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An Irishman in Northern Mesopotamia

A journey of discovery in south-east Türkiye - a personal perspective

Nicholas Mackey

Published by Unicorn Publishing

£25.00 / $32.70 / €30.00
($/€ approx)



Hardback, 240 pages, published October 2024
Book Description

Explore the enduring wonder that is the story of Northern Mesopotamia - the Cradle of Civilisation - from an Irish perspective.

Embark on an extraordinary odyssey through south-east Türkiye with Nicholas Mackey as he guides you through a captivating region embraced by the legendary Euphrates and Tigris rivers―the Cradle of Civilisation.

Here he explores the ancient wonders of Antakya, Dara, Harran, Mardin, Gaziantep, and Diyarbakir, peeling back the layers of empires, cultures and peoples that have shaped millennia. Göbeklitepe and Karahan Tepe, near the contemporary city of Şanlıurfa/Urfa, stand as iconic archaeological landmarks with the promise to revolutionise our understanding of the past. Artefacts from these locations, dating back nearly 12,000 years, challenge established notions of the origins of civilisation.

His daily journal serves as the genesis of this literary tour-de-force: a seamless blend of travelogue, memoir, history, archaeology, poetry, prose, and memorable imagery – evocative of Nicholas coming of age in Ireland with an unquenchable desire to travel, ‘to seek and find’ (Whitman).

This is not just an eclectic tale but also will remain an enduring presence in your mind, while inviting you to rethink the fabric of our shared human history.

Proceeds from the sale of this book will go directly to help the communities still affected by the earthquake of February 2023.

Reviews for An Irishman in Northern Mesopotamia

‘I have thoroughly enjoyed this book, an incredibly vivid and inspiring account of Nicholas Mackey’s travels in Northern Mesopotamia, beautifully illustrated. His journey through history, different cultures and the company of different peoples through the perspective of his own life and early days in Ireland, has important lessons for us all. We must embrace, connect with and understand the richness, variety and cultures of different peoples. Reading and travelling are essential to achieve this. In this book Nicholas Mackey deserves great praise in helping to understand the importance for us all to overcome differences and to live together in harmony, increasingly vital in our troubled world today. This inspiring account of his travels is highly recommended.’
Jonathan Shackleton, Antarctic historian and author

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