Lovely is the Lee

The River Books

by Robert Gibbings

The author of those charming river books, Sweet Thames Run Softly and Coming Down the Wye, has never written with more ease and grace than in this exploration of the River Lee country in Ireland. The part of Gibbings that is Irish responds eagerly to the Irish tongue, scene and nature of the Lee becomes a perfect subject for him. His exquisite wood engravings are a perfect complement to the text.

Genres: Travel, Nonfiction, Ireland, Irish Literature

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1945

About the author

Robert Gibbings was an Irish artist and author who was most noted for his work as a wood engraver and sculptor, and for his books on travel and natural history.

Reviews

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s always nice when an artist can write well. That is the case here. Gibbings was an early proponent of the revival of British woodcuts and particularly sensitive to nature. It seems like the majority of recent nature books use woodcut art as covers so we still owe a debt to Gibbings’ art.

Lovely is the Lee was written in response to traveling in Ireland, specifically in Cork where the Lee is found and also in Mayo and Galway. Written in mid-20th century, his book is often beautiful as he wanders and flows. He seems to be one of those people who would talk to anyone and collect stories while walking, while on busses, and in lodgings. This book comes in his middle years.

Included, but not only, are passages of folk tales he hears (in dialog and done well), writing on birds, lakes, archeology, etc.

The absolute star here…the author’s beautiful woodcuts, and there are lots of them. This book might appeal to you if you don’t expect adventure travel.

[Ann McReynolds · Rating 5 out of 5]

This companion volume to “Sweet Thames Run Softly” created the impulse for a trip up the Shannon and another wonderfully pleasant summer boating.

[Sarah Sammis · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love the pen and ink illustrations but I just didn't get into the book. It's an odd mixture of memoir, travelogue, folklore, history and sentimentality.

[Peter · Rating 3 out of 5]

This beautifully written and lyrical book will move Irish ex-pats and residents alike with its evocation of the rural south west of Ireland of a few decades ago. If I have a reservation it is similar but also dissimilar to the frequent criticism of the Somerville and Ross Irish RM books. Somerville and Ross portray a caricature of the Irish rural resident as a mischievous chancer, possibly alcoholic and not much better than he or she ought to be. Gibbings’ Irish folk are also stereotypes, but in a different way, unfailingly generous and kind, but enormously superstitious and terribly garrulous. Both sets of books often require God to look sideways on their dramatis personae. But Gibbings is more fun and his illustrations are wonderful.

[Tansy Hepton · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a hard book to rate. It's a 1940's travelogue really, the author exploring Southern Ireland. It's restful, with lovely descriptions of the natural beauty, interspersed with traditional Irish tales of the little folk. My first edition also has the beautiful pen and ink illustrations. Those are all the plus points. The downside is that I'm just not interested enough in the area. Perhaps if I was there, or had a love of the place it would be different, but I found about a third of the book enough.

[Terry · Rating 4 out of 5]

I purchased this used at the 2022 Minnesota Irish Fair. And so glad I did! Written in 1945, it is a bit dated and is a bit Anglo centric, but it was a great picture of the country back in the day. I have visited many of the locations Gibbings writes about, so it was fun to see them through his eyes. Also, his wood-cut illustrations were worth the price of the book – very fun.

[Chad McEvoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very enjoyable book. Well written, full of both humor and beauty.

[Owen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is another delightful book by Irish author/illustrator Robert Gibbings, in which he takes us on a tour of the west of Ireland, visiting the outer rim, including many of the offshore islands, of counties, Galway, Mayo and Cork. It was on these islands, many of which are very sparsely or no longer inhabited, that numerous early Christian missions were established. In the days before helicopters, Gibbings often goes to great pains to reach some of these islands, which include Inishkea South and Inishkea North, Inishbofin, Inishshark, High Island, Clare Island, and the Aran islands of Inishmor and Inishmaan. Naurally, the odd and most inhospitable rock known as Skellig Michael also gets a mention.

There follows a visit to Cork and a look back along the Lee (which has been dammed since Gibbings' day), which he says could then be walked with scarcely a village or building in sight, all the way to its source. As always, Gibbings recounts some of the numerous stories and folktales he picks up along the way, all of which go to make Ireland such a fascinating place and Gibbings' books so much of a pleasure to read.

[John · Rating 1 out of 5]

The first 75 pages were wonderful but then I had enough of all the Irish folk tales and such. The engravings were very nice. I had to make myself finish it hoping it would get interesting but it did not.

[Bill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Much like Sweet Cork of Thee, this travelog of southern Ireland captures the beauty of the land and the introspection of the people through a mostly humorous tone.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

A most enchanting tale of a traveler, author, and artist who was born in Ireland and returned to follow the river Lee and its people. To me it was both interesting and enchanting.