The Pope who would be King: The Exile of Pius IX and the Emergence of Modern Europe by David I. Kertzer (Oxford University Press, £25.00) Prof. Kertzer’s earlier books have made a mark. The Pope and Mussolini, for instance, described the settlement that lead to the Lateran Treaty and the accommodation made by the Church with…
Currently the facade of the Dublin Institute of Advanced Studies is decorated with a huge image of Erwin Schrödinger. This year is the 75th anniversary of the physicist’s lecture, given under the auspices of the institute, the famous ‘What is life?’ This exposition played an influential role in the development of molecular physics and the…
The Masses of Seán and Peadar Ó Riada: Explorations in Vernacular Chant by John O’Keefe (Cork University Press, €49.00) Music and Society in Cork, 1700-1900 by Susan O’Regan (Cork University Press, €39.00) Ina Boyle 1889-1967: A Composer’s Life by Ita Beausang, with an essay on the music by Séamus de Barra (Cork University Press, €29.90)…
Christ’s Illumination Upon Every Heart by Eamon Flanagan (Kolbe Publications, €7.50) The author of this handbook is a Vincentian who works in Dublin; indeed the landmark spire of his church, St Peter’s, Phibsborough, standing at a major crossroads, decorates his cover. That notion of serving the church at a crossroads is a theme which might…
Pope Francis in Ireland: Commemorative Souvenir by Mags Gargan and the staff of The Irish Catholic (Columba Books, €24.99) Pope Francis in Ireland (Veritas, €4.99) Joy of Love, a family perspective by Gráinne Doherty (Veritas, €7.99) The recent congress and the visit of Pope Francis, despite what was mooted in advance by critics, passed off very well. Certainly…
Following the Pink Ribbon Path by Mary Redmond Ussher (Columba Books, €14.99) This book reminded me in a way of Markings, Dag Hammarskjöld’s only book. Hammarskjöld described his book as “a sort of White Book concerning my talks with myself – and with God”. Both have the same commonplace book structure of the author’s thoughts mingled with…
Jamie Cooks Italy by Jamie Oliver (Michael Joseph / Penguin, £26.00) Jamie Oliver is perhaps one of the most popular TV chefs of the moment. But he has moved from the costly ingredients and exotic notions to helping ordinary families make the most of what they can afford to cook at home, or have to eat at…
The Triumph of Christianity: How a Forbidden Religion Swept the World by Bart D. Ehrman (One World, £20.00) Recently we have had several histories of early and medieval Christianity written from a very traditional Catholic point of view. These have in their way been very reassuring, but perhaps only by passing over darker passages in the…
Curious Creatures: Frans Post & Brazil exhibition curated by Niamh MacNally, National Gallery of Ireland, continues to December 9, 2018 Curious Creatures: Frans Post & Brazil catalogue edited by Niamh MacNally (NGI, €9.95) Frans Post: Animals in Brazil by Alexander de Bruin (Riks Museum, Amsterdam, €19.95) When Europeans first intruded into South America their view…
The Family is Good News: Selections from Amoris Laetitia (The Joy of Love) by Pope Francis, prepared for the Council for Marriage and the Family of the Irish Episcopal Conference (Veritas, €9.99) The Beatitudes of Pope Francis: A Manifesto for the Modern Christian by Aidan Donaldson (Veritas, €7.99) These two books inspired by Pope Francis provide the ordinary reader with…