The Aran Islands (Barnes & Noble Digital Library)

Located off the west coast of Ireland, the Aran Islands were considered the country’s pure, uncorrupted heart, the repository of its ancient language, culture, and spiritual values. John Millington Synge visited the Aran Islands during the years 1898 to 1901, gathering folklore and anecdotes that he would later use in his plays. His evocative travelogue is a peek at a disappearing way of life, capturing the ancient ways of the island, its breathtaking loveliness, and the charms of the residents and their customs.