The Oxford History of Ireland / Edition 2

by R. F. Foster

Overview

Few countries can boast as compelling a history as Ireland. This volume captures all the varied legacies of the Emerald Isle, from the earliest prehistoric communities and the first Christian settlements, through centuries of turbulent change and creativity, right up to the present day. Written by a 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.

Emphasizing the paradoxes and ambiguities of Irish history, this book presents a more realistic picture than other histories. It explores, for example, the reasons behind the intense regional variations in agriculture, prosperity, and political affiliation in so small a land, and shows why Victorian norms prevail in certain areas of twentieth-century life. It also examines more familiar themes—such as the recurrent religious strife and the shaping of new political entities—and offers a special section on the interaction between Irish history and its rich literary tradition. Wide-ranging and highly readable, this vivid view of Ireland will entertain and inform anyone interested in this fascinating and colorful island nation.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780192802026
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Publication date:	12/27/2001
Edition description:	Reissue
Pages:	368
Sales rank:	792,592
Product dimensions:	7.70(w) x 5.10(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

R. F. Foster is Professor of Irish History at Oxford University and the author of a number of books, including Lord Randolph Churchill: A Political Life.

Table of Contents

	List of Maps	xi
1.	Prehistoric and Early Christian Ireland	1
2.	The Norman Invasion and the Gaelic Recovery	44
3.	Early Modern Ireland, c.1500-1700	88
4.	Ascendancy and Union	134
5.	Ireland Since 1870	174
6.	Irish Literature and Irish History	230
	Further Reading	282
	Chronology	303
	Index	325

Editorial Reviews

"A rich journey through over 2,000 years of Irish history from pre-Christian times to the present-day Troubles."—The Irish Herald (on the previous edition)

From the Publisher