Thirty-Two Words for Field

'This updated edition of Thirty-Two Words for Field is a beautifully written, engaging and often surprising account of one man's love affair with his first language' -- Stephanie Boxall * Resurgence & Ecologist magazine *
'Marvellous' * The Sunday Times *
'A riveting, fiercely individual book. From the lore and language of Ireland, Magan draws a model for the future: a richer, more compassionate outlook, deeply knit into the natural world' -- Tom Bullough * author of Sarn Helen *
'Manchán creates a gorgeous tapestry that lingers in the mind's eye' -- Kerri ní Dochartaigh
'Manchán is an inspired chronicler and writer: a conduit through which everything ancient comes alive, and everything that dwells in the future finds a home in the present' -- Wade Davis
'Manchán's got some theories about the roots of the Irish language that are going to blow your head off ... an incredible storyteller' -- Blindboy
'A rip-roaring, archaeological and anthropological exploration of the lyricism, mystery and oddities of the Irish language, and the layers of ancient knowledge encoded within' * The Irish Times *
'So often, discourse about minority languages is all hairshirts and anguish, mapping loss and calibrating the remorseless march of homogeneity. In Thirty-Two Worlds for Field, Manchán Magan upends all this, and does so with such infectious glee. Burrowing deep and dizzying into the lineage and lore of the Irish language, he opens it out for us all, not as mere vocabulary or grammar, but as key to cultural wealth, intellectual integrity, personal authenticity and a way of seeing the world that is as old as the hills, yet forged brand new - and just when we need it most. Fierce, witty, passionate and informed, Magan is the perfect companion for this soulful, elemental journey' -- Mike Parker * author of All the Wide Border and On the Red Hill *
'The book I never knew I needed' -- Caitriona Balfe
'If you're into Irish Mythology, Manchán has got some incredibly interesting theories about Irish mythology based on his understanding of the Irish language, and he's got some theories about the roots of the Irish language that are going to blow your head off' -- Blindboy Boatclub
'One only needs to wade a few pages into this rich and absorbing work to see that perhaps we could do with a lot more characters like him dotted about this world' -- Hilary A. White * Irish Independent *
'An accessible yet erudite stroll back through the Irish landscape' -- Paddy Kehoe * RTE *
'Manchán's book, for which you don't need a word of Irish, is a fascinating insight into our changing culture' -- John Masterson * Irish Independent *

'The amount of fascinating detail in there is enormous'

-- Dave Fanning
'This book is perfect for anyone who is looking to brush up on their Irish history, or delve a little deeper into their cultural heritage' -- Aine O'Boyle * RTE *