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The Hedge School; The Midnight Mass; The Donagh Traits And Stories Of The Irish Peasantry, The Works of William Carleton, Volume Three   By: (1794-1869)

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William Carleton's collection of works provides a fascinating glimpse into the lives and customs of the Irish peasantry during the 19th century. The stories are rich in detail and paint a vivid picture of the hardships and joys of everyday life in rural Ireland.

Carleton's storytelling is both engaging and insightful, offering a window into a world that is often overlooked in historical accounts. The characters are vividly drawn and their struggles and triumphs feel authentic and relatable.

The collection includes a variety of tales, from the poignant and heart-wrenching to the humorous and light-hearted. Carleton's writing style is evocative and lyrical, drawing the reader in and keeping them captivated until the very end.

Overall, The Works of William Carleton, Volume Three is a captivating and thought-provoking collection that sheds light on a fascinating period in Irish history. Fans of historical fiction and Irish literature will no doubt find much to enjoy in these stories. Highly recommended.

First Page:

THE WORKS

OF

WILLIAM CARLETON.

VOLUME III.

TRAITS AND STORIES OF THE IRISH PEASANTRY

PART III.

[Illustration: Frontispiece]

[Illustration: Titlepage]

CONTENTS

The Hedge School.

The Midnight Mass.

The Donagh; Or, The Horse Stealers.

THE HEDGE SCHOOL.

There never was a more unfounded calumny, than that which would impute to the Irish peasantry an indifference to education. I may, on the contrary, fearlessly assert that the lower orders of no country ever manifested such a positive inclination for literary acquirements, and that, too, under circumstances strongly calculated to produce carelessness and apathy on this particular subject. Nay, I do maintain, that he who is intimately acquainted with the character of our countrymen, must acknowledge that their zeal for book learning, not only is strong and ardent, when opportunities of scholastic education occur, but that it increases in proportion as these opportunities are rare and unattainable. The very name and nature of Hedge Schools are proof of this; for what stronger point could be made out, in illustration of my position, than the fact, that, despite of obstacles, the very idea of which would crush ordinary enterprise when not even a shed could be obtained in which to assemble the children of an Irish village, the worthy pedagogue selected the first green spot on the sunny side of a quickset thorn hedge, which he conceived adapted for his purpose, and there, under the scorching rays of a summer sun, and in defiance of spies and statutes, carried on the work of instruction... Continue reading book >>


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