Harold Speakman, the American artist-writer, whose death, under tragic circumstances, took place in New York on September 24th, was the author of Here's Ireland. For the purpose of obtaining first-hand material for this book, Mr. Speakman visited Ireland in 1924. Landing at Queenstown in June, he purchased a donkey and cart for the transportation of his travelling outfit and working materials and set out on foot. In the course of four months he covered every inch of this country, and he recounts many amusing incidents which marked his progress.
Throughout his volume he deals with Ireland and her various problems, and always in a way that suggests that he understood the Irish people as few strangers learn to understand them. Reaching Dublin in September, he found the glamour of the capital irresistible, and he lingered for more than a fortnight, meeting many people prominent in every sphere of Irish life. He made a very favourable impression on all with whom he came into contact, and these retain very pleasant memories of his charming manner and gentle, unassuming ways.
Mr. Speakman studied art at the Chicago Academy of Fine Arts and also in Paris and Munich. He was a lieutenant in the United States army during the Great War and served on the Italian front. Following the war, he travelled a great deal, and he has recorded his impressions of many countries in several books. These include Mostly Mississippi, Hilltops of Galilee, and a volume on China. He was also the author of at least one novel, This Above All. His Here's Ireland was very widely read, and, published at a time when this country was beginning to get on its feet, the book helped to dissipate many false ideas which were prevalent abroad as to Irish conditions.
The Irish Times,
October 31st, 1928.