. Guiding us through underground rivers, sewage treatment plants, and half-completed ghost estates, Karl Whitney paints an original and surprising picture of a city as easy to love as it is to hate.

The core of the book is in the subtitle: “adventures and explorations in Dublin by foot, bike, bus, train and tram”. By utilising so many forms of transport Whitney can take us off the beaten track, embracing one of the core tenets of psychogeography: that when it comes to urban exploration, “playfulness” and drifting can bring us a greater awareness and understanding of the cities in which we live. This playfulness is most apparent in a chapter where Whitney devises a game of chance with Dublin Bus. Over the course of 90 minutes he takes several buses (the bus and direction each time being determined by a coin-toss) in an attempt to end up in an unpredictable and unexplored part of the city. The game’s failure, and subsequent variations of the rules, is hilarious and illuminating – even when we have nowhere to go, the capacity of public transport to frustrate is astounding.

Other chapters are equally delightful. An attempt to visit all twenty houses occupied by James Joyce (in one day and in chronological order) was a particular favourite. Or a guided tour along the underground rivers flowing beneath the Liberties, which sounds both terrifying and appealing in equal measure. It’s not all frivolous traipsing, though. In one moving segment he retraces the final steps of Nigerian teenager Toyosi Shitta-Bey, who was stabbed to death in 2010. Political corruption, crime, economic collapse, poorly planned infrastructure, immigration, and failed property developments are all discussed with clarity and a refreshingly straight-forward style. How all these things feed into Dublin’s landscape (real and imaginary) is Hidden City’s great triumph. Here is a book which does not romanticize Dublin, but shows what it really is – a maddening and brilliant place full of contradictions, a sprawl of divides begging for further exploration.

This review originally appeared on The Bloomfield Review: http://www.bloomfieldreview.com/hidde...

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

A bit all over the place: couldn't decide if it wanted to be a rant about cowboy property developers and the resultant urban blight or a quirky travel guide (touring power plants, airports, bus routes etc). Did a mediocre job of both. Disappointed but did learn a few interesting things which saved it from a one star.

[Clare O'Dea · Rating 4 out of 5]

An original take on Dublin that will fill in a lot of gaps for people who feel they know the city well but have stopped exploring it. A lot of the time we are just trekking around in the company of the writer who sets himself mini-quests and is unflappably earnest. I enjoyed his company so that was fine. Sometimes the quests are a little absurd and his style is understated but the pieces all come together very well. Excellent reportage on the failings of the building industry in particular, with a haunting description of the fallout from Priory Hall. Very well researched and an original and effective way of delivering social commentary.

[Breid · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed Karl ' s exploration of Dublin ' s hidden history..The chapter on the sewers, not so much, but I am squeamish about such things, and kudos to Karl for being brave enough to delve into this aspect of Dublin ' s history! This book gives a personal insight into Dublin from the viewpoint of someone who has grown up in this city, someone who loves this city, and someone who shines a light on the Dublin that is never mentioned in guide books, and that many of us would not be aware of.

[Eoin ODonnell · Rating 1 out of 5]

Seriously one of the worst books ever written. Awful awful writing. Thinks describing minute detail of getting a coffee and walking through the north side makes it interesting. It doesn't. In one part he goes to visit each of James Joyce's houses. It is like reading a 14 year olds essay. Painfully cringe enducing bad writing. I'm not joking. It's the worst book I've ever read. Less than one star.

[Killian · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable read, the author's explorations across Dublin

[Patrick Jamieson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this book. A lot. As I plan a first visit to Dublin in a few months, I appreciate this perceptive local author's observations and revelations about some of his city's environs and (mostly) recent history. The collected adventures are interesting and well-written. Vicariously exploring high and low with Karl Whitney was a joy, and provided color not to be found elsewhere. I feel better prepared to approach the city my paternal ancestors left behind nearly 150 years ago.

I disagree with the reviewer who suspects this book is only of interest to Dubliners, and agree with the one who suggested maps would be a nice enhancement.

[Simon J Alvey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Something of a curate's egg. A book that I don't feel delivers on its impression of being the hidden Dublin. It is excellent and excoriating when writing about the corruption of Fianna Fail, or the victims of the housing boom. However it is also full of chapters about playing a game with a bus ticket or going down the sewers that just seemed needlessly whimsical.

[Tiia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I just couldn't decide do I like this or not, so I give it 3 stras. At some point I totally lost interest and then some parts I hardly could put it away. There were some really interesting points of view for this city I really like. I did recommend it for my local friend, but I would not recommend it for someone who isn't familiar with the city.

[Fergal Broderick · Rating 3 out of 5]

More a collection of stories / articles on the behind the scenes of Dublin. Some knowledge of the city and it's geography is probably beneficial. I found some chapters full of researched details like the sewers chapter and others were just games like the bus chapter. I preferred the detail and was perhaps hoping to understand more about Dublin's bus routes.

[Victor Valore · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice, easy read! I gained from it because I've been to Dublin a few times lately. I expect that it will be a little less valuable for a reader that do not have the basic geographic orientation in the city.

[Sam McBratney · Rating 3 out of 5]

I spent part of the time reading this in Dublin itself and I love the city. My one big suggestion is that the author add a map to the beginning of each chapter to outline his route. For those of us not bred in the city. It was very difficult to get our bearings.

[Philippa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very interesting and well-researched book, with some very amusing anecdotes and a lot of information nicely presented. Having lived in Dublin all my life it was nonetheless an eye-opener, teaching me a lot about my home city.

[Rachel Whelan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Amusing and informative essays showing the side of Dublin less-noticed. You’ll wish you could walk the sewers, too. Inconsistent writing: some chapters are really great, others are a snooze. It’s a decent collection, but definitely hits and misses.

[Shane Harrison · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quirky exploration of the city, particularly the underbelly. Whitney has a witty touch, with a sometimes comical paranoia thrown in. Tracing his own idiosyncratic paths, he delineates mental maps of the sewer system, the hidden rivers and the peregrinations of James Joyce and his family. Perhaps the addition of actual maps might have been a good idea. His walk around the imagined perimeter of Tallaght was enjoyable but I know the area and at times, such as his crazy bus game, I was a bit disorientated. Also, despite his wit and the uniqueness of his ideas, there was a jaundiced view of Dublin which became a bit wearisome towards the end. You can only spend so long looking down; a certain amount of light can help illuminate the shade. There's a strange disengagement from the life of the city; the cafes, bars, parks and passersby. Dublin is not nearly so post apocalyptic as painted here. Still, it's a unique, entertaining and informative read. It added to my knowledge and made me want to add some more.

[Ari · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cool read for anyone curious about cities and their hidden secrets :) Definitely lots of ideas for cute weekend walks for close to no cost

[Pia Herzberger · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ups and Downs. 10) Suburban Decay is a Must Read!

[Dave White · Rating 3 out of 5]

While it's pretty good look into the history of the city, it's economic state and it's people, it still feels like I fell for false advertisement right there. The title itself and summary in it's jacket promises adventures and explorations, which sounds exciting and thrilling, but it is anything but that. Not to mention I felt like a kid while reading it in such a big font, with such a big gaps between lines. Felt like publisher really tried all the tricks to sell this collection of articles to as many people for as much money they could.

So, interesting and informative, but in it's core a letdown.

[Paige]

Colm Toibin review http://www.theguardian.com/books/2014...

[Iamreddave · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great sections. Particularly on underground Dublin. a bit too much rambling about walking past lidls and the like. Whitney could become the Irish Bill Bryson