The Materialist-Fabulist Dialectic

This chapter examines the contrasting uses of folktale, fantasy, realism, and satire in the works of James Stephens and Eimar O’Duffy, two key fabulist authors of the Irish Literary Revival. The rendering of ancient mythological material and folk beliefs into modern fiction constitutes a distinct sub-strand of fiction of the Revival era. Running counter to this appeal to ancient forms in many instances was a resort to modes of irony, parody, and social realism to comment upon the disparity between romantic ideals and material realities in pre- and post-independence Ireland. In their most aesthetically successful works, Stephens and O’Duffy draw liberally from each of these trajectories in a manner that changes the fundamental meaning of each by providing a new and different manner of representing politics.

A Serious Student

When the Curtis Institute of Music opened in 1924, Barber was one of its first students. Due to founder Mary Curtis Bok’s vast cultural background and contacts, the faculty at the school was highly regarded. Early in his studies at the institute, Barber was the first to have a triple major: studying piano with Isabelle Vengerova, voice with Emilio de Gogorza, and composition with Rosario Scalero. He focused intensely on his studies, choosing only a few friends and living a lonely life. It was at Curtis that he met some of the artists who would eventually launch his career, as even his fellow students admired and respected his talent. During this time, Sidney Homer’s unwavering mentoring persisted, and Homer continued to press for excellence and high standards in Barber’s work through their exchange of letters. While Barber worked at Rogers Rock, Lake George, during the summer of 1927, he produced eight songs on texts by James Stephens, many of which are published by G. Schirmer.

‘They blew up the best portion of our city and … it is their duty to replace it’: compensation andreconstruction in the aftermathof the 1916 Rising

In his vivid account of Easter Week 1916, The insurrection in Dublin, the writer James Stephens observed: ‘The finest part of our city has been blown to smithereens, and burned into ashes. Soldiers amongst us who have served abroad say that the ruin of this quarter is more complete than anything they have seen at Ypres, than anything they have seen anywhere in France or Flanders.’ In a letter to his sister, Henry Beater, company secretary of Arnotts, also likened the smouldering ruins of Sackville Street and the adjoining thoroughfares to a scene from the war: House after house destroyed utterly. Clery & Co., D.B.C., Eason, G.P.O., Metropole and Imperial Hotels, Freeman’s Journal and literally dozens of other establishments in ruins. Henry St. on both sides from the pillar to Arnott & Co. nearly every house down and absolutely ruined.

Organic Vegetable Gardening in Florida

This 16-page fact sheet is meant to be a companion to the Florida Vegetable Gardening Guide. It is intended for the home gardener who prefers to use natural and organic materials as well as methods that are compatible with the philosophy of organic gardening. Written by Danielle D. Treadwell, Sydney Park Brown, James Stephens, and Susan Webb, and published by the UF Department of Horticultural Sciences, June 2013. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/hs1215