IN THIS VOLUME, Catherine Dunne, Colum McCann, Mark O’Connell, and Sara Baume, among other Irish writers tell of a country striving to stay a step ahead of time.
On the centenary of the partition that split the island in two, The Passenger sets off to discover a land full of charm and conflict; a country that in just a few decades has gone from being a poor, semi-theocratic society to a thriving economy free from the influence of the Catholic Church; from a deeply patriarchal, conservative society to one that gives space to diversity, becoming the only country in the world to enshrine gay marriage in law through a referendum.
The Passenger explores Ireland’s ramifications in politics, society, culture, and sport. Memory and identity intertwine with the transformations – from globalisation to climate change – that are remodelling the Irish landscape.
“These books are so rich and engrossing that it is rewarding to read them even when one is stuck at home.”—The TLS
“It has a strong focus on storytelling, with pages given over to a mix of essays, playlists and sideways glances at subcultures and thorny urban issues.”—MONOCLE, The Stack
“Half-magazine, half-book… think of [The Passenger] as an erudite and literary travel equivalent to National Geographic, with stunning photography and illustration and fascinating writing about place.”—Independent.ie (Best series of the year – 2021)
“The Passenger readers will find none of the typical travel guide sections on where to eat or what sights to see. Consider the books, rather, more like a literary vacation--the kind you can take without braving a long flight in the time of Covid-19.”—Publisher's Weekly
“Fresh and diverting, informative and topical without being slight or ephemeral [...] This supremely well-edited combination of current affairs, journalism, commentary, and fun facts is perfect for our pause-button moment.”—Australian Financial Review (Best Books of the Year)
“Tremendously eclectic and classily produced...each volume gets under the skin of a country or a city in a multifaceted way that feels essential in these times of narrowing national horizons.”—The Bookseller