THE IRISH PEOPLE : THEIR HEIGHT, FORM, AND STRENGTH
Dublin, Ireland: Sealy, Bryers & Walker, 1899. First Edition. Hardcover. 16mo, 6.4 in. x 4.7 in., pp. 176. Illustrated with tissue-guarded frontispiece. Ivy green cloth boards with elaborate gilt shamrock-decorated flourish and title to front and spine. Shelfwear to edges. Just a hint of sunning to spine. Light bleach mark to top of rear board. Ten pages (pp. 167-176) of bibliographic notes. Previous owner's ink stamp to title page and p. 166. Light age-toning to pages. Spine and hinges tight. Very Good. Item #100535
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A look at the Physiognomy of the Irish peasants as seen through centuries of eyewitnesses that combats the Victorian-era colonial stereotypes and "Othering" that characterized the Irish poor as inherently inferior, undersized, or physically frail.
From the Preface: "The evidence as to the fine physical form of Irishmen, set forth in this book, has been put together with a view to the enlightenment, or edification, or comfort of various classes of people, such as:— the members of the Irish race all over the world; those who take a kindly or curious interest in that race; students of Irish History; writers on the History of Man; comparative anatomists; comparative anthropologists and ethnologists; monogenists and polygenists; gentlemen of the Press, of the Cartoon and the Platform; people "in another place;" "the man in the street;" and lastly, those who dislike "the policy of pinpricks and of unfriendly acts," and deem it a safe and sound policy to keep "the open door" to amity and friendly intercourse between the "Pre-dominant Partner," and the Irish of the United Kingdom and of the United States."
Chapters include:
"The Irish People Persistently Libelled"
"Testimony of Eyewitnesses from 1185 to 1690" (and from 1727 to 1896)
"The Height, Form, and Features of the Peasantry of Mayo, Sligo, Leitrim, and the Fews"
"Tesrtimonies of Writers and Tourists on the Characteristics of the Peasantry of Mayo, Sligo, Leitrim"
"References to the Authorities Quoted in This Book"
Price: $425.00