Twenty Years A-Growing
Twenty Years A-Growing by Maurice O’Sullivan, published by OUP Oxford on February 17, 1983, is a reflective account of the author’s youth on the Great Blasket Island, where he was born in 1904. This later printing edition spans 320 pages and is presented in English. The narrative captures a way of life that harkens back to the Middle Ages, drawing from the rich oral traditions of storytelling and folklore that characterized the lives of the island’s inhabitants.
Readers will find a vivid portrayal of the Blasket Islands, located just off Ireland’s Dingle Peninsula, and the enduring cultural practices of its residents. O’Sullivan’s writing, influenced by folk tales from his grandfather, offers insights into the legends and history that shaped the community. The book contributes to the broader literary tradition of the Blasket Islands, which has garnered attention for its unique memoirs and reminiscences, reflecting a lifestyle that has since disappeared.
Official synopsis Publisher
Maurice O’Sullivan was born on the Great Blasket in 1904, and ‘Twenty Years A-Growing’ tells the story of his youth and of a way of life which belonged to the Middle Ages. He wrote for his own pleasure and for the entertainment of his friends, without any thought of a wider public; his style is derived from folk-tales which he heard from his grandfather and sharpened by his own lively imagination. The Blasket Islands are three miles off Irelands Dingle Peninsula. Until their evacuation just after the Second World War, the lives of the 150 or so Blasket Islanders had remained unchanged for centuries. A rich oral tradition of story-telling, poetry, and folktales kept alive the legends and history of the islands, and has made their literature famous throughout the world. The 7 Blasket Island books published by OUP contain memoirs and reminiscences from within this literary tradition, evoking a way of life which has now vanished.
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