Desmond Fennell Livres

In a thought-provoking booklet, Desmond Fennell responds to Vincent Twomeys book on Irish Catholicism. CONTENTS Reflecting the situation Clarifying the situation Towards a grasp of the present situation The change of rules Christians and the change of rules Fundamentalist liberalism in Ireland The mass media Democracy and pluralism Modernity and the Irish Church Irish exceptionalism The language environment The paedophilia scandals The foods the Irish need

Desmond Fennell's latest collection showcases his insightful commentary on diverse topics, including literature, art, history, and politics, often challenging prevailing liberal-revisionist views. His essays reflect on the nuances of Irish society and Western civilization, blending personal experiences, such as a train journey across Europe, with critical analyses, like the essence of Irish literature. Fennell's writing is characterized by wit and a keen awareness of the unspoken, making it a thought-provoking exploration of cultural and societal themes.

Fennell has been a major force in Ireland's intellectual life for the past five decades. In this fascinating autobiography he traces the progress of his life from childhood in Belfast to the first intellectual awakenings as student and then to a career that brought him to live and work in Spain, Germany, Sweden, the USA, and Italy - as well as more than a decade in Connemara - where he was active in reshaping the Irish language movement. The author of many books on Irish and international affairs, he has earned a reputation as a courageous and at times controversial commentator, and his journalism in the early 1970s brought about a rethinking of the Nationalist approach to Northern Ireland, thus providing a philosophical basis for the 1990's peace process. This book also reveals Fennell to be an intellectual very much in the European tradition, as a speaker of six languages, and a deep knowledge of literature and art.