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The Wee Wild One
The Wee Wild One episodes
- Chapter 14 - Elegy in a Jewish Graveyard.
Ruth seamlessly merges personal and historical narratives as she explores a Jewish cemetery in Bavaria, revealing the profound legacy of its forgotten Jewish community. Through vivid storytelling and poignant reflections, listeners are drawn into a journey that bridges past and present, uncovering tales of resilience and the silent partnerships that honor lives lost to history.
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27 min - Chapter 13 - France the actual country.
Journey through the poignant exploration of France—from its initial surprising reality to the deep, emotional connections formed and historical revelations uncovered. The vivid recounting of personal experiences, intertwined with reflections on French culture and somber historical events, this chapter offers a rich tapestry that underscores the complexities of identity, memory, and belonging.
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27 min - Chapter 12 - Hard Men.
We join Billy's tumultuous experiences during The Troubles in Northern Ireland, from harrowing prison days and forbidden family funerals to finding unexpected solace in pigeon racing. This chapter intertwines personal anecdotes, cultural critiques, and historical insight, offering a profound exploration of resilience amidst adversity.
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34 min - Chapter 11 - Quare Craic.
Embark on this Northern Irish tale where vibrant characters and witty banter bring to life the storied bus rides and bridge gatherings of Pardisburn. From the hilarity of local interactions to the depiction of community life, this chapter is a delightful snapshot of tradition and humor that promises to captivate your imagination.
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23 min - Chapter 10 - Where the Mountains of Mourne sweep down to the sea.
Ruth takes you on a heartwarming journey through her childhood summer holidays. Experience the freedom, eccentric family dynamics, and simple joys of escaping school, all set against the backdrop of Northern Ireland's landscapes and charming traditions. Listen now to relive a time when adventures waited around every corner.
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21 min - Chapter 9 - When the cows go out to the spring grass.
Join Ruth as she recounts the vibrant, rustic rhythms of her childhood farm life in Ireland, contrasting it with the rural landscapes of Wisconsin. Through captivating anecdotes and rich descriptions, discover the charm and significance of springtime traditions and the unique personalities of Irish farmers and their beloved cattle.
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21 min - Chapter 8 - No luster of our own.
Listeners are transported to the nostalgic and ordered world of an all-girls school assembly, where the routine hymns, prayers, and the presence of stern prefects juxtapose moments of unexpected humanity and reflection. Lose one's self in the Recollections of school life, the impact of history's touchstones, and the profound, lingering influence of seemingly mundane rituals that reveal deeper truths.
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19 min - Chapter 7 - You Will Not Come Back.
The story of Miss Crome, a passionate and unconventional language teacher at Princess Garden School Belfast who introduced her students to the complexities of French, German, and Latin literature. See the world through the eyes of her amazed pupils, discover her unique teaching methods, profound love for literature, and the lasting impact she had both in and out of the classroom.
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17 min - Chapter 6 - La Porte Et Wat (The Gate at Wat).
Ruth vividly recounts the childhood experiences of growing up in the charming hills and valleys, with amusing cultural encounters with foreign visitors and the profound impact of a charismatic French teacher. This nostalgic narrative, enriched with humor and heartfelt insights, compellingly captures the charm and idiosyncrasies of rural life while seamlessly weaving in themes of identity and cultural exploration.
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17 min - Chapter 5 - The explosion.
Immerse yourself in the whimsical yet poignant recollections of a schoolgirl navigating the labyrinth of science classes, where fear and fascination collide under the critical gaze of Mrs. Carr. From botanical dissections to the suspense of chemistry experiments, this chapter delivers a blend of humor, nostalgia, and the universal struggle of grappling with academia.
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20 min
About The Wee Wild One
From the publisher's feed
Born in Ballycoan, Northern Ireland, Ruth Schwertfeger represents history and memory in an impressionistic memoir of her childhood on a small farm and attending a girls’ school in Belfast. Through the author’s girlhood and discovery of her own national and religious identity, this humorous memoir is shaped significantly by images of Schwertfeger’s father—"the Wee Wild One"—who spent his days in delightful mischief on a Purdysburn farm in the early 1900s. Schwertfeger provides her own interpretations of characters existing before her time and connects these and her own childhood memories in Ireland to her life today.
These unmistakably North Irish stories are unified by a common language, which also emerges as a touchstone that draws all Irish home. Schwertfeger’s voice reflects a shared and persistent desire for all Irish people to return to the roots that hold them, all the while appreciating her experiences traveling and studying European culture as an academic. She also explores many facets of social life in Northern Ireland that are often hidden behind the stereotypes of history and public rhetoric. Her stories convey a passionate and articulate woman seeking connect ions between the separations that occur through time.