Book excerpt: The Little Book of Wicklow is a compendium of fascinating, obscure, strange and entertaining facts about County Wicklow, the last Irish county to be created and one of the most beautiful, the ‘Garden of Ireland’. From the stark grandeur of the Wicklow Mountains to the fertile coastal plains, this book takes the reader on a journey through the county and its vibrant past. Here you will find out about Wicklow’s castles and great houses, its monastic heritage and heroic leaders. You will also glimpse a darker side to Wicklow’s past with a look at crime and punishment and Wicklow’s wicked women. A reliable reference book and a quirky guide, this can be dipped into time and time again to reveal something new about the people, the heritage and the secrets of this ancient county.