Dick Bellringer reviews Mysterious World: Ireland by Ian Middleton

Andover Advertiser, Jan 5th 2007

ANDOVER- based travel writer Ian Middleton has collaborated with historian and publisher Douglas Elwell to produce a spectacular 700- page history and travelogue of Ireland. The book is beautifully produced with illustrations by Jim Fitzpatrick and is a meaty tome packed with information about today’s Ireland together with its history as it emerged from the mists of time. Published in the USA, it is the first in a series of Mysterious World Travel Guides. The idea emerged from the online Mysterious World Journal – www. mysteriousworld.com – and in his foreword Doug says: “Over the years the quality of our articles has led many of our loyal readers to express an interest in subscribing to a print version of our magazine.” But rather than produce a print magazine he decided to produce a travel guide with a difference. The difference is that as well as providing a wealth of information about where to go and stay and what to see, it also ‘offers an in-depth look into the history and ancient mysteries’ of Ireland. Following in the footsteps of ancient Irish scholars the book also deploys the literary device of Tuan the Eagle with an adaptation of an image from the Book of Kells appearing on every page. The history is then fleshed out into a modern travelogue by Ian who explores many of the ancient sites of Ireland. He draws ‘attention to the plight of that part of Ireland that is slowly disappearing’, as Ian puts it himself in the book. Priced at $34.95 plus shipping, this is a book which will draw you into the delights of Ireland past and present. It is available from the website which can be found at www.mysteriousworld.com.

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Reviewed by Jim Algie of Untamed Travel Magazine

"If only this debut release from the Mysterious World website was the voluminous shape of things to come in travel writing"

Review by Deborah Fisher

This is a beautiful book. In terms of sheer physical attractiveness, I don’t think I’ve ever been given anything more appealing to review. Although books, in the long run, have to be judged on content, they are certainly often bought on the strength of their appearance, and this gives Mysterious World: Ireland a head start, especially when compared with most of the stuff turned out by small publishers in the UK.

First impressions aren't everything, but the interior of the book is as well-produced as the cover -- more so, in fact. Each page is "illuminated" -- I can't think of a better word -- in keeping with the best traditions of Irish literary history.

The rest of the book is more your usual kind of travel guide, though it has its own distinctive style. Part 2 deals with Ireland’s history and culture, and takes us half way through the volume. Only in Part 3 do we get the data on places to see, eat and stay. This is the section contributed by irrepressible and energetic backpacker Ian Middleton, whose Hot-Footing it around the Emerald Isle I reviewed a couple of years back. Ian’s style has come on a bit, quality-wise, but he is still the same jokey, down-to-earth traveller we met in that other book.

We see the everyday detail of the visitor’s Ireland through Ian’s eyes. And it’s not such a bad way to travel, ensuring that the reader is simultaneously entertained and informed.

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Teresa Toole