This summer my book club decided to join in and read it too. Strumpet city is a 1969 irish novel by james plunkett. Heres a line from the one city one book pamphlet, a line taken from the back cover of strumpet city. The script was written by hugh leonard, and peter otoole played james larkin, the union leader. Up to 1979, a year before strumpet city was first broadcast, the only television available in much of ireland was six hours a day on rtes single channel. Strumpet city james plunkett every year the dublin city council picks what is know as the one city one book pick.
Strumpet city was first broadcast in 1980, and it is a television production of epic proportions and has marked a turning point in irish film, hugh leonards adaption of the immerse novel by james plunkett depicts in full colour the dublin of the irish workers, the strike, riots and hardships of early twentieth century ireland. This year s choice of strumpet city as dublins one city one book is especially appropriate as 20 is the centenary of the dublin lockout around which much of the novel is centered. Strumpet city with an introduction by journalist fintan otoole, recounts the dramatic events of dublins 19 lockout. When everyone was waist deep in postmodernist adventures, this novel. But it also feels like the book perhaps in a quintessentially irish way is underselling itself. Strumpet city most borrowed book from public libraries. Set in dublin during the lockout of 19, it is a panoramic novel of city life. Organised by dublin city libraries in association with libraries, galleries, churches, cafes and theatres i. I think this is the third or fourth time over the years that ive purchased this book. Dec 11, 2014 readers here had austerity on their minds last year with strumpet city the most borrowed book of adult fiction from public libraries, figures show. One city, one book and to celebrate, rte ones the works has filmed a special package featuring people reading from the book around dublin. He was born as james plunkett kelly in dublin in 1920, just seven years after the great lockout and among people who had lived through it. James plunkett strumpet city 1969 strumpet city is a historical novel by james plunkett set in dublin at the time of the dublin lockout. Rtes dramatisation of the book was, at the time, the biggest moneyspinner the station had ever produced, and was sold to more than 30 countries.
Many of the events in the programme are free and include music, drama, readings, history, tours, exhibitions and family events. Plunketts novel of the lockout, strumpet city, was this year s most successful dublin. D ublin city libraries had nominated the celebrated novel by james plunkett as its dublin. Strumpet city is a 1969 historical novel by james plunkett set in dublin, ireland, around the. The irish government has set up an advisory group of historians to consider appropriate ways. Against the backdrop of social agitation, it is about the attitudes. One city one book choice this year to mark the centenary of the famous dispute between employers and unions the one city scheme run by the library encourages people to. James plunkett was rooted in the world of strumpet city. Apr 29, 20 but its 19, the year of the great lockout, irelands most dramatic labour dispute, about unions right to organize, thats very much on peoples minds at the moment. In london, he has been a member of the royal national theatre, the royal shakespeare company and has been in. Dublin city councils one city, one book initiative sees a work of literature connected with the city being officially promoted every april.
Strumpet city was the most borrowed book of adult fiction from public libraries last year, new figures show library users also elevated fifty shades of grey onto the list of irelands top 100. Strumpet city, the novel recounting dramatic events of dublins 19 lockout, has become the most borrowed book in city libraries. John posted about centenaries and the need to remember, lest we forget, and there are several important dates coming up in ireland soon. The novel is an epic, tracing the lives of a dozen characters as they are swept up in the tumultuous events that affected dublin between 1907 and 1914. Centering on the seminal lockout of 20,000 workers in dublin in 19, strumpet city encompasses a wide sweep of city life. Strumpet city by james plunkett is this year s dublin.
This book, however, brought those stories to life in a way that no nonfiction account could ever do. James plunketts strumpet city, this year s choice, also commemorates the centenary of the 19 dublin lockout. Strumpet city is a 1969 historical novel by james plunkett set in dublin, ireland, around the time of the 19 dublin lockout. All of our paper waste is recycled and turned into corrugated cardboard. Set in dublin during the lockout of 19, strumpet city is a panoramic novel of city life. Jul 17, 2011 dublin life in the early 20th century before and during the union lock out and up to the start of the great war. The novel is an epic, tracing the lives of a dozen. With frank grimes, david kelly, donal mccann, angela harding. In 1980, it was adapted into a successful tv drama by hugh leonard for rte, irelands national broadcaster. The brilliant and muchloved tv series, originally screened by rte in 1980, is fondly remembered by many but to read the book is to immerse yourself in social and historical writing akin to chekhov and tolstoy.
It was nominated by libraries in the capital for their one city one book scheme last year to mark the lockouts centenary. Irishcentrals book club pick for march 2019 is strumpet city by james plunkett. A month long festival, dublin one city one book festival takes place in april every year. As a stage actor, he began his career in dublin at the abbey theatre where, as a member of the abbey company, he appeared in over 50 productions. James plunketts book dramatised by rte in a series starring cyril cusack, left, as father giffley and david kelly as rashers tierney romanticised the era and gave a. The strumpet is an annual comic which unites female comics artists from both sides of the atlantic in one glamorous package of comics goodness. Welcome to the very special st patricks day edition of the irishcentral book club. In april of each year dublin city councils initiative one city one book encourages people to take the time to read one novel. Set between 1903 and 14, it details the struggles of dublin workers against employers, particularly during the 19 strike and lockout the great irish shortstory writer frank oconnor. The book is informed by a sense of moral outrage at the treatment of the lockedout trade unionists, the indifference and evasion of the citys. Dublin city council today announced a packed programme of events to celebrate this year s dublin. When i did hear of it through one city one book, i giggled, because lets be real. Dust jacket has some darkeningsoiling, a tear on front top, tiny tear on spine bottom and back flap fold. Aug 10, 20 plunketts novel of the lockout, strumpet city, was this year s most successful dublin.
Strumpet city was first broadcast in 1980, and it is a television production of epic proportions and has marked a turning point in irish film, hugh leonards adaption of the immerse novel by james plunkett depicts in full colour the dublin of the irish workers, the strike, riots. It was adapted into an acclaimed rte miniseries in 1980, still one of the most highlyregarded serials ever produced by irelands national broadcaster. Irishcentral book club march strumpet city by james. Mar 01, 20 strumpet city is much more than a book about the lockout. The cast also included cyril cusack as the alcoholic priest, father giffley, donal mccann as the. Through the power of vivid fiction we encounter all the complexities of humanity. The libraries of dublin city have chosen james plunketts strumpet city as their one city, one book for 20. Strumpet city most borrowed book from public libraries in 20. The dublin lockout was an event that saw over 20,000. Strumpet city by plunkett, james paperback book the cheap.
Strumpet city by james plunkett, 9780717156108, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. The brilliant and muchloved tv series, originally screened by rte, irelands national broadcaster, in 1980, is fondly remembered by many but to read the book is to immerse yourself in social and. It panoramically embraces a wide range of social milieux, from the miseries of the tenements to the cultivated, bourgeois bradshaws. I was reminded the other day how good a book strumpet city is. One of the most turbulent eras in dublin history is detailed in this adaptation of the james plunkett novel directed by tony barry and starring peter ustinov and peter otoole. In his introduction to a new edition of james plunketts classic story of dublin during the lockout, fintan otoole celebrates this years one city. The impact of the lockout on the lives of the working people living in dublins appalling tenements forms a central strand of strumpet city. Strumpet city by james plunkett, fintan otoole waterstones. James plunketts classic, strumpet city has been selected as the book for 20, the year that marks the 100th anniversary of the dublin lockout. In 20 dublin city chose strumpet city as its one city one book book of the year, in commemoration of the centenary of the 19 lockout. It was rtes most ambitious and expensive production to date. Set in dublin during the great lockout of 19, the book provides a realistic portrait of real heroes and villains.
Mar 26, 20 dublin city council today announced a packed programme of events to celebrate this year s dublin. He plays bob charles in the soap opera fair city murray was born in dublin, ireland. I mean, i do, actually, because its one of my grandfather. It embraces a wide range of social milieux, from the miseries of the tenements to the cultivated, bourgeois bradshaws.
Apr 05, 20 strumpet city by james plunkett is this year s dublin. Strumpet city was a 1980 television miniseries produced by irish broadcaster rte, based on james plunketts 1969 novel strumpet city. One city one book title for 2014 has been announced this year s choice was the novel strumpet city, which tied in with the centenary of the dublin. Buy a cheap copy of strumpet city book by james plunkett. Whether youve loved the book or not, if you give your honest and detailed thoughts then people will find new books that are right for them. From 1907 to 1914, the lives of numerous inhabitants of dublin, still under british rule, impact on each other. One of the best irish novels of the twentieth century and an enduring classic.
Dubliners and gullivers travels are amongst those chosen in previous years, and in the centenary year of the 19 lockout james plunketts strumpet city originally published in 1969 was an. Dont get swept away in streaming mania independent. James plunkett commented that the novel is a picture of dublin in the seven years 1907 to 1914. Strumpet city is one of the finest historical novels i have read this year, set in early 20th century dublin, during the infamous 19 lockouts, the book expertly draws the reader into the social upheavals which informed the everyday lives of dubliners irrespective of class during the years 1907. Irishcentral book club march strumpet city by james plunkett. The novel is an epic, tracing the lives of a dozen characters as they are swept up in the tumultuous events. Not bad for a book over 40 years old and until last year out. Reading it in preparation for my first trip to ireland, i already had a pretty good idea of the time period and the struggles of the irish people in the early twentieth century. One city one book title for 2014 has been announced this year s choice was the novel strumpet. I read this book and watched the rte series many years ago. Apr 10, 20 heres a line from the one city one book pamphlet, a line taken from the back cover of strumpet city. One city one book choice ever, spending time at the top of the bestseller lists and trending on twitter such that it prompted that companys ceo to tweet that he had to get his hands on copy. Connolly does not feature in strumpet city, published in 1963.
Strumpet city is an irish social novel published in 1969, that is good 50 years too late. Dec 19, 20 in april of each year dublin city councils initiative one city one book encourages people to take the time to read one novel. British tv could be picked up in dublin and along the east coast and cashstrapped rtes output often looked amateurish in comparison. Strumpet city is much more than a book about the lockout.
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