History and Topography of Ireland

Gerald Of Wales

ISBN 10: 0391011669 ISBN 13: 9780391011663

Publisher: Humanities Press International Inc, 1998

Synopsis

Gerald of Wales was among the most dynamic and fascinating churchmen of the twelfth century. A member of one of the leading Norman families involved in the invasion of Ireland, he first visited there in 1183 and later returned in the entourage of Henry II. The resulting Topographia Hiberniae is an extraordinary account of his travels. Here he describes landscapes, fish, birds and animals; recounts the history of Ireland's rulers; and tells fantastical stories of magic wells and deadly whirlpools, strange creatures and evil spirits. Written from the point of view of an invader and reformer, this work has been rightly criticized for its portrait of a primitive land, yet it is also one of the most important sources for what is known of Ireland during the Middle Ages.

About this title

About the Author:

Gerald of Wales was born c.1145 in Pembrokeshire. He died in obscurity, possibly in Lincoln in 1223. He wrote seventeen books, all of them in Latin, and was well-connected to the Royal Family of his day.

About this edition

• Publisher: Humanities Press International Inc
• Publication date: 1998
• ISBN 10: 0391011669
• ISBN 13: 9780391011663
• Binding: Textbook Binding
• Number of pages: 136