The above illustrations are from the first edition, dating to 1821, of the book Real Life in Ireland
The above illustrations are from the first edition, dating to 1821, of the book Real Life in Ireland, or, The Day and Night Scenes, Rovings, Rambles, and Sprees, Bulls, Blunders, Bodderation and Blarney, of Brian Boru, Esq. and his Elegant Friend Sir Shawn O'Dogherty: Exhibiting a Real Picture of Characters, Manners, &c. in High and Low Life, in Dublin and Various Parts of Ireland: Embellished with Humorous Coloured Engravings, from Original Designs by the Most Eminent Artists by “a Real Paddy.” Despite what you might think by the long-winded title, the book is not a travel guide or history book. It is a satirical tale that follows the adventures of fictitious characters Brian Boru and Sir Shawn O’Doghery throughout Ireland, which is called “Paddy Land” in the text. The “humorous coloured engravings” referenced in the book’s title are hand-colored aquatints that illustrate the pair’s (mis)adventures.Even though the story and the main characters are fictitious, the locations, events, traditions, and songs/poems mentioned throughout the book are real. Through its caricatures of the Irish, the book takes a critical look at the challenges they faced in the 1820s.The book is authored by “a Real Paddy,” a pseudonym attributed to journalist Pierce Egan. -- source link