Most of the observations about Ireland and the Irish are still valid today, so much so that, reading the journal sixty years after, I had a couple of Aha! moments. ( )

NBB-8

Negentien goed geschreven schetsen over de Ieren, vaak in het westen, door een buitenlander. Soms is de schrijver aanwezig, soms niet. Bijna een reisverhaal. ( )

One of my favourite books overall. And I liked the Russian translation more than the English one.

(And, interestingly, was not able to find a German version online, probably my Googling skillz are still weak in that language, or they care about copyright far more than other countries.) ( )

Small stories that relate how time goes on within the Irish society after the war. The daily "no problem" life of an easy-going people, that resigns to accetp its fate: from the invariably rainy weather to the emigration must. Böll describes with great accuracy in a delightful smooth way the landscapes, the houses, the farmer daily work, the rain, the pub, the arriving sailor, the society, the hours... slowly fighting against the clock. Böll also portrays often the Irish society and their optimistic doing against tragedy, as the opposite to the German folk. Nice reading. ( )