Author Biography
Richard Twiss (1747-1821) was born in Rotterdam, the son of a wealthy English merchant. Twiss had Irish connections, being descended from another Richard Twiss, agent to Herbert, Earl of Powis, at Castleisland, County Kerry. He became a travel writer. Rachel Finnegan is Lecturer in Tourism & Heritage Studies in the School of Humanities, Waterford Institute of Technology.
Description
Richard Twiss' "A Tour in Ireland in 1775", published in the following year, was one of the most controversial books of its period. It was based on his experiences of a five-month stay in the country. It enraged the Irish public through its unflattering representation of Ireland and its inhabitants. Since its publication it has been widely quoted as a contemporary source for Irish life, though generally cited in a negative context. Although a bestseller in its day it has not been reprinted since. This new edition includes the full collection of poems written in opposition to the book, together with contemporary illustrations of the sites and views visited by Twiss during his tour.
Introduction by Rachel Finnegan
A TOUR IN IRELAND IN 1775
Appendix 1
- The Missing Pages
Appendix 2
- Related Poetical Works
- An Heroic Epistle from Donna Teresa Pinna Y Ruiz by William Preston (Dublin, 1776)
An Heroic Answer from Richard Twiss, Esq, F.R.S. at Rotterdam, to Donna Teresa Pinna Y Ruiz of Murci by William Preston (Dublin, 1776)
An Answer to a Poetical Epistle from Madam Teresa Pinna by Richard Twiss Esq, F.R.S., with Notes by Various Hands by Leonard MacNally (Dublin, 1776)
A Defence of Ireland
- A Poem in Answer to the Partial and Malicious Accounts given of it by Mr Twiss and Other Writers by Richard Lewis, Corrector of the Press (Dublin, 1776).
"University College Dublin Press has now published over thirty ‘Classics of Irish History'. These contemporary accounts by well known personalities of historical events and attitudes have an immediacy that conventional histories do not have. Introductions by modern historians provide additional historical background and, with hindsight, objectivity."
Books Ireland Nov 2007
"admirably edited and introduced … by Rachel Finnegan."
Verbal Magazine Issue 12 March 2008
"Scholars of nineteenth-century Irish and Irish-American politics should reacquaint themselves with these classics, part of a long running and immensely useful series from University College Dublin Press."
Irish Literary Supplement
Fall 2008
"nicely balanced introduction … [has] its own curiosity value and so rightly deserves republication in this well-annotated edition in a valuable series from UCD Press."
Books Ireland
Nov 08
Twitter: @UCDPress