Andrew Carpenter is a committee member of the Eighteenth-Century Ireland Society. He was the founding president of the society and founding editor of the society’s journal, Eighteenth-Century Ireland / Iris an dá chultúr. He is Emeritus Professor of English at University College Dublin. His research interests include Irish poetry in English, 1660-1800, and Jonathan Swift and his Irish circle. He has published extensively on these topics and two of his best known publications are
Favourite archive:
Royal Irish Academy
Favourite museum, gallery or heritage site:
Trinity College Dublin Long Room
Most exciting place or time in the eighteenth-century:
1685-1690, 1720-1740 and 1780-1800.
Best online resource:
The English Short Title Catalogue and Eighteenth-Century Collections Online.
Best book/history of 18th century interest:
Roger Lonsdale (ed.), New Oxford Book of Eighteenth-Century Verse.
What eighteenth century figure would you most like to have a drink with:
Jonathan Swift
What’s so great about the eighteenth-century?
It’s endlessly fascinating. I’ve spent all my life learning about (and enjoying the work of) those writing poetry in Ireland in the period 1660-1800.
What’s so great about being part of ECIS?
I was founding president of ECIS in 1986 and founder and first editor of Eighteenth-Century Ireland/Iris an dá chulthúr. I have been a committee member since 1986 (I think!).