The Reading Figure in Irish Art in the Long Nineteenth Century

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The book explores Irish portraits from the long nineteenth century featuring figures engaged with books, highlighting the cultural perceptions of reading. It contrasts the portrayal of reading fiction as unmanly with the emergence of 'silent reading' among affluent women, which facilitated private literary exploration. Through these portraits, the concept of the 'New Woman' in Ireland is examined, illustrating how art reflected and influenced societal attitudes toward gender and reading during this period.