Founded in 1992, A. & A. Farmar publish mainly non-fiction books of Irish interest, including history, traveller, biography, business titles and food and drink. Book-lovers will appreciate our very high editorial, design and production standards, for which we have a well-established reputation. All the books listed here can be ordered directly from us, at a special discount—just click on 'Buy'.
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A Voyage Round My Life
A MemoirHenry Boylan 'A most interesting memoir touching as it does on so many aspects of the development of modern Ireland.' -- The Irish Catholic About the author Henry Boylan worked in the Civil Service for many years, in Radio Eireann, Gaelterra Eireann and the Department of Lands. He is the author of The Dictionary of Irish Biography, currently in its third edition. € 9.99 192 pp pb ISBN: 978-1-899047-78-9 Buy Reviews |
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Gaps of Brightness
A MemoirPatricia Boylan Patricia Boylan relates the story of her childhood, youth and middle age with wit, spirit and a boundless love of life. From her idyllic childhood in Coalisland and Dungannon as one of a family of twelve, to training as a nurse in Leeds, to the Abbey School of Acting in the days of Yeats and Lennox Robinson, to the studios of Radio Eireann. 'An enchanting memoir of a life lived with generosity and hope, and a fearless optimism.' -- Sunday Independent About the author Patricia Boylan (1912-2006) trained in the Abbey School of Acting. She was a journalist for many years. She was the author of All Cultivated People: A History of the United Arts Club. € 12.99 185 pp pb ISBN: 978-1-899047-96-3 Buy Reviews |
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Is That Me?
My life with schizophreniaAnthony Scott Anthony Scott grew up in a family at the heart of artistic and social life in Dublin. He was regarded as one of the most brilliant students of his generation. Yet by the age of 21, he had become prey to a crippling mental anguish which rarely left him. This is the moving description of his fight to find a measure of peace in the turmoil of schizophrenia. 'A moving account of a lifelong battle with schizophrenia... a testament to the author's spirit' -- Sunday Times About the author Anthony Scott (1933-2000) grew up in a family at the heart of artistic and social life in Dublin. He developed schizophrenia when he was in his late teens, and the illness dominated his life. € 9.99 176 pp pb ISBN: 978-1-899047-91-8 Buy Reviews |
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Stealing Sunlight
Growing up in IrishtownAngeline Kearns Blain 'Girls steal sunlight from the day.' So the author was told by the men of her neighbourhood. Growing up in a south Dublin slum she observed with the intense vision of a child how the lives of men and women diverged. Funny, sad and harsh, with the bitter ring of truth, this extraordinary memoir of the 1940s and 1950s recreates a forgotten community. '...an extraordinary memoir... A book to warm the heart.' -- Joan Lombard, Southside About the author Angeline Kearns Blain was born in Dublin city but moved to the USA to get married. She is Adjunct Professor of Sociology at Boise State University. € 9.99 256 pp pb ISBN: 978-1-899047-71-0 Buy Reviews |
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Terence Millin
A Remarkable Irish SurgeonBarry O'Donnell Terence Millin made a crucial, priceless contribution to modern urology. His brilliant concept saved thousands of lives. Like almost all such innovations it has been overtaken by time and technology but from 1945 to 1970 the operation Terence Millin devised reigned supreme. Sadly his later days ended in personal tragedy and poverty. About the author Barry O'Donnell is a paediatric surgeon. He is past President of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. € 12 116 pp pb ISBN: 978-1-899047-94-9 Buy |
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The Emperor and the Irishman
Hubert O'Connor
The romantic story of the young Irish doctor who leaped at the chance to look after Napoleon in his banishment. In one of the most isolated places in the world, 1,200 miles from the nearest land, Napoleon, Dr Barry O’Meara and his entourage fought a constant battle with the security obsessives who were his jailers. Terrified lest Napoleon escape, they piled petty restriction on petty restriction, and at one point asked O’Meara to spy on his great patient. He refused, and was sacked. Back in London he told the story, despite social and political pressure. He was sacked again, and was obliged to start his medical practice from scratch. Napoleon was only 51 when he died on the island. The book ends with detailed solution of the question—was he poisoned by his British jailers? About the author Dr Hubert O'Connor is a well-known Dublin gynaecologist. He played rugby for Ireland, being capped four times. € 25 240 pp hb ISBN: 978-1-906353-04-9 Buy |
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Two in a million
Ben Murnane
'Riveting and beautifully written' Sunday Independent 'Fascinating and emotionally charged . . . peppered with humour and an almost unsettling level of honesty . . . This is a remarkable story of an erudite young man's fight for life.' Evening Echo 'This inspiring story is told with humour and honesty and is exceptionally moving.' Ireland's Own Ben is a normal bright ambitious student. The only difference between his life and yours is that he has a rare blood disease which gives sufferers a life expectancy of twenty-two years. But Ben is a survivor. InTwo in a Million he relates what it is like to live with a life-threatening condition, to undergo a bone marrow transplant, suffering a psychotic episode in the process, to recover slowly and try to live a normal young man's life as a student in Dublin. Told with humour and honesty, this is a remarkable story. About the author Ben Murnane was born in 1984 and graduated from Trinity College, Dublin in 2008. He has written for The Irish Times, the Irish Independent, the Evening Herald, the Irish Daily Mail and RTÉ Radio. His website is at www.benmurnane.com. € 11.99 160 pp pb ISBN: 978-1-906353-03-2 Buy |
A&A Farmar's World — Seeing Napoleon plain
The Goncourt brothers did not know what to make of the critic Saint Beuve. ‘There was’ they wrote ‘a melancholy, disappointed satyr at the bottom of that little old man, who is conscious of his ugliness, his repulsiveness and above all his age’. Saint-Beuve once described how he had seen the great Napoleon—it was at Boulogne, and he was urinating. ‘In that posture’ commented Jules Goncourt, ‘he has seen and judged all great men ever since.’ (Goncourt Diaries, January 1856)