Slices of life from Dubliner’s book

DUBLINER Pat Upton has a unique take on the city he grew up in and has just published a book of 100 literary snapshots of life in the capital that will resonate with many readers.

Growing up not far from the city centre in Stoneybatter, Upton studied philosophy, writing his thesis on the contemporary experience of pleasure in society.

He’s lived and worked in six different countries, including Japan, but it was walking around his home town, soaking up its quirky and original features, that inspired him to write

‘City Portraits’.

“I think the book would be of interest to anybody interested in topical writing about Dublin,

? he says.

“I’m trying to show Dublin at a very different level so I’ve got portraits of people from the street and topical stuff like whether the Dublin pub is declining or to what extend the Celtic Tiger was destructive of what could be described as typical Dublin culture.

?

The book’s short portraits capture what Upton sees on the streets of the city. Although characters aren’t named, many will be instantly recognisable by anybody who strolls around the capital from time to time.

The same goes for his observations on the changing face of Dublin, one of which is the surprise experienced when encountering a city character from a bygone era with a

“bawld babby beard

? because you would think such people had been

“civilised out of the place, spruced up and herded into apartments.

?

‘City Portraits’ also features descriptions of buskers in Grafton Street, couples kissing in Stephen’s Green, standing in out of the rain on Middle Abbey Street and sandwich board men in Henry Street. All things most Dubs will have some experience of.

Upton’s book is self published, but he says going it alone wasn’t as daunting as one might imagine.

“I wasn’t an ordeal really, the ordeal was actually writing the book,

? he says.

“A lot of people write books that they can’t finish.

“I wrote quite a detailed book about Dublin many years ago that people were very positive about, but they wouldn’t publish it for some reason, so I decided to go about it myself this time and I’m happy with the results so far.

?

Despite his love of the city, or perhaps because of it, Upton doesn’t get caught up in Dublin’s famous Northside-Southside divide.

“Well, I grew up in the centre of the city so I can look down equally on Northsiders and Southsiders,

? he laughs.

?¢ Priced at

?¬9.99, City Portraits is available from bookshops including The Winding Stair (which features on the cover), Connolly Books in Temple Bar and Books Upstairs opposite Trinity College. It can also be downloaded to Kindle and ordered through Upton’s blog at patupton.wordpress.com.