Ireland Books

Both the tragic subject and the density of documentation, with graphs and statistics, make this a hard book to read. The Famine killed over a million people, even on the most conservative estimates. It virtually wiped out the Gaeltacht. The question that resonates today is whether fewer people would have died if Ireland in 1840 had been an independent country, with its boundaries at the salt water. You'd have to read this book at least, and maybe some others as well, to get an answer to that question.

This is a fraught subject, but O Grada handles it with both rigour and compassion.

While most educators and textbooks in the US would have us believe the polarization of oppression and race along lines of skin pigmentation is the natural, inherent, and historical condition of ethnic interaction, Dooley's book suggests otherwhise. _Black and Green_ looks at the common link forged by oppression and the struggle for liberation between white Irish and black Americans since the 1800s.

Dooley examines the political, social, and ideological connections between the civil rights struggle in Ireland and America. His analysis results in a picture of reciprocal interchange with both sides influencing, shaping, and supporting the other. The end result is that this "other" demarcated through pigmentation was hardly an "other" during the historical moment. Angela Davis and Bernadette McAliskey support each other while in prison. When McAliskey later receives the keys to the city of New York for her work in Ireland, she gives them to the Black Panther Party. Frederick Douglas and O'Connell heavily influence each other's political thought and speak out in support of each other's cause. Marcus Garvey claims the color scheme of his movement reflects the struggle of various liberation moments of different races all over the world, including the Irish (Red for the reds of the world, green for the Irish struggle, and black for the African American, or, as he puts it at the time, the "Negro struggle." )

Dooley's writing is lucid, engaging, and often narrative. As his innovative and perhaps contentious claims demand, Dooley's research is heavily documumented, often cites primary sources, and features hundreds of foot notes at the book's end. Educators and researchers may use this book with the confidence that they can ascertain with some degree of certainty the primary sources from which Dooley's arguments arise. Further, Dooley's writing is eminently accessible and multi-layered. I have used sections of chapters in my middle school classroom in the Bronx and cited Dooley extensively in papers for graduate school. _Black and Green_ is an invaluable resource for race studies, American or Irish history, and civil rights seminars.

The key to understanding who the oppressed are and who the oppressors are is determined by looking at who the domestic workers are and for whom they work. Who is it that picks up after whom? Bernadette Devlin McAlisky's keen political sense with activists in the civil rights struggle and affluent Irish-Americans is very revealing. Catholic women pick up after Protestant families in Ireland. African-American women pick up after affluent Irish-American families in America. She felt more at home with members of The Black Panther Party than with these affluent Irish Americans. The support of the abolition struggle by Irish republicans such as Daniel O'Connell is of historic import. The support the Irish struggle by fighters such as Frederick Douglas and Marcus Garvey is also of historic interest. However, the interchange of tactics by both struggles is most revealing. The historic Belfast-Derry March in January 1969 was modeled after the Selma-Montgomery protest four earlier. The Montgomery bus boycott got its name from Captain Boycott an avaricious Irish landlord. Michael Farrell set up the Young Socialist Alliance in Ireland modeled after the Young Socialists Alliance in the United States. Black and Green has much more of interest for American understanding of the Irish struggle and is must reading for fighters struggling against oppression and bigotry.

This warm tale is a pleasure to read! Lacy is an idealist with decidedly proper principles on how one should live their life and she is out to change the immoral goings on in BLISSFUL, TEXAS! One of the recipients on her list is the very handsome barkeep, Lucas Burns. Lucas has his own ideas about her civilizing influences and he sets out to reform the prissy Lacy.

This fun tale is quick and easy read.

Nineteen year old Lacy Calhoun leaves her convent school to return to mama and Blissful, Texas.

On the stagecoach she runs into 29 year old Lucas Burns who happens to run the saloon, The Rooster.

Boy did things heat up when Lucas learned that Lacy was the daughter of Flossie Calhoun, owner of the Satin Slipper.

He was under the impression that Lacy was not as innocent as she appeared and Lacy thought that Lucas, with his saloon, was the downfall of all of Blissful's good men.

The good men of Blissful, [didn't meet too many] gathered in The Rooster to decide how to get rid of the do-gooder, Lacy.
She was ruining their business, fun and relaxation with Boot Withers the most out-spoken.

Ah, you have to follow the hilarious high-jinx of the people of Blissful, with Myrtle and her sister-in-law, Birdie.

With Lila gone, with the other girls, the sheriff comes acourting, thinking that his ma would approve of Lacy but.....

Lacy figures that it is up to her to bring about a higher moral standard for the good people of Blissful. And she had to take Jacob, Lucas's son under her wing. He needed a real home.

Then Lucas teaches her that she can become one of the fallen and her ideas slowly grow and mature.

The characters are great, the evolving of Lacy into a more mature woman is hilarious and touching as she finds out that no one is as bad as they seem nor was she as good as she thought.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED -M Exceedingly delightful - great reading.

I am of non-Irish heritage, but have become caught up in the enticing web of Irish traditional music. This book is a written as a history of Ireland's many uprisings and made so much better by the inclusion of over 100 ballads that came out of various rebellions that have filled Ireland's past.

It is a pity that a music CD is not included so that the reader can feel the anguish that comes through song. My hobby is singing Irish traditional ballads, both rebel songs and others which help to tell the story of Irish history. I have learned of some songs that I thought bore no connection to rebel history, but which, upon reading Faolain's volume, I have had the connections clearly made. And, by the way, one can learn a bit of Gaelic in the reading.

Ireland is one of the only countries that can tell its history in song. Turlough Faolain tells of Ireland from the mists of antiquity to the 1800's.

Only two things could make this better. 1) Updates to the present day and 2) CD's to accompany the book.

This is a great way to learn of Ireland's past. And to learn why she is still in trouble today.

"The follow-up to his critically acclaimed novel, Consumed In Freedom's Flame, protagonist and factional Irishman, Aran Roe O'Neill returns in this historically accurate factional tale of Ireland's Civil War. The book opens with a military entourage carrying Irish rebel leader Michael Collins to a mysterious meeting aimed at putting an end to the savage conflict gripping the country. As a passenger in the car with Collins, O'Neill is caught in the midst of the ambush that would eventually leave his beloved leader - and perhaps even the hopes of a generation - dying on a country road. The novel then shifts back to the end of the Irish War of Independence as the British government awaits the arrival of an Irish delegation charged with attaining their country's sovereignty after hundreds of years of supplication. As [Eamon] de Valera jostles for an outcome that appears motivated by personal rather than stately reasons, Collins is reluctantly press-ganged into joining the Irish deputation. With the threat of total war imminent, the Irish delegation are forced to return to the country with a less than desirable treaty for those who sought a full 32-county republic, a position that the author pointedly claims: 'once a means to achieving a broad ends, had become a narrow end in itself.' With the factions split, the country becomes embroiled in a bitter, insidious conflict that turns comrade and households upon themselves. There are possibly those that would charge the author with being too far in the Collins camp, but with the dispassionate eye of history now finally beginning to fall on Ireland's most depressing dispute, it is hard to escape Liam's presentation of Ireland's most dominant political figure as an egotistical, arrogant man armed only with his own selfish, myopic vision. As one of Collin's inner circle, the newly married protagonist sees his own life unravel along with those around him as Liam's superbly researched book brings alive one of Ireland's darkest hours. Armed with murderous subplots, along with romance, heroism and betrayal galore, this is certainly one of the most dynamic and enjoyable retellings of the Irish Civil War that I have ever read." Reviewed by Joe Kavanagh, Irish Connections magazine, (New York, NY), Autumn, 2006

"Blood on the Shamrock" is the sequel to "Consumed in Freedom's Flame," Cathal Liam's historical novel about Ireland's Civil War in the 1920's. Fictional hero Aran Roe O'Neill continues in the struggle for Irish self-governance and independence. In this complex network of loyalties and treachery, he faces foes both from within and outside the ranks of Irish patriots. For those who may have missed the first novel, "Blood on the Shamrock" stands very nicely on its own as a great historical novel. It is greatly enhanced by an introductory list of cast of characters, in order of appearance by chapter, the prologue, which quotes the Declaration of Arbroath and the Proclamation of POBLACHT NA H EIREANN, and the glossary. Frequent quotations from poems and songs also help to place the novel's tone and action core. The reader will quickly become caught up in the life and cause of Aran, which is 'at one with the cause of Pearse, Connolly and Collins.' Twentieth century Irish political reality evolves through the pages, with many references to its cultural and historical heritage. "Blood on the Shamrock" is immediate and personal; it will serve to enlighten many readers about the latter days of the Irish Civil War. Ending in the 1960's, "Blood on the Shamrock" is a complete read in and of itself. But one wonders (and hopes!) if there will be another novel to the present day?

The sending, receiving and collecting of postcards as a major part of life in Edwardian Dublin, where there were six mail deliveries a day and one on Sunday, so it's fitting that Niall Murphy has gathered a fine representation of over two hundred postcards posted in Dublin during 1904 to display the messages and interests of ordinary people of the time. More than just a display of vintage cards, A Bloomsday Postcard pairs postcard images and messages with a re-creation of everyday life; thus earning a place as literature, social commentary, and art history all under one cover.

The sending, receiving and collecting of postcards as a major part of life in Edwardian Dublin, where there were six mail deliveries a day and one on Sunday, so it's fitting that Niall Murphy has gathered a fine representation of over two hundred postcards posted in Dublin during 1904 to display the messages and interests of ordinary people of the time. More than just a display of vintage cards, A Bloomsday Postcard pairs postcard images and messages with a re-creation of everyday life; thus earning a place as literature, social commentary, and art history all under one cover.

How did Napoleon succeed in battle? According to Connelly it was by having detailed and perfect plans that fell apart leaving Napoleon forced t0 improvise. Napoleon's ability to improvise on the battlefield were the true ways he won. His enemies expected him to follow his plans which were easy to discern and when he did not he won battles. This provides excellent accounts of various battles and does so without becoming bogged down in details. I highly recommend it for those starting out with Napoleon and want to understand how he won battles. (as someone who did their thesis no Napoleon this book would have been invaluable at the time). The book is well written and a quick read that will help understand the Napoleonic wars in the context that they were in.

Dr. Connelly sees Napoleon as probably the greatest general of all time, in part because, paradoxically, 'he never really made any plans that he stuck to.'

That lack of planning would appear to be disastrous for anyone else. But for Napoleon it marked him as one of the most remarkable military leaders in history, Connelly said. 'He made plans so that he would have special men and supplies in the right places, but made everything else up as he went along. This equates to genius by him.'

It's considered a truism that 'No plan survives first contact with the enemy (Helmuth von Moltke).' So much so that many military organizations have altered the way they do planning so that they are making no presumptions of what the enemy will do. Get good leaders, get enough men and equipment, get them the food, ammo, etc. they will need, and point them in the right direction.

The interesting point is that Napoleon recognized this so long before von Moltke, Patton, etc.

The book is delightful. It's got a bit of humor, and analyzes Napoleon's battles from a slightly different aspect.

That is, write another engrossing history of the Bolshevik Party in revolution. This volume picks up seamlessly where his earlier "The Bolsheviks Come to Power" left off. For those of us who enjoyed his lucid and - at the time - groundbreaking reconstruction of 1917, this volume dealing with the revolutionary aftermath of October has been too long-awaited.

Although the writing gets dense at times, those interested in the subject will find a fascinating wealth of information on just how confused, ad hoc and improvisational were these early days of "Communist conspiracy" and "scientific socialism." Rabinowitch begins with the early negotiations between the Bolsheviks and other parties on the limits of inclusion in the new Soviet government, and concludes with the first-year anniversary of the October Revolution. Throughout the narrative his focus is on the moderate Bolshevik faction and how it was marginalized by Lenin, as well as the pressures of civil war.

Realistically, however, Rabinowitch does not idealize these moderates nor overindulge the what-ifs of historiography. In outlining the transformation of Bolsheviks "from rebels to rulers" he keeps us aware of the harsh realities of civil war that made compromise and negotiation seem suicidal. And it must be remembered that attempts by moderate anti-Bolsheviks, to promote democracy and counsel conciliation on the White side, were brushed off by rightwing army officers and Western advisors who were determined to crush Bolshevism at all costs. With the narcosis of civil war gripping all parties it's very hollow indeed to berate the Bolsheviks alone for being dictators and fanatics, or expect them to rise above these circumstances. This is Rabinowitch's conclusion and is a refreshing counterpoint to the ideologically-driven anti-Bolshevik school led by Richard Pipes and Robert Conquest.

Written by Russian and Soviet historian Alexander Rabinowitch (Professor Emeritus of History, Indiana University Bloomington), The Bolsheviks in Power: The First Year of Soviet Rule in Petrograd is an in-depth historiography of the Bolshevik Party's first year in power after the revolution of November, 1917 that so profoundly affected Soviet history and politics throughout the twentieth century. The Bolsheviks in Power denies the entrenched view that the party's severe ideology immediately changed the Soviet political system into one of brutal authoritarianism; rather, it is revealed that the Bolsheviks struggled to hold on to power amidst a sea of political, social, economic, and military crises, causing the oppressive regime that rose from it to appear virtually ad hoc. Issues discussed include the swift decline and fall of moderate Bolsheviks; the creation of the ruthless Cheka, the Bolshevik-Left SR alliance, and much more. Enthusiastically recommended as an addition to college library world history shelves.

To put it most simply, Andrew Bush's "Bonnettstown" is one of the great photography books of the past several decades. The photographs are haunting and beautiful; it is a book to return to again and again -- indeed, it is the last book I would part with from my collection.

a book i dearly enjoyed with beautifull photos of inside the house where light seems endless and shines in every corner. of this spleldid book also shows the great talent of the auther and skill in capturing the atmosphere on paper.a very interesting book from jane bolger

I really enjoyed this book, as a fan for over 25 years I was delighted to read this biography! I recommend :)

For any fan, the biography of their idol is usually found wanting. As a U2 fan and Bono enthusiast, it's difficult for me to give a good review on a biography of Bono simply because it's irrelevant for me to own a biography on Bono. For the obsessive fan, there's rarely any new information that i haven't already heard; also, biography's on living people are already hard to judge simply because they're obsolete the day they're released.

All of that aside, this book was a great addition to my U2 collection. Jackson presents a well-rounded look at the rock star's life, focussing mostly on his social work. Of course, if i had written this book it would have been gushing with admiration and fan-boy emulation. the fact that it's not proves that it's a superior, well-written account written for anybody on the reader spectrum, long-time fans and non-fans alike.

My only complaint is the lack of focus on Bono's spiritual side. This book almost gives the impression that Bono's endeavors are purely socially and politically motivated, almost without any transcendent consideration. Of course, enough has been written and discusssed about Bono's spirituality, so perhaps a fresh take on his life story thus far is something fans can use. However, for a social and spiritual balance, i recommend reading Walk On: The Spiritual Journey of U2, although that succumbs to several of the inherent problems with fan biographies.