From Beginning to End: An Irish Life History
Sharon Gmelch | Department of Sociology/Anthropology Union College
Abstract
This article discusses the two ends of the life-history process: the reasons for its undertaking and the research assumptions these engender, and the impact of the published account on readers. In doing so, I draw on my own experience in the research and writing of Nan: The Life of an Irish Travelling woman (Gmelch, 1986/1991) and upon the responses of Traveller and non-Traveller readers to this life history. (Ethnographic research; life-history interviewing, editing, and narra-tive construction; literary criticism)
References (14)
Acton, T.
(
1985)
The social construction of ethnic identity of commercial nomadic groups. In
J. Grummet (Ed.)
Papers from the 4th and 5th annual meetings of the Gypsy Lore Society, North American Chapter (pp. 5–23). New York: Gypsy Lore Society.
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Brown, A.
(
1987, March 27)
Powerless nomads on the circle line.
The Independent (London).
Campbell, P.
(
1986, April 19)
Life is not fun on the road.
Irish Echo.
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Crapanzano, V.
(
1980)
Tuhami: Portrait of a Moroccan. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
![DOI logo](https://benjamins.com/logos/doi-logo.svg)
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Dempsey, A.
(
1986, October 18)
Nan: A woman of honour.
Irish Independent.
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Gmelch, S.
(
1986)
Groups that don't want in: Gypsies and other artisan, trader and entertainer minorities.
Annual Review of Anthropology, 151, 307–330.
![DOI logo](https://benjamins.com/logos/doi-logo.svg)
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Gmelch, S.
(
1991)
Nan: The Life of an Irish Travelling woman. Prospect Heights, IL: Waveland. (Original work published 1986).
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Hickey, T.
(
1986, October 9)
Nan and Rahoonery of other days.
Cork Examiner.
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Madigan, C.
(
1986, August 14)
Tinker's tale of a lost Erin.
Chicago Tribune, section 5, p. 3.
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
McGloin, E.
(
1986, November 6)
Granard "gypsy" tells life story.
Longford News.
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
O'Byrne, S.
(
1986, November 15)
No sentiment for Nan.
The Irish Press, p. 9.
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
O'Connell, D.
(
1986, October 17)
Fury over book's claim of killing of child in city.
City Tribune (Galway), p. 7.
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Redfield, R.
(
1962)
Human nature and the study of society: Papers of Robert Redfield (vol. 11). Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Tuchman, B.
(
1979)
Biography as a prism of history. In
L. Edel (Ed.)
Telling lives (pp. 132–147). Washington, DC: New Republic Books.
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Cited by (2)
Cited by 2 other publications
Beynon, John
2008.
Return journey: ‘snakes in the swamp’.
Ethnography and Education 3:1
► pp. 97 ff.
![DOI logo](//benjamins.com/logos/doi-logo.svg)
PALMER, ALLEN W.
2000.
Primitives among Us.
Science Communication 21:3
► pp. 223 ff.
![DOI logo](//benjamins.com/logos/doi-logo.svg)
This list is based on CrossRef data as of 5 july 2024. Please note that it may not be complete. Sources presented here have been supplied by the respective publishers.
Any errors therein should be reported to them.