Dermot James

Elizabeth Grant was a landlord in Wicklow during the Irish famine. This book contains edited highlights of her journals by two historians, cataloguing the period from 1840-1850, during the height of the famine.

Grant presents as person who believes in economic justice, one who would be at home with Keynesian economics today. She believed in the education and wellbeing of her tenants, not only for selfless promotion of them, but also for her own and the country's prosperity. The book presents sections of her (often unimpressed) thoughts about the gentry, other landlords, the farmers and shopkeepers, and the way of life in Wicklow over 150 years ago. Her insights are an amazing historical record, particularly as an account that was not intended to be published, and as such has a great deal of candour.

Sometimes the book's editorial narrative is a little too colloquial for a general reader, but it is well compiled and the quotations and sections of Grant's writing well selected.… (mehr)

From its creation in 1859, the Irish Times has been an influential presence in national affairs. Initially the voice of Home Rule, then of Unionism, the paper adapted to the changing circumstances of the twentieth century, consolidating its position as the nation’s premier journal of record while developing a new rôle as champion of liberal values often at odds with those of the political and religious establishment.

Based on thorough perusal of available records and on personal recollections, Changing Times charts a chequered but always fascinating history, enlivened by a wealth of anecdotes and by vivid pen-portraits of the often colourful individuals who, as managers or editors, steered the fortunes of the paper, and of the outstanding journalists, columnists and cartoonists who made it ‘the best Times this side of the Atlantic’.

Until now there has been no overall history of this significant actor in Irish social and political history. Few could be as well placed to remedy this omission as Dermot James. Entering the staff of the Irish Times in 1946, James spent his entire working life with the newspaper, starting at the front counter accepting ‘small ads’ and ending with two decades as company secretary. He is thus uniquely qualified to give an account which balances the two essential, if sometimes conflicting, aspects of a busy daily – the editorial and the entrepreneurial.

Dermot James spent his working life in the newspaper business. He was appointed company secretary of The Irish Times Ltd in 1974 and subsequently became company secretary of The Irish Times Trust Ltd and remained in that position until taking early retirement. He is also author of The Gore-Booths of Lissadell and of John Hamilton of Donegal 1800-1884: This Recklessly Generous Landlord, and co–author of The Wicklow World of Elizabeth Smith 1840–1850.… (mehr)