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Carlo Gébler – The glass curtain (06-078)
Dec. 15th, 2006 06:15 pm
Carlo Gébler – The glass curtain (06-078)
The book has been on my shelf for years and years. When I visited Ireland a month ago, I took it with me. How can an outsider ever understand the ‘troubles’ in Northern Ireland? I did not have any illusion, yet I like to know a bit more about the situation. This book did exactly that: a bit more information beyond the headlines.
Gébler is a Dubliner, but he moves north to find out more himself, so this book is a non-fiction one, as opposed to his other work (which I haven’t read by the way). From close he gets a glimpse on what life must be like if you happen to live on the edge of Northern Ireland (or should I call it Ulster?).
He drives around and talks to a lot of people, trying to find the truth behind some stories and myths. Even though he is Irish himself, he feels an outsider when he tries to understand the life in Enniskillen.
The title comes from a conversation with the headmaster. This is not a school essay, I don’t feel the need to explain the title, but his quote is too strong to ignore.
“There is a glass curtain here,” he said. “When you first arrive, you can’t see it, and many people who live here can’t see it either, or won’t. But it’s here all right, separating the two communities, only you don’t find out about it until you walk into it – bang! – and break your nose.”
To me personally it was a difficult book to read. I’m not sure how. I find the subject very interesting, yet cannot possibly imagine living a life like most people in Ulster. How is it possible that two varieties of the same religion can cause so much trouble for such a long time? Gébler manages to tell a lot, but on the other hand never managed to get me to read on. I could put the book down easily and continue for a few more pages the next day. Weird book. Weird world.
Number: 06-078
Title: The glass curtain. Inside an Ulster community.
Author: Carlo Gébler
Language: English (IRL)
Year: 1991
# Pages: 222 (15.635)
Category: Non fiction
ISBN: 0-349-10338-0
