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Humanity Dick Martin: "King of Connemara", 1754-1834
This finely detailed and amply illustrated biography recreates the life and times of one of Ireland's earliest environmentalists, founder of the world movement for the protection of animals. A loveable Galwayman, Volunteer colonel, landlord-eccentric, lawyer-duellist, parliamentarian and champion of Catholic emancipation, his colourful, humorous personality is caught in this poised and readable work.
'A vivid, thoughtful, engrossing book.'
- David Thompson, The Guardian
'He waged a one-man battle to stop the ill-use of animals. For that alone he deserves to be remembered and to have won such a sympathetic and fair biographer as Miss Lynam.'
- T.G. Barker, The Cork Examiner
'The book is full of fascinating grace-notes about the history of both Ireland and England in a period of almost frenetic entanglement.'
- John Horgan, The Listener
'A courageous and attractive man who deserves to be remembered with affection.'
- Ruth Dudley Edwards, The Irish Press
'The most enthralling book I have read for a long time.'
- Hibernia
SHEVAWN LYNAM was born in Dublin of Galway parents and educated in Ascot, Madrid, France and Germany. Linguist and journalist, she was Spanish specialist with the BBC and the Ministry of Information during the War. After going to Paris in 1950 she worked for the Marshall Plan and UNESCO, and edited NATO's monthly review from 1958 to 1963, returning to Dublin to be Editorial Publicity Officer at the Irish Tourist Board until 1971. She died in 1998.
'A vivid, thoughtful, engrossing book.'
- David Thompson, The Guardian
'He waged a one-man battle to stop the ill-use of animals. For that alone he deserves to be remembered and to have won such a sympathetic and fair biographer as Miss Lynam.'
- T.G. Barker, The Cork Examiner
'The book is full of fascinating grace-notes about the history of both Ireland and England in a period of almost frenetic entanglement.'
- John Horgan, The Listener
'A courageous and attractive man who deserves to be remembered with affection.'
- Ruth Dudley Edwards, The Irish Press
'The most enthralling book I have read for a long time.'
- Hibernia
SHEVAWN LYNAM was born in Dublin of Galway parents and educated in Ascot, Madrid, France and Germany. Linguist and journalist, she was Spanish specialist with the BBC and the Ministry of Information during the War. After going to Paris in 1950 she worked for the Marshall Plan and UNESCO, and edited NATO's monthly review from 1958 to 1963, returning to Dublin to be Editorial Publicity Officer at the Irish Tourist Board until 1971. She died in 1998.
- GenresHistory
320 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1975
11 people want to read
About the author
Shevawn Lynam
3 booksShevawn Lynam was an Irish novelist and journalist. She was the Spanish-language specialist with the BBC and Ministry of Information during World War II.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
September 22, 2020
this book was the worst and the best. totally biased in favour of richard martin, almost blindly to the reality of life for tenants in connemara, and so dense to make some parts incredibly hard to get through. if you like detailed descriptions of parliament proceedings this is the book for you.
that said, some of the episodes and characters in the book are some of the most interesting and humorous I've come across in a biography in some time (especially sections dealing with 'fighting fitzgerald'). martin's career in animal rights honestly pales in comparison to his early duelling days, his first wife's dalliances with wolfe tone, or even his disastrous financial life.
if you can get through the tedious sections, it's worthwhile.
that said, some of the episodes and characters in the book are some of the most interesting and humorous I've come across in a biography in some time (especially sections dealing with 'fighting fitzgerald'). martin's career in animal rights honestly pales in comparison to his early duelling days, his first wife's dalliances with wolfe tone, or even his disastrous financial life.
if you can get through the tedious sections, it's worthwhile.
Displaying 1 of 1 review