‘The Aran Islands’ (1907) is a four-part collection of J.M. Synge’s journals that explore the inhabitants and geography of the titular islands.

Throughout the book, Synge reveals the problematic lives of the islanders as they survive against harsh weather and seclusion from the mainland. Oscillating between their daily rituals and the backdrop they live against; Synge paints a vivid picture of life on the Aran Islands at the turn of the 20th century.

For fans of adventure or travel books, J.M Synge’s ‘The Aran Islands’ is a must-read. A prototypical David Attenborough or Bear Grylls, Synge offers an incredible exploration of these islands at a time that would be otherwise lost to history.


Edmund John Millington Synge (1871 – 1909) was an Irish poet, playwright, and a defining figure of the Irish Literary Revival. Born in County Dublin to upper-middle-class Protestants, Synge suffered from Hodgkin’s disease which led to his home-schooling. Soon after graduating from Trinity College Dublin, Synge became a renowned poet and playwright, but his success was short-lived as he passed away from cancer at 37. He is best remembered for his play ‘The Playboy of the Western World’, an incredibly controversial work at the time of its publication and performance. Regarded by Yeats as ‘the greatest dramatic genius of Ireland’, Synge has held a lasting legacy, being a key influence for acclaimed Irish playwright Samuel Beckett and the subject of Joseph O’Connor’s novel ‘Ghost Light’ (2010).