All on the Irish Shore

by Violet Florence Martin

. 1903 3rd imp, grey decorative boards, light wear, foxing to end papers & pag block, inscription on prelim, illus, hinge tender, Professional booksellers since 1981

Genres: Classics, Fiction, Irish Literature

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1903

About the author

Violet Florence Martin (11 June 1862 – 21 December 1915) was an Irish author who co-wrote a series of novels with cousin Edith Somerville under the pen name of Martín Ross in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Violet Martin and Edith Somerville were second cousins, and originally met on January 17, 1886 at Castletownshend, after which they became lifelong companions and literary partners. They came to share a home in Drishane, County Cork. In 1889, Violet adopted the pseudonym Martin Ross, which comprised her surname and the name of her ancestral home; thus the authors were called Somerville and Ross. Their works include The Real Charlotte (1889), Some Reminiscences of an Irish R.M. and In The Vine Country.

Martin was a convinced Irish Unionist, in opposition to Somerville's open nationalism. Both she and her brother Robert were well-regarded members of the literary circle in Irish unionism. However, unlike her brother, Martin was a convinced suffragette, becoming vice-president of the Munster Women's Franchise League. While on friendly terms with the leading members of the Irish literary revival such as W.B. Yeats and Lady Gregory, she objected to their romantic version of Irish peasantry. She was on good terms with Edward Martyn, partner of Gregory and Yeats - and her kinsman - and shared his love of the Irish language and culture.

Violet was seriously injured in a riding accident in November 1898, from which she never fully recovered. This was a contributing factor to her death in Drishane, County Cork, in 1915. Edith Somerville continued to write under their joint literary names, claiming that they were still in contact. The two women left thousands of letters and 116 volumes of diaries, detailing their lives, much of them yet unpublished.
She was awarded a posthumous DLitt. by Trinity College Dublin.

(from Wikipedia)

Reviews

[K.S. Trenten · Rating 2 out of 5]

Overall the quality of writing and stories isn’t bad. These sketches were lively, using a liberal, if at times heavy-handed use of wit which painted a vivid, satirical picture of the characters in these stories. The treatment of animals I found at times distressing, yet it may be an accurate account of how people viewed and treated the four-footed during this particular time in this particular place. The language used, however, could be harmful and hurtful, giving a racist flavor to some of the stories which ruined my overall enjoyment of the book. A certain word I find extremely offensive was used in the most bigoted context, which lowered my opinion of the characters and the stories. Perhaps it’s an accurate portrayal of how people felt in this time and place, but it almost seemed to encourage others to do the same. Writers, at least writers I prefer to read are sharp-witted enough to detect this blunt pattern of prejudice. I didn’t get the impression this writer was aware of how ugly her language was. Harm may have been unintentionally done, but it put me off. Much as I enjoy reading a lot of 19th century literature, I found this offensive. The writer had the right to write what she wished, but I’m not obligated to read it or approve of it. Seeing such she used such a harmful and ugly word, applying them in conjunction with racist stereotypes makes me reluctant to pick up another book by her. Others who are equally offended by such language may want to wary of this if they choose to read this anthology.

[Paganus Kiley · Rating 4 out of 5]

If one is expecting James Joyce' Dubliners, then you have picked up the wrong book. However, the intent of the book reminded me of the intent of that book. The worm-chewed first edition that I read was strangely reminiscent of that distant time and the rural Irish of the southwest of Ireland at the turn of the 20th century. I commend it for one sentiment, that it provides a glimpse of rural Ireland under English rule, and the opinion of the protestant ascendancy towards the Catholic poor. I must re-read the Irish RM.