Some Experiences of an Irish R.M. by Edith Œnone SOMERVILLE

Some Experiences of an Irish R.M. by Edith Œnone SOMERVILLE | Full Audio Book

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@granthurlburt4062 Жыл бұрын

Enjoying this immensely. I loved the wonderful TV version and this is equally excellent. It is great to have faces to put to the characters, particularly Sally, Major and Mrs. Philipa Yates, and Fleury. And Peter and Mrs CadoGAN. One of the best LibraVox readings in my experience. The reading brings out such an orginal view point it is like a series of new stories. The English usage of the novel is a delight. Not all writers can handle the English language so well, when using slightly more elaborate styles than usual. The Irish idioms are wonderful.

@CaruthersHodge 2 ай бұрын

Loved the TV series as well with its wonderful anglo-Irish cast. Rather pine to have had it go on and on. But then again, good things come in small boxes.

@CarolineBoundy-v9x 6 ай бұрын

Just love it. Read the book and watched tv series so many times (even have video) so enjoy this version

@johnlockhart5889 2 жыл бұрын

I remember listening to this on BBC radio, probably in the early sixties. I’ve also read it several times. Always enjoyable.

@ruthbickerstaffe1915 2 жыл бұрын

I have read this book so many times. It is dog eared and turned yellow but I still keep it beside my bed. One reason being, I grew up in a beautiful life in a nice period house, being semi gentry, entertaining the Vicar, The Postmaster and his wife, The Doctor etc and of course growing up in The Church of Ireland, surrounded by horses, dogs and Characters that no one would believe me about today. I had the most wonderful growing up years in the North West of Ireland, these stories I could indeed relate to when I discovered them, across the ocean, many years ago. May you enjoy them as much as I have☘️☘️

@CaruthersHodge 2 ай бұрын

Very much enjoyed your comment, full and amply stocked with memory and so wonderfully close to the Somerville and Ross theme itself. Your description does sound like an Idyl. It almost makes me yearn for its pastoral calm. My English relations have known a rather similar way of life, but with none of the magical Irish ingredient. Alas I wish I had somewhere dog eared mellow copies of the books myself. Rather thought I had. I must find or get them again. What a luxury to have them read to me ! Such lovely memories indeed you must have.

@ruthbickerstaffe1915 2 ай бұрын

@@CaruthersHodge thank you for your beautiful message. It was my utmost delight to receive it. The days of meeting well brought up semi gentry people are alas very rare these days. It is a great pleasure for our paths to cross. I still work part-time but when I am at home, I am surrounded by my three wonderful cats. I live in an older home, partly ivy covered and surrounded by trees. I live in the old part of the Ontario, Canada town I live in. It is quite quiet with lots of nice birds and squirrels etc. I have lots of flowers in my front garden. My cats are house cats but are very very happy. I try to read a lot. I cannot remember how many times I have read and reread Somerville and Ross. I cast my mind back to growing up in Ireland especially on a long summer evening. Our farm was about 2 miles outside the little town. There was a dance hall in the town and about 3 nights a week, Showbands (they were all the rage in the 1960's) would come to the dance hall. I was brought up strict and young ladies did not go to dances back then. I would sit in one of our meadows, with 3 or 4 dogs for company and listen to the music coming from the dance hall 2 miles away. It did not get dark till about 11:30 pm and I would sit out there after I did my chores of helping clean up after milking the herd of cows in the evenings. This of course was when I was on summer holidays from school. Often here in Canada, I have one of my cats who is quite big. My floors upstairs are wooden and if I am sitting reading in Living room downstairs I can hear him jump down from the spare bed upstairs and you would think I had an elephant upstairs. He also snores loudly and I often chuckle and think of some of the Stories that Somerville and Ross wrote about The Resident Magistrate when he came to Ireland and rented the old house and the noises he heard. I knew so many "characters" in my youth. It was such an amazing way to grow up. One older gentleman, lived about 5 miles away from our home, in a little cottage on the side of one of the mountains. We were from a very well thought of family, and of course we gave our support to our late Queen Elizabeth etc, even thought we lived in Southern Ireland. We were the only family for miles and miles around to have a Television Set, even though it was only black and white.!!! This man would walk 5 miles (one way) to our house and visit. Those days we called it "Ceileing" meaning to visit. He would be entertained in our huge kitchen with as much tea as he wanted and lovely sandwiches and cake. He would come about once a week and get all the news from the outside world. He and his sisters in the little cottage did not even have Electricity. Then about 10.30 pm he would get ready and leave to walk home again the 5 mile journey. Oh the stories I could tell. I do hope that my recounting a little of my youth has bored you. I do hope you can find your copy of The Irish RM and have them read to you. I wish you the very best of health and it was a delight to get your message. Blessings Ruth

@CaruthersHodge 2 ай бұрын

@@ruthbickerstaffe1915 Goodness Ruth, thank you for 'your' very kind and fulsome message. I'm not in the least bored after having being treated to such charming vignettes of a life in the south of Ireland. I'm flattered to be so honoured. I can imagine family and friends didn't find dances for show bands at all appropriate for a young lady especially in the 1960s and defeating for instance, a mother's sense of propriety for such occasions. Yet I can see you with happy dogs at your side hearing the music drift across the meadows and perhaps nonetheless wondering what it might all be like. Now, cats I gather have succeeded dogs in what sounds like very pleasant surroundings for you. And a cat upstairs more agreeable than Great uncle McCarthy and those bumps in the night that gave nervous pause for Major Yates. The older gentleman and his unhurried walks to and from the hospitality of your home and hearth, reminds me rather of the stone mason the major hopes ' hope is it ? ' will fix his chimney - 'Walking Easy'. I must mention now, lest I forget, if you are aware of the 1983 - 1985 television adaptations of the Irish RM produced in a joint British and Irish venture ? Other comments here about make references to it.There are various extracts and clips from the series to be found on KZbin. Or, perhaps I did already mention all this. I'm sure I can acquire the RM books and have a good read and in the meantime I have the audiobook. I don't know if the reader is identified. Bye the way, did it really get dark as late as 11.30 PM ? That seems rather late. With much thanks - CH