Publisher's Synopsis
This beautifully illustrated volume examines the nationally and internationally important holdings of the Library of the Royal Irish Academy, Dublin. The book celebrates the diversity of the works that the library curates, and explores the nature and origins of the collections and artefacts. The authors have worked closely with the corpus of learning housed in the Library. Their account sheds light on the people who have gathered and commented on the works and shows how this major learning resource has enhanced the understanding of Ireland. The book discusses the library's collection of over 1,400 manuscripts in the Irish language; the records of the 19th-century Ordnance Survey; rare scientific and natural history imprints; the incomparable Haliday Pamphlet and Tract collections from the 17th century; the rich Forde-Pigot collection of Irish airs; and thousands of antiquarian drawings that cover the entire island.
