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Intended AudienceTrade
LCCN89-016168
Reviews'The book, glossy and very readable ranges widely; social, cultural and economic aspects receive as much attention as politics.'Causeway, 'a comprehensive and authoritative account from prehistoric times to thepresent, well suited to the general reader, and profusely illustrated'British Book News, 'This volume is lavishly and often beautifully illustrated with pages frommonastic manuscripts, paintings or, more recently photographs. For the generalreader whose knowledge of Irish history is patchy, it provides an admirableintroduction.'Tribune, 'admirably edited by Professor Roy Foster ... stimulating, engrossing and objective account of Irish history from earliest times to 1987 ... the contributors write with individuality, freshness and authority ... It is well researched, lively and most readable.'Day by Day, 'The book, glossy and very readable ranges widely; social, cultural andeconomic aspects receive as much attention as politics.'Causeway, 'This volume is lavishly and often beautifully illustrated with pages from monastic manuscripts, paintings or, more recently photographs. For the general reader whose knowledge of Irish history is patchy, it provides an admirable introduction.' Tribune, 'admirably edited by Professor Roy Foster ... stimulating, engrossing andobjective account of Irish history from earliest times to 1987 ... thecontributors write with individuality, freshness and authority ... It is wellresearched, lively and most readable.'Day by Day, 'a comprehensive and authoritative account from prehistoric times to the present, well suited to the general reader, and profusely illustrated' British Book News
TitleLeadingThe
Dewey Edition20
Dewey Decimal941.5
Edition DescriptionReprint
Table Of ContentEditor's forewordPrehistoric and Early Christian IrelandThe Norman Invasion and the Gaelic RecoveryEarly Modern IrelandAscendancy and UnionIreland Since 1870Irish Literature and Irish HistoryFurther ReadingChronologyAcknowledgementsIndex
SynopsisFew countries have such a compelling and stirring history as Ireland. This sumptuously illustrated volume captures all of the color of the Emerald Isle, from the earliest prehistoric communities and the first Christian settlements, through centuries of turbulent change and creativity, to the present day. Written by an expert team of scholars--all of whom are Native to Ireland--this book offers the most authoritative account of Irish history yet published for the general reader. Unlike most single-volume histories which tend toward oversimplification, this book emphasizes the paradoxes and ambiguities of Irish history, presenting a more realistic picture. It explores, for example, the reasons behind the intense regional variations in agriculture, prosperity, and political affiliation in so small a land, and show why Victorian norms prevail in certain areas of twentieth-century Irish life. It also examines more familiar themes, such as the shifting patterns of settlement and colonization, the recurrent religious strife, and the establishment of new political entities. And in a special section, it investigates the interaction between Irish history and literature, demonstrating how the importance of language to everyday Irish life has engendered a body of fiction that is virtually a history of Ireland itself. With over two hundred photographs, a variety of helpful maps, and twenty-four beautiful color plates, The Oxford Illustrated History of Ireland brings to life the conflicts, settlements, and traditions that constitute Irish history. Wide-ranging and highly readable, this vivid view of Ireland will entertain and inform anyone interested in this fascinating and colorful island nation.
LC Classification NumberDA906