The Dubliner Diaries
By: Trevor White
Publication Date: October 2010
€10.00
In the summer of 2000 a young Irish journalist returned from New York to launch a magazine about life in boomtown Dublin. The Dubliner was an instant failure, and within a few months it was close to bankruptcy. For the next seven years Trevor White struggled to keep the magazine afloat. Along the way he managed to alienate nearly everyone in Ireland.
The Dubliner Diaries is an awkward history of the Celtic Tiger by a man who tried to capture it, and ended up being mauled.
‘For once, a cover blurb is accurate, with Paul Howard, aka Ross O’Carroll-Kelly, declaring the account “one of the funniest and most astute pieces of writing yet on the national mid-life crisis we briefly called the Celtic Tiger”. He is right and the beauty of the book is that it is not some turgid sociological tome about “our society” and how did we get there, but, instead, a week by week, gossipy dissection of the Tiger as it ate, drank, preened and hung out with supermodels… If I was to urge you to buy one book for Christmas, this would be it; an ideal present.’ – Eamon Delaney, The Independent.
[The Dubliner Diaries is] a smart and engaging read.’ – Frank Coughlan, The Irish Independent.
‘Thoughtful, often hilarious and endearingly self-deprecating. Trevor White might well be the pompous so-and-so he admits to being. But he’s also the most likeable pompous so- and-so in Ireland today … One of the funniest and most astute pieces of writing yet on the national midlife crisis we briefly called the Celtic Tiger.’ – Paul Howard, aka Ross O’Carroll-Kelly
Trevor White is an Irish writer, publisher, food critic and museum director. Born in Dublin, he worked as an editor at Food & Wine and launched The Dubliner magazine in 2001. White published the magazine for eight years before selling it to another publisher in November 2008. In 2011 he created the civic initiative “City of a Thousand Welcomes” and the Little Museum of Dublin.
| ISBN | 9781843511809 |
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| Weight | 0.5 kg |
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| Dimensions | 136 × 215 mm |
| Publication Date | October 2010 |
| Format | Paperback, 244pp |
Lilliput Press –
“I really enjoyed this book on the plane back from Ireland. Had me laughing so hard, the air hostess asked me what I was reading. It’s written in diary style, making it a beaut to dip in and out of. This is a massive attraction to parents and busy people.
You do need some knowledge of Irish celebs, business moguls and politicians to appreciate it though, as the author dishes lots of dirt (both on himself and other high ranking Dubs). Then again, I haven’t lived in Ireland for over 8 years now and had no problem.
‘Tis the perfect pressie for expats.”
Lilliput Press –
“Ideal for the sentimentalist who can’t really recall any of the naughties. I fear my own memories have been replaced with Trevor’s anecdotes, gags and sermons. Strangely honest- this book gives an interesting insight to the heart of ‘celeb’ culture of the time. The author’s pomposity is extinguished by his dry self-deprecation – his prose is rather excellent and at times laugh out loud funny. I haven’t read a book as quickly in many many years.” ROSS O’MULLANE
Lilliput Press –
“Very witty and well written. Bought it when the book launched having received lots of good press, but didn’t get a chance to read it until now. It’s commentary on the celtic tiger is deliciously funny and often biting. A welcomed break from the finger-pointing lit filling Irish libraries. Excellent bus companion as its written in punchy paragraphs rather than windy chapters”
Lilliput Press –
“The front cover quote by Dave McWilliams grabbed my attention “An Exceptional portrait of the Celtic Tiger.” It was a great find – fun, engaging and a witty insight into Dublin’s glamorous/notsoglamorous media world. Perfect for parents to dip in and out of, as it’s written in authentic `diary’ style with short, meaty paragraphs. Very meaty!
A much needed escape from the gloomy recession talk.” LARA
Lilliput Press –
“I found both the insights and the style of writing highly entertaining and worthwhile. I think this is a must for anybody who doubts the difficulties of starting a magazine and somehow keeping it afloat when all around you a city is waking up to its absurd property bubble and its financial miracle is exploding with a loud bang. Mr white is an excellent writer and I only wish Tiger Woods was forced to read this account of the daily struggle of publishing a magazine in a small city like Dublin, and the grotesque irony of pursuing his perverse litigation of the magazine without even a thought for the employees whose livelihood his vanity defense of his”marriage” nearly cost and his disgraceful lack of forgiveness when casting the first stone. I only wish he had the largesse to make an equal donation to charity now his motivation has been exposed and maybe even a refund to poor Mr White.” TIMOTHY