Stone Mad

<p><strong>50th Anniversary Edition. Paperback.</strong></p><p>''In the sharply formal conversations of the stonemen, the bittersweet flavour of provincial Ireland is presented with neither sentiment nor adornment.'' —<strong>William Trevor</strong>, The Guardian</p><p>''The men who have gone before us have left us a heritage to be proud of; and we feel our own contribution has been for the good.'' —<strong>Seamus Murphy</strong>, from the preface to Stone Mad.</p><p>In ''Stone Mad'' Seamus Murphy tells the story of his seven years spent as an apprentice to the stone carving trade, the growing knowledge of the challenges and joys of stone – and of the men who worked it. His artistic feeling for the quality responded to his workmates'' reverence for ‘the well made thing’. The result is a book of surpassing beauty, full of warmth, humour and profound perception.</p>