Ireland Books

I loved this book. I've been looking for a book that was fun to read and had myths and legends from Ireland. I have other books by W. B. Yeats and Lady Wilde that are just too dry to really just enjoy reading. I'll read them anyways, but I don't like it nearly as much as Myths and Folk Tales of Ireland. The only complaint I have is that I wish the book was longer!!! I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in Ireland, or just myths and folk tales in general.

I can't recommend this wonderful book highly enough. Myths and Folk Tales of Ireland contains stories collected in the West of Ireland by Jeremiah Curtin during the end of the nineteenth century. Jeremiah Curtin was an Irish American ethnographer, working for the Smithsonian Institution. He did not speak Gaelic himself, but he hired Gaelic-speaking interpreters to record traditional stories from the oral tradition, and then translate them into English. Because of Mr. Curtin's faithfulness to the original sources, the stories are written in a wonderful prose, full of poetic, traditional phrases. We can hear the voices of nineteenth century Gaelic-speaking storytellers speaking from the page.

The stories in this book fall into two groups: Irish versions of widespread folktales such as "Cinderella", "The magician and his pupil," or "The giant with no heart in his body", and native Irish Fenian tales, about Finn MacCool and his companions. Reading them leads you into another world, where people would gather in the evening, by the light of a peat fire, and listen to a storyteller speak about heroes and lucky younger sons, giants, magicians and monsters. As an amateur storyteller, I have found this book to be a great resource, specially for Saint Patrick's Day, but suitable for all occasions. The stories practically tell themselves. I have found "The fisherman's son and the gruagach of tricks" to be specially popular, maybe because of the thrilling chase at the end.

I can also highly recommend another book by Jeremiah Curtin: Irish Tales of the Fairies and the Ghost World. This a collection of more homely folk-tales, full of great Halloween storytelling material.

Napoleon's Irish Legion is an excellent source of information for anyone who maybe researching the Irish Legion. In fact it is the only guide in English on the Legion next to the memoirs of Miles Byrne, an officer of the Legion. Byrne's memoirs are hard to come by, but Gallaher's book uses Byrne as a reference throughout the book. In my case I discovered my ancestor was a member of the Irish Legion, in fact Jacques Perry appears in this book as he was awarded the Legion of Honour for his efforts at the Siege of Astorga. Not only the book is an excellent reference, but it mentions the primary sources in France, so from this I was able to find close to 100 French documents on my ancestor, who as it happened was with Napoleon's Irish Legion since day 1 until the end. I recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in Napoleonic history.

John Gallaher is THE expert on the Irish troops in the Grande Armee. For that reason only, this book belongs on the shelf of every Napoleonic enthusiast. This volume is well-researched, well-written, and thoroughly accurate. It is also one of the best unit histories of the period. It traces the Irish Legion, later the 3d Foreign Regiment, 3eme Etranger, from its beginnings during the Revolution, through its existence to the aftermath of Waterloo. Highly recommended, an excellent read, and a tale of adventure, honor, and the comradery of soldiers fighting for a cause, or causes, they believe in.

Napoleon's Wars paints the background against which this struggle occurred. One finds that nations in those days behaved pretty much like they behave today. England, Russia, Austria, Prussia, and Sweden each had many battles they were fighting with each other, with the Ottomans, and also with Napoleon. Napoleon often forced these nations to deal with France during this time, but war with France was not nearly the only conflict either simmering or boiling over in Europe during these years. These "sidebar" conflicts go far to explain the emergence and dissolution of the various Coalitions which eventually defeated France and led to the Treaty of Vienna. One comes away reassured that things were just as messy and unpredictable then as they are now. Which your reviewer finds reassuring.

There are history books and there are history books. Then there are the very great books that distinguish themselves for the centuries, like Gibbon's "Decline and Fall." This is one of those.

Nowhere else will you learn why Napoleon's management system failed so utterly, destroyed by flaws in his own personality, in a sharp lesson for every CEO who has ever lived, or will ever live.

Esdaile shows how Napoleon was completely unable to master elementary fiscal and monetary management. What the Bank of England did to Louis XIV a century earlier slipped right by him, unseen, destroying him in his turn. Never once did he understand the economic and political combinations that were arrayed against him, let alone attempt to counter them in any coherent way.

I will cite this book in all my future books on business and will recommend it to all my clients as they struggle with issues of size, profitable scale, and, of course, personality.

Esdaile's writing is tight, focused, and spare. A few Anglicisms unusual in England even today do not mar the pace and the very high level of intellect that sparkles in each paragraph.

Excellent book. Unfortunately it is brief, I wish it were 2 or 3 volumes. The information presented has been prepared by masters in their field. This book will have you researching more on the topics covered, because the topics are short yet powerful enough for you to want to know more.

The book also has short subjects on each of the British class of ship, but oddly one of the major classes is absent.

This may first appear to be nothing but one of those historical 'picture books' and it is profusely illustrated, but it is much more than that. Well-research, historically correct text, and well-organized, it is one of the best books on the topic on the market today.

Robert Gardiner continues his study of naval warfare in the age of sail with this excellent study, covering the war at sea, the war on the lakes, privateers, and the arsoniistic adventures of the British Admirals, Cockburn and Cochrane, up and down the Chesapeake and the eastern seaboard of the United States, although this last is somewhat played down.

The early American frigate victories, the frantic shipbuilding and fighting on the Great Lakes, the sloop duels in the open sea, Porter's adventures in the pacific aboard the USS Essex, Lawrence losing the USS Chesapeake to HMS Shannon, while uttering the famous, 'Don't give up the ship!' which Perry later uses as his battle cry at the victory on Lake Erie, the famous and profitable voyages of the American privateer Prince de Neuchatel (a superb model of which is in the Smithsonian, by the way), all are thoroughly and colorfully covered in this must have volume on a little studied war.

It is in larger than normal format, and looks something like a coffee table book, but don't be fooled. The narrative is exciting, facts not commonly in evidence are chronicled here, and the illustrations are superb. This is a must buy and a must have.

I grew up in Belfast, and always had a lot of respect for the SDLP - initially Gerry Fitt and then John Hume being my political heroes. The book sets out with clarity mapping the real world experiences of John Hume and the progress - or maybe that should be regress - of the troubles in Northern Ireland. This book should be compulsory reading for kids growing up in Israel and Palestine, and probably Darfur and other regions of unrest. And of course, in Washington DC as well. Acheiving peace is not easy and does not come from the barrel of a gun. I don't recall the exact quote, and a friend is reading the book now, but it is along the lines of "Victory does not bring about peace - it simply puts it off". Never a truer word was said.

John Hume is a virtually unknown figure in the United States, but he has been steadily gaining recognition due to his work in the Northern Irish peace agreement. This recognition is overdue and much deserved. This monumental book outlines Hume's political philosophy - a philosophy which seeks to brush aside the vengefulness and intransigence of Northern Ireland's past, searching instead for reconciliation through justice for all. Hume is heavily influenced by Matin Luther King, Jr. and John F. Kennedy, and quotes from these two figures flavor Hume's text. Hume's themes may seem repetitive, and his ideas seem to be based on the shakey foundation of human progress, but this work demonstrates that he is a champion for for a true peace in Northern Ireland - a peace that is just for all.

This monograph frames HIV/AIDS in the context of rapidly-changing local sexual-mores as well as the fast growing arena of international, non-governmental and governmental organisations, that for 20 years have rallied to arrest the spread of the HI Virus in Thailand. The author draws together a number of ethnographic accounts of the Thai HIV/AIDS epidemic offering critical insight into local understandings, experiences and responses to the disease. Concomitant to this the author traces out the development of the modelling of the HIV/AIDS epidemic and the subsequent campaigns that were fashioned to control it. The resultant picture that emerges of Thailand's HIV/AIDS epidemic is impressively broad in its scope and striking in the author's attention to detaill. In the true spirit of a critical anthropology the author raises questions regarding the taken for granted assumptions that inform the majority of HIV/AIDS research projects and social and behavioural intervention campaigns while, simultaneously contextualising the multifarious aspects of the epidemic in its contemporary and historical settings. This monograph is one of the few works on HIV/AIDS that through trying to understand the disease in its local social and cultural contexts, rather than simply change the worlds of the people affected by it, offers real insight into how HIV/AIDS is experienced on the ground and therefore insight into what might be done better than has been over the last 20 odd years.

A New Look At Thai AIDS: perspectives from the margins, is the only work of itskind in the field of HIV/AIDS both, in terms of Thailand's epidemic and the global pandemic as a whole. It offers the most comprehensive and thorough analysis of the biomedical, epidemiological, demographic and socio-cultural dimensions of Thailand's HIV/AIDS epidemic of any work in this field to date. Drawing on 19 years of ethnographic research in Northern Thailand, Cambodia and Laos, and an exhaustive corpus of English, Thai, Khmer and Lao language materials, this monograph runs a sustained and compelling argument that's critical insights and forthright conclusions set a new bench mark for anthropology as a critical discipline and raises questions of serious import to the'development world' as a whole. This monograph constitutes a finegrained, subtly-nuanced geneaological analysis of Thailand's HIV/AIDS epidemic grounded in its social, cultural, political and historical context. Essential reading!

New Myth, New World takes you on a journey deep from Rüssia's past to the present when the regime has fallen (even exploring the current relevance of "excrement" as a metaphore in Soviet literature). What I liked about this book was the well researched exposition of this work, as well as the meticulous prose that did not stray from being objective. The author is well-read, and consistently stays on track, and even when you think there has been a mistake (for example, quoting a 20th century figure for an idea Schopenhauer articulated a century before in his criticism of Hegel and his fellow mumblers), you'll find a few pages later that you yourself were wrong in thinking the author to be mistaken. A la fin, this is a good example of scholary work, which should be studied and learned from.

Other recommendations: Cultural Exchange (A book dealing with the Cold War and the exchange of information that helped lead to the downfall of the Soviet Union)

Nietzsche in Turin (A short work dealing with Níetzsche's last days, but strays enough from the subject to make it much more enjoyable than the crumbling insanity which was befalling good old Fritz at the time.)

Toilet: The Novel, by Michael Szymczyk (A Tribute to the Literary Works of Franz Kafka)

New Myth, New World: From Nietzsche To Stalinism by Bernice Glatzer Rosenthal is a thoughtful and scholarly reinterpretation of Nietzsche's lasting influence upon Soviet culture. Drawing on diverse primary sources in religion, philosophy, political ideology, architecture, street theater, and more, New Myth, New World is a learned and informative series of discourses combining to illustrate and demonstrate the lasting power of ideas in helping to shape the character, culture, and politics of the Russian nation and its governments. New Myth, New World is a welcome, significant, scholarly, and very strongly recommended contribution to Soviet Studies, Russian Cultural History, and Philosophy Studies academic reference collections as well as International Studies student supplemental reading lists.

In the 1960's Michael O'Kelly and his team of student archaeologists restored the megalithic structure known as Newgrange. This book presents his findings and speculation on the ancient tumulus, and written and pictorial accounts of the reconstruction works itself.

Although the existence of the structure was known since Charles Campbell discovered it in 1699, its premier significance as a repository of ancient art, architecture and symbolism was never fully realised until Prof. O'Kelly and his team set about their work. The phenomenon of the roofbox, which for 7 minutes at dawn on the days of the winter solstice fills the central chamber with light, is incredible. I have visited the site more than 30 times, and had the privilege of a solstice viewing in 1994. I cannot recall a more fundamentally spiritual experience in my life.

This book has it all. The non-academic reader (I am one such!) may find certain sections a little turgid, but there are plenty of discussions on the mythology and symbolism to compensate for all the facts and figures if the latter don't suit. The illustrations are superb (photos, maps,pen/ink); the footnotes comprehensive, the objective analysis is compelling and the whole project just so worthwhile.

The reader can also enjoy placing their own interpretations on the significance of the carvings, objet d'art and the Solstice phenomenon, and be just as valid as anyone else. After all, the original builders left this earth 6500 years ago and didn't leave a users manual!!

Enjoy. 5 Stars (and the sun and moon as well!)

Provides plenty of technical information on the excavation and restoration of Newgrange without destroying the wonder of the site. Great drawings as well as photos, exactly what I was hoping for when I ordered the book.

I have read this book and used it as a reference resource. As per the critical reviews, a highly readable narrative of nineteenth century art. Gives insight not only onto artists and their work, but also onto the economic, social, and political factors of the nineteenth century and how they affected and influenced art making. Fluid writing, well presented scholarly arguments, excellent supporting images.

Compiled and written by Petra ten-Doesschate Chu (Professor of Art History, Seton Hall University) Nineteenth-Century European Art is an immense (544 pages), complex, and scholarly coffee-table artbook presenting and studying European art of the 1800's, featuring 550 illustrations (200 in full color) of classic and illuminating works. The reader is treated to an extensive, literate, articulate analysis of the great European artists of the period, including the evolution of their styles, figures, and nudes, the spread of Modernism, and much, much more. Enthusiastically recommended for both community library as well as academic Art History reference collections, Nineteenth-Century European Art is as much fun for the non-specialist general reader to simply browse through, as it is a treasure trove of art history information for the dedicated student.

This is by far one of the best books ever written on the Troubles in Northern Ireland. I'll say more, this is one of the best "political" books ever! For the first time, the incredible experience of Republican POW's during the "blanket" and "no wash" protests and the subsequent hunger strike is told by those who were involved in them. I cannot possibly convey all the emotions this book gave me. The overall feeling I received by reading these pages is one of anger and indignation at the callousness of the British Government led by Maggie Thatcher (whose name will never be cursed enough!). But I also felt proud for what these people achieved through their sacrifice and determination. Not only they refused to be labeled as common criminals when the treatment they were subject to showed the opposite, they also highlighted the true nature of the Republican movement. Whoever believes the IRA is just an Irish Mafia should think twice before saying such nonsense.Republican POW's showed once and for all that the aim of their struggle is not to gain money or power. They fight for freedom and dignity. Together with "On the blanket" by Tim Pat Coogan and "Ten men dead" by Peter Beresford, this book will give any reader full insight on one of the most beautiful and saddest pages of Irish history. This year will mark the 20th anniversary of the H-Blocks Hunger Strike, so do yourself a favour and buy this book now!

"Nor meekly serve my time" is written by republican prisoners that talk about their experiences in the years 1976 to 1981. These were the years of the "dirty protest" and the hunger-strike that ultimately killed 10 people. These are their memories, not only of the 10 men that died but also about their own struggle and endurance. In the time of the book you will intimately know these people that fought so hard to regain political status in Long Kesh, which was denied by them by Margaret Thatcher. It is a very moving account and all the more so because these people actually sufferred through conditions that in the civil world we live in, they should never have to endure. As somebody who has read many books about Irish history but especially about the "troubles", this one stands out by far.