Prolific Todd

Hot on the heels of his success with The Jesuits in Hong Kong and China, Thomas Morrissey SJ is close to bringing out two new books with Columba Press. The first, From Cork to Hong Kong and Canton: Thomas F Ryan SJ, 1889-1971, will be launched in June. It chronicles the life of an extraordinary Jesuit, who was a teacher, author, broadcaster, cultural critic, and a Government Director of Agriculture, Forestry and Marketing in Hong Kong. Clearly something of a Renaissance man, he was a pioneer among Irish Jesuits in catering for refugees and was held in high esteem in his adopted land. No less fascinating is the subject of his second book, to be published in the autumn, Edward J. Byrne of Dublin (1872-1940), the Forgotten Archbishop. A Belvederian, Byrne was archbishop from 1921-1940, turbulent times in Irish and European history.