It was a full house at Stanfords last night as we went on an extraordinary journey through south-east Türkiye with Nicholas Mackey and his new book An Irishman in Northern Mesopotamia .
In this book Mackey guides us through a captivating region embraced by the legendary Euphrates and Tigris rivers—the Cradle of Civilization. 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 revolutionize our understanding of the past. Artefacts from these locations, dating back nearly 12,000 years, challenge established notions of the origins of civilization.
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.
Full of stunning ‘on location’ photography, Mackey captures Türkiye before many of these places were devastated by the earthquake of February 2023. Proceeds from the sale of this book will go directly to help the communities still affected.
An Irishman in Northern Mesopotamia is available now for £25.
We have signed copies while stocks last.
About the author:
Nicholas Mackey is a writer and photographer whose lifelong passion for storytelling and visual exploration began in childhood when he received a camera as a gift. A Trinity College Dublin natural sciences graduate, his diverse career spans teaching, film directing, journalism, commerce, and a stint as diplomatic attaché. A published author and Royal Photographic Society’s 2021 Documentary Photographer of the Year nominee, Nicholas has exhibited at the Royal Academy, London. He is currently Photography Writer for Arts Etcetera magazine and his latest book intricately weaves travelogue, history, ideas, poetry and captivating photography.