Title: Forty Shades of Green
Author: Stephanie Kiddar
Reviewed by: Siobhan Morrison
I close my eyes and picture the emerald of the sea
from the fishing boats at Dingle to the shores at Dunehea
I miss the River Shannon and the folks at Skibbereen
the moorlands and meadows and their Forty Shades of Green
- Forty Shades of Green by Johnny Cash
The colour green is synonymous with Ireland. From its moniker the 'Emerald Isle', the green shamrock, to the sea of green on St Paddy's Day, and any other variant of the colour, green is always conscious in people's minds. However, it wasn't until the 1960s, when music legend Johnny Cash paid tribute to Ireland in his song Forty Shades of Green, that the idea of Ireland having 40 shades of green took hold. Whether there are really 40 variations of green is debatable, what is accepted as fact is that because of its weather, the earthy colour is always present in some form or another.
Fast forward to today and the lush beauty of the country's vibrant greenery has served as inspiration to another artiste, author Stephanie Kiddar. Kiddar adopts from Cash's song the title for her upcoming book, Forty Shades of Green, in which she documents and pays tribute to the island's music, culture and history.
Born and raised in the West Indies, Kiddar is an Australian citizen. A self-proclaimed adventurer and former secondary school teacher, she has written and published two books: Fun Gryndingride set in the Antarctic, and Barbara Isabel, a biography. In her own words, she describes Forty Shades of Green not as a history or a documentary but as a "visitor's view of Ireland" inspired by the verdant scenery, which is "conspicuous but never monotonous".
Musical Tour
The book follows Kiddar as she joins the 'Travelrite Music Tour of Ireland with John Howie'. Structured like a traveller's journal, she records her arrival in Dublin, from Australia, her journey around Ireland to her arrival in Belfast, a few weeks later, where she departs for home. In true journal-style she records everything about her experience, from the mundane (like going through airport security) to her tour of several historical edifices. She also notes her thoughts and impressions of the places she visits and the people she meets. The primary focus of the Travelrite's tour of Ireland is to experience Irish music and to visit noted musical locals past and present. As a bonus, they get to explore and experience the country's culture and history.
It is the journey to these interesting places, on which Kiddar takes us, that makes the book worth reading. Through her, we discover fascinating locations such as Trinity College, home of The Book of Kells, the illuminated manuscript containing the first four texts of the New Testament written in Latin. The college is also the former alma mater of literary greats such as Bram Stoker, Oscar Wilde and Samuel Beckett.
Another famous site is the Blarney Stone, housed in Blarney Castle, which was the home of Lord Blarney whose incessant chatter is said to have exasperated Queen Elizabeth I. Folklore claims the stone bestows anyone who kisses it the gift of gab (eloquence) or luck. Inis (Mr Inishmore) is another interesting locale featured; it is an island off Killarney where the language spoken is Irish and one of the few places that preserves the Celtic language.
Forty Shades of Green is a colourful account of a vibrant culture, a land of myth and legends, whose history is steeped in hardship and sorrow. Kiddar shows a genuine appreciation for the people and their culture, noting their ability to "[counter] hazards and hardships with God, Guinness and gaiety". Her narration is supplemented with photos, song lyrics, poems and other records of events, past and present, along with a map detailing her journey across this great country. Readers will certainly enjoy discovering Ireland through her eyes.