and the style of Böll's last chapter almost resembles the monologue of Ulysses's last chapter. Reception When it was published in 1957 in Germany, Irish Journal was immediately very successful and well received. Böll's contemporary German author Carl Zuckmayer found Irish Journal to be one of the "most beautiful and worthy books written in the last fifty years". Until today, Böll's book is considered a "cult book" that has personally influenced almost every scholar on Irish-German connections as well as more than a generation of tourists. In Germany alone it has sold more than two million copies. Furthermore, the book has been translated into at least 17 languages. Scholars continue to engage with the book and its 50th anniversary has particularly demonstrated its continuing relevance, when Irish Journal frequently became a point of reference to trace Ireland's changes of half a century. The most popular homage is Hugo Hamilton's Die redselige Insel – Irisches Tagebuch (The Island of Talking – Irish Journal) of 2007. This book updates Böll's impressions and not only the title is intended to remind of the original Irish Journal; the iconic disclaimer is also demonstratively resembled: The reception in Ireland was initially limited because of German as publication language. It was also rather negative, especially once it was translated into English. References 1957 books Travel books Books about Ireland German non-fiction books