In Ruins The Once Great Houses of Ireland

"Here, spanning eight centuries, are the haunting ruins of Ireland. Its once great houses and castles, many designed for the Anglo-Irish aristocracy by the most accomplished architects of their day, bear witness to a troubled history of civil war, famine, land acts and private bankruptcy. Splendid in their prime, the ruins have absorbed the romantic beauty and mystery of the surrounding landscape - qualities captured in these seventy atmospheric photographs by Simon Marsden. Duncan McLaren's intriguing text weaves history and hearsay into one, vividly recalling the lives and fates of the people who lived there. These leftovers of another age inspire a sense of separateness, almost of desolation. Their peculiar charm makes them unique." "Originally published in 1980 and later acclaimed as a collector's item, this expanded edition features an additional thirty photographs by Simon Marsden, including eleven new locations. Duncan McLaren has completely revised his text to incorporate newly uncovered information."--BOOK JACKET.Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved