Thank you to rebeccanyc, who mentioned this as an old favorite which she rereads periodically for the pure fun of it. It is pure fun...pure Irish malarkey, in fact. When an English anthropologist takes a holiday in a small Irish village, to calm his nerves after a long stay in the Congo, he gets embroiled in a culture clash and a libel action arising out of what he deems an innocent observation about the nuns in the local convent, and how they celebrate Midsummer's Eve. Delightful.

Review written June 2016 ( )

This is one of my all-time favorite books, and I reread it every few years when I feel the need for a comfort read. It is a very funny but nonetheless warm-hearted satire of human nature, as illustrated by the appearance of an English anthropologist turned unwilling journalist in an Irish village and the complications that ensue. Last year I broke down and bought another copy (used), since the paperback that belonged to my mother is falling apart; it is very sadly out of print. I cannot recommend it highly enough.