Author Description

While the history of Ireland may legitimately be defined in terms of national struggle, that struggle has never been as exclusively political as some historians would have us believe. Particularly in the century covered in this book, the harsh realities of poverty, hunger, and emigration often posed more pressing problems for the Irish people than the country's relationship with England or the issue of self-determination. Certainly, this book pays due attention to the important political events, movements, and personalities of the time--from the Fenians, the Easter Uprising, and Charles Parnell to the Irish Republican Army, the Home Rule Party, and Michael Collins. But it also explores the private world of family, work, leisure, and religion that flavored ordinary Irish life. Filled with wonderfully expressive archival photographs, this carefully researched, well-balanced account depicts the real Ireland in a glorious and beleaguered era. 9" x 12". B&W photos.