The Pear is Ripe: A Memoir

Born in New York but reared in County Tyrone, John Montague rose to prominence in the 1960's and 1970's with his poetry collections including Poisoned Lands and the long poem The Rough Field. The book is full of warm anecdotes and wry observations on the numerous literary, artistic, and musical characters he encountered, befriended and occasionally provoked. He recounts his personal and professional relationships with such luminaries as Patrick Kavanagh, Allen Ginsberg and, as co-founder of Claddagh Records, with composer Seá O Riada. There is an interesting account of meeting Charles Haughey and a suggestion that a seed was sown that might have led ultimately to the introduction of the artist tax exemption.