Ireland Books

At first Explaining Northern Ireland appears as a 'long read'. But once you start to read you'll become amazed at the details that is the Nothern Irish conflict. The authors detail the major points of view from the major political parties/influnce and the internal and external causes of the the current conflict.

Even though the book was published in 1995, it is a very good resource for anyone interested in international relations and ethino-conflicts.

For anyone with a basic knowledge of Northern Ireland looking to delve deeper into the causes of the Troubles, McGarry and O'Leary's masterpiece is the perfect place to start. In clear, well-organized chapters, the two political scientists outline the arguments, philosophies and proposals of all sides of the conflict, nationalist as well as unionist. They also explore the religious and economic facets of the Troubles, and in doing so debunk the myths that Northern Ireland is ravaged by easily-explainable theological or class divisions.

The greatest strength of the book, however, is its use of comparative political analysis to illuminate features of Northern Ireland's situation. By comparing the region to places such as the United States, South Africa, Belgium, and Israel, McGarry and O'Leary demonstrate to the reader that the Troubles, while unique in many ways, also follow trends found in conflicts elsewhere.

Though the Good Friday Agreement and subsequent establishment of a Northern Ireland parliament render the authors' conclusions a bit obsolete, the book remains vital reading. It is perhaps the only political science text available on Northern Ireland which tackles all the issues with remarable clarity, even-handedness, and insight.

Allcock traces the present of the "former Yugoslavia" back to its distant roots - and does a great job. Organised around issues (eg. "economic modernisation", "the movement of population", "violence"), his genre of historical sociology offers remarkable insights.

Oxford historian Richard Crampton praised this book as "making many Balkan backstairs intrigues, including those of the last few years, more comprehensible" (New York Review of Books, January 11, 2001, p.18). Rightly so.

Out of the now almost countless array of books published over the last decade and meant to `explain' what happened in Yugoslavia, John Allcock's "Explaining Yugoslavia" is among the best. In fact, readers need go no farther if they're looking for a one-volume analysis of the former Yugoslavia and some of the underlying reasons for the country's violent and bloody collapse. Allcock, a sociologist, analyzes historical, cultural, political, social/societal, economic and other factors and skillfully ties them together to provide a comprehensive picture of the peoples of the former Yugoslavia and reasonable answers to the question of why their common state fell apart. Allcock essentially sees the root cause for the failure of Yugoslavia in the country's economy, but this is hardly economic reductionism - he stresses the importance of the interplay of numerous other factors. If this book is not the definitive `explanation of Yugoslavia' (something that will likely never be achieved), it is a large and important step in that direction.

If you've found this review page, it stands to reason that you already have some interest in Giordano Bruno. I only wish to encourage you to read his works first-hand (or at least in a plausible translation like this one). The more knowledge of Renaissance culture you bring to the book, of course, the more you'll enjoy it. Even without that scholarly stuff, however, you'll find Bruno witty and thought-provoking.

On Febraury 16, 1600, this former monk was burned at the stake on charges of heresy. He died in the name of free thought. Yes, at first he offered to retract all of his heretical statements, but in the end, he decided that there was more honour in the penal fires than in a life like Galilei's. This book begins with an Explanatory Epistle. This letter alone is worth reading. The dialogues that comprise the body of the work were a trifle trying for me, as i have very little knowledge of the constellations, but please don't let this deter any possible readers from this work. As with any philosophical text, every reader should bring with him or her a willingness to concentrate on the book and the understanding that numerous re-readings will be necessary to appreciate the full depth of it. The bit where the messenger of the gods is telling Sophia all of the events Zeus has ordered to take place on Earth that day is very funny, so don't think this is all esoteric gobble-dee-gook that only some Ph.d. could enjoy. Shoot, I am only a high school graduate and I was glued to this thing the first time I read it.

I have recently started reading books about Byzantium, upon my business trip to Istanbul. I visited many great historic sites there from the Byzantium times and when I came back home I started getting books about this city. I have been always interested in European history, especially the medeival times, but my visit to this magnificient study ignited my interest in this area.

I was disappointed by the first few books I ordered through Amazon about Byzantim. They were simply boring, full of history and details. This is actually the area where this book shines where allothers fail. All the historical events are written in a fiction-like plot, resembling a novel, with character dialogues and 1st person points of views of characters.

The main shortfall of the book is its use of the English language. It gets awkward and "foreign" one too many times. Some of the descriptions feel like they were direct translations from the native language to English, word to word. There are also some grammatical mistakes here and there indicating to the "seriousness" of the publishing house.

I still gave it a 5, because all the grammatical errors etc. did not bother me all that much because the plots, filled with 1st person inner conflicts of the characters, of the short stories are fascinating and exciting.

I recommend to all who are into European history but who do not want to read a textbook.

I picked this book up in one of my random treasure hunts in the net, and startled all the way thru. Constantinople has been the envy of the world throughout history. Its Byzantine times is narrated in this book and drags you all along. 'Crusade against Christendom', 'The collapse of Divine Wisdom' and the dramatic closing sequence, 'Last day of the Queen' have been my favourite chapters.

The author guides you along the ancients forums, streets, palaces, monasteries and hippodrome of this 'Queen of all cities!' as he tell his stories in almost cinematographic format which creates pictures in your vision.

I read it twice and am now dying to visit this fabled city!!

You know your family ancestors are from Limerick County then you will want to get this book. If you have not yet determined where your ancestors were born, then a great book to purchase would be "The Book of Irish Families, Great and Small" by the same author. If you are just beginning to search for your Irish roots then check out this author's 28 page book, "Irish Family Research: A Common Sense Guide". It is simple, easy and covers basic research. He has condensed those 500 page books to a few simple pages to get you started. You can also get a wealth of knowledge about the author and his research by visiting his irish cafe @ www.irishroots.com. You won't want to miss his weekly podcast on Irish Roots!

Finally something on County Limerick families and genealogy that is not bound in paper ! Lots of families here so don't expect a 12 page dissertation on any one family - but I really learned a lot and enjoyed browsing the pages here at the Irish Genealogical Foundation Library.

You will love Mick Maloney's warm voice lovingly pouring the poetry of Irish music into your ears. This is not the overused "Danny Boy," but a tremendous exploration of traditional ballads that will open your eyes and ears to Ireland's rich history and music.
I recommend first reading the boxed sections in the book for each song. Then listen to that selection on the CD while reading along with the lyrics. Finish with absorbing the 2-page history lesson that accompanies each song.
Later listen to the whole CD, just soaking in the evocative Irish music. The background from reading the book really enhances your enjoyment of the music.

This wonderful book tells the story of the Irish immigration to North America through the songs that they sang. Accompanied by a CD containing sixteen songs performed by the author and his band. The songs are wonderfully performed, making the CD worth the purchase price alone. Each of the songs is accompanied by a two to four page write-up that explains the song, and what was going on in the immigrant Irish (Irish-American and Irish-Canadian, though mostly the former) community at that time.

This book is very handsomely made, with lots of information, interesting pictures, and the CD. Indeed, I would highly recommend this book as a gift. I enjoy having this book, and think that anyone interested in the Irish-Americans will enjoy it as well. I highly recommend this book.

I discovered this book by reading Mazower's book. This was a pure delight to read. The author brought me back to a Thessaloniki I had learned about in Mazower, but added the warm, personal details of family life and interaction among the groups which made up Salonica in the early 20th century. I didn't want the book to end. I was surprised to learn that it had been published quite a while ago and that the author's child added an epilogue. I wish I had read it before and wandered the streets to find some of the landmarks.

Farewell To Salonica: City At The Crossroads is the autobiography of Leon Sciaky and tells of his having grown up in Salonica (now called Thessaloniki), in Greece. A remarkable view of a place where Sephardic Jews, Greeks, Turks, Macedonians, Albanians, and Bulgarians all met, traded, and went about their daily lives. A superbly written memoir, Farewell to Salonica is a heartfelt, highly recommended testimony to a memorable city and a cultural mecca.

This book gives a concise history of Mussolini and the first Fascist regime. The book starts with an introduction by Adolph Caso describing his childhood memories growing up in an Italian village during the wartime years, his family's experience and his observations on moving to America.

The text proper summarizes Mussolini's early political associations, the state of Italy beginning some time prior to World War I and conditions following that conflict. The reader is introduced to the thinkers and activists who formulated the various doctrines that influenced Mussolini although eventually he adhered to none of them as originally conceived.

Mention is made of the other great dictators and `isms' of this period and the reader is reminded that bad as he was and although not hesitant to use violence to achieve his objectives, Mussolini did not engage in mass killings, nor did he institute the concentration camps or gulags of other regimes.

Mussolini formed a compact with the Vatican with which he restored relations and did not appear to be antagonistic to religion. He was not a racist although when he became a dependent and lackey of Hitler during World War II, he did promulgate anti Semitic laws. Prior to this Jews held prominent positions in his regime.

The author does a commendable job of laying out the conditions under which Fascism (or other `isms') arises and from time to time the reader may find some of the comparisons with our present situation disturbing. However, the book closes with a reassuring conclusion in this regard and points out how the Constitution and our system of checks and balances create a considerable obstacle to any individual or party seeking to establish a totalitarian regime in this country.
Dave Cohen

Put together a young serious historian and a "been-there; done-that" publisher, and you have an impressive interesting book entitled Fascist Italy: A Concise Historical Narrative. The book, written by 28-year-old Cristogianni Borsella, in my opinion, reveals a well-versed, knowledgeable, and dedicated author with an excellent writing and presentation style that allows readers of all ages and background to learn from him. In addition, Adolph Caso, publisher of Branden Books, brings to us in the Introduction¾ "Fascism, Italian Style: Reactions to memories and events," as a beautiful backdrop against which we gain a new and/or expanded understanding of Fascism.

Now you might quickly frown and say, "Now why would I want to learn more about Fascism?" I admit it! My first thought was, "Now what have I gotten myself into this time?" However, I was quickly dispelled of my qualms. Adolph's sharing of his memories of his early life under the regime of Benito Mussolini quickly made the book more personable. A simple little story about his mother having to give up her pots and pans, for example, emphasizes to each of us the struggles of those who have lived through those horrible times in the past. At the end of the Introduction, I was looking forward to learning more!

Just what is Fascism? "In the past 60 years it has been used egregiously as a synonym for totalitarian dictatorship and chauvinism." (P. 120). The writer continues, however, "Fascism is not just ring-wing bigotry, however; it is much more insidious. It is the merger of finance capital and state power. . .quite literally capitalism in decay. . ." (P. 120)

Now, does that make you curious? Finance Capital--Banks? State Power--the ever-present bureaucracy??? I must admit that by the time I was reading Chapter 11, "What is Fascism," I was beginning to wonder about how things are going here in the United States. Was this book relevant to me? Were we perhaps moving toward Fascism or are we already there? There's no way around it, in today's world, we are all asking questions, wondering about whether we are doing the right thing, whether we have gone too far in participating and even initiating actions against other countries.

As the title relates, Borsella has presented a concise historical narrative of the development, movement toward, and the evolution of Fascist Italy, providing both an historical accounting of Italy's place in Fascism as well as the relationship that was later developed between Mussolini and Hitler, as well as a comparative analysis with other ideologies such as Marxism, etc.

The narrative moves quickly and easily, building as is needed to gain the necessary historical background and knowledge and then moving with readers to allow us to consider how Fascism may have or is affecting us in the United States.

I leave you with a selection from 14 Characteristics of Fascism: (pps. 142-143)
Powerful and continuing expressions of nationalism
Identification of enemies/scapegoats as a unifying cause
The supremacy of the military/avid militarism
Rampant sexism
A controlled mass media
Obsession with national security
Power of corporations protected
Fraudulent elections
Rampant cronyism and corruption

Any of these sound familiar? Want to read more? Wonder about the rest of the characteristics? Wonder how the author sees the United States based upon his extensive study? I think this book goes beyond the basic research efforts of historians. Borsella has taken a look at significant historical facts and used them intelligently and effectively to allow us to expand our own knowledge as well as explore how and if we fit within Fascism. For surely you've heard us being referred to as a Fascist nation? Are we? If you have questions at this point, I highly recommend Fascist Italy by Cristogianni Borsella!

I've always been a fan of fairy tales, as well as all things celtic, and so this particular book was pretty much perfect for me. It contains eight different stories, and I enjoyed seeing the similarities between these stories, and the myths and legends of other cultures. The way language was used was also intriguing, as there were several times that the phrasing seemed backwards; I can see, though, where these stories would benefit from being passed down orally through the generations - they just seem to flow better when read aloud. (Yes, I did read some of the passages aloud to myself, and my puppy, a Scottish Terrier; he seemed to enjoy them. *grin*)

To start off, let me first say that in general, I like the whole series of Dover Children's Thrift Classics Fairy Tales. Filled with murder and betrayal, this book is questionably appropriate for young children, though it does leave behind some important morals.

Seamus Deane and Field Day have put together a most remarkable collection of writing, culled from Ireland's rich history of composition.
The pieces presented in the three volume initial set includes writings from all the most well-known of Ireland's writers. You have the bigs ones: Joyce, W.B. Yeats, Swift, Shaw, Kavanaugh, Wilde, Stoker, Heaney, and Synge, as well as hundreds of other contributors (including a few Nobel and Pulitzer prize winners). The writings are not just the best non-fiction or fiction, there are letters, plays, editorials, poems, songs, and folk tales, among others. Joyce's "Ulysses" as well as Yeat's "The Lake Isle of Inisfree" are in my opinion the two best pieces in this collection. "Inisfree" is heartbreaking in it's lyricism and rhythm, it's just hard to fathom that an individual can write like that.
The list of contributing editors is enough to carry a collection all by itself: Seamus Deane, Seamus Heaney, Declan Kiberd, and Terence Brown. It would have been interesting to see what the inimitable Paul Muldoon would have done if he had been asked to edit a section, but Mr. Muldoon still makes a presence with his writing.
With more than 4000 pages in the three volumes, the collection will fill many a night and day. There is no other resource that will allow one to own such a varied and beautiful biography of Ireland's writing history.

A splendid collection of Irish writing from medieval Ireland to today. Poems,plays,political tracts from all the famous and not so famous authors. If you have a favorite, you will find him in these pages. It has given me untold hours of enjoyment. A super gift for those with a love of Irish literature.