The setting for ‘The Sea is Not Full’ is based on Drumanagh, a headland fifteen miles north of Dublin, where Roman artefacts have been found in the past. The question of the Romanization of the Celtic world is of course a thorny one; however, the headland is in private hands, and legal proceedings on the part of the owners have prevented any further archaeology at the site or investigation of the artefacts already found. While all this mystery must be frustrating for archaeologists and historians, it is fertile territory for a fantasist interested in historical imagination and national mythmaking. David Thomson’s memorable book The People of the Sea (Canongate, 1996) — an account of his journeys around the Hebrides and the west coast of Ireland and the stories that he heard there — was also a source of inspiration.
People who do not fit into their skins, the slippery line between civilization and barbarism, and the bringing of law from across the sea (look closely and you may glimpse St Patrick coming): all of these are questions which I hope this story examines.
People who do not fit into their skins, the slippery line between civilization and barbarism, and the bringing of law from across the sea (look closely and you may glimpse St Patrick coming): all of these are questions which I hope this story examines.
Image by Mark Tedin
2 comments:
A really interesting review.
Thank you for sharing.
Also, the cover art on your blog is excellent.
Thank you very much!
gb
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