Literacy, Language and Reading in Nineteenth-Century Ireland

This book explores the multiple forms and functions of reading and writing in nineteenth-century Ireland, tracing how understandings of literacy and language shaped national and transnational discourses of cultural identity. Essays are gathered under four main areas of analysis, offering a range of understandings of the ways in which Irish readers and writers interpreted and communicated their worlds.

Format: Hardback
Length: 232 pages
Publication date: 04 June 2019
Publisher: Liverpool University Press

This comprehensive collection of essays delves into the diverse manifestations and purposes of reading and writing in nineteenth-century Ireland. While this century witnessed a significant shift in literacy rates and educational practices among the Irish population, the intricacies and profound implications of these transformations have yet to receive the attention they deserve. This book explores the intricate relationship between literacy and language, and how these constructs shaped national and transnational discourses of cultural identity. It also examines the various reading communities that emerged as a result of linguistic, religious, social, educational, and audience-related factors.

The essays are organized into four main sections: Literacy and Bilingualism, Periodicals and their Readers, Translation, Transmission, and Transnational Literacies, and Visual Literacies. Within these sections, the authors present a diverse range of perspectives on how Irish readers and writers interpreted and communicated their world.

Contributors to this volume include Rebecca Anne Barr, Sarah-Anne Buckley, Muireann OCinneide, Niall Ó Ciosáin, Máire Nic an Bhaird, Liam Mac Mathúna, James Quinn, Nicola Morris, Elizabeth Tilley, Darragh Gannon, Florry ODriscoll, Michèle Milan, Nessa Cronin, and Stephanie Rains.

By examining the various forms and functions of reading and writing in nineteenth-century Ireland, this book provides valuable insights into the complex interplay between language, culture, and identity. It sheds light on the ways in which literacy practices shaped the development of Irish society and contributed to the broader cultural landscape of the time. This collection will be of interest to scholars, students, and anyone with an interest in nineteenth-century literature, history, and cultural studies.

Weight: 480g
Dimension: 239 x 157 x 23 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781786942081