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A History of the Irish Working Class:
This modern classic of Irish history is an accomplished and readable synthesis. Subjects covered include the early 'communism' of the Celtic clans ; the role of the Church; the Irish aristocracy and their handover to Henry II; Wolfe Tone’s rising and O’Connell’s betrayal.
372 pages, Paperback
First published May 20, 1996
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About the author
Peter Berresford Ellis
52 books154 followersPeter Berresford Ellis is a historian, literary biographer, and novelist who has published over 90 books to date either under his own name or his pseudonyms Peter Tremayne and Peter MacAlan. He has also published 95 short stories. His non-fiction books, articles and academic papers have made him acknowledged as an authority on Celtic history and culture. Under Peter Tremayne, he is the author of the international bestselling Sister Fidelma mystery series. His work has appeared in 25 languages.
He began his career as a junior reporter on an English south coast weekly, becoming deputy editor of an Irish weekly newspaper and was then editor of a weekly trade journal in London. He first went as a feature writer to Northern Ireland in 1964 for a London daily newspaper which had a profound effect on him. His first book was published in 1968: Wales: a Nation Again, on the Welsh struggle for political independence, with a foreword by Gwynfor Evans, Plaid Cymru's first Member of Parliament. In 1975 he became a full-time writer. He used his academic background to produce many popular titles in the field of Celtic Studies and he has written numerous academic articles and papers in the field for journals ranging from The Linguist (London) to The Irish Sword: Journal of the Irish Military History Society (UCD). He is highly regarded by academics in his own field and was described by The Times Higher Education Supplement, London, (June, 1999) as one of the leading authorities on the Celts then writing. He has been International Chairman of the Celtic League 1988–1990; chairman of Scrif-Celt (The Celtic Languages Book Fair in 1985 and in 1986); chairman and vice-president of the London Association for Celtic Education 1989–1995, and now is an Hon. Life Member); He was also chairman of his local ward Labour Party in London, England, and was editorial advisor on Labour and Ireland magazine in the early 1990s. He is a member of the Society of Authors.
Apart from his Celtic Studies interests, Ellis has always been fascinated by aspects of popular literature and has written full-length biographies on H. Rider Haggard, W. E. Johns, Talbot Mundy as well as critical essays on many more popular fiction authors. His own output in the fictional field, writing in the genre of horror fantasy and heroic fantasy, began in 1977 when the first "Peter Tremayne" book appeared. Between 1983 and 1993 he also wrote eight adventure thrillers under the name "Peter MacAlan". Ellis has published (as of January, 2009) a total of 91 books, 95 short stories, several pamphlets, and numerous academic papers and signed journalistic articles. Under his own name he wrote two long running columns: 'Anonn is Anall' (Here and There) from 1987–2008 for the Irish Democrat, and, "Anois agus Arís" (Now and Again) from 2000–2008 for The Irish Post. His books break down into 34 titles under his own name; 8 titles under the pseudonym of Peter MacAlan and 49 titles under his pseudonym of Peter Tremayne. He has lectured widely at universities in several countries, including the UK, Ireland, American, Canada, France and Italy. He has also broadcast on television and radio since 1968. With the great popularity of his 7th Century set Sister Fidelma Mysteries, in January, 2001, an International Sister Fidelma Society was formed in Charleston, South Carolina, with a website and producing a print magazine three times a year called The Brehon. In 2006 the Cashel Arts Fest established the first three-day international gathering of fans of the series which is now held bi-annually and receives the full support of the Society
He began his career as a junior reporter on an English south coast weekly, becoming deputy editor of an Irish weekly newspaper and was then editor of a weekly trade journal in London. He first went as a feature writer to Northern Ireland in 1964 for a London daily newspaper which had a profound effect on him. His first book was published in 1968: Wales: a Nation Again, on the Welsh struggle for political independence, with a foreword by Gwynfor Evans, Plaid Cymru's first Member of Parliament. In 1975 he became a full-time writer. He used his academic background to produce many popular titles in the field of Celtic Studies and he has written numerous academic articles and papers in the field for journals ranging from The Linguist (London) to The Irish Sword: Journal of the Irish Military History Society (UCD). He is highly regarded by academics in his own field and was described by The Times Higher Education Supplement, London, (June, 1999) as one of the leading authorities on the Celts then writing. He has been International Chairman of the Celtic League 1988–1990; chairman of Scrif-Celt (The Celtic Languages Book Fair in 1985 and in 1986); chairman and vice-president of the London Association for Celtic Education 1989–1995, and now is an Hon. Life Member); He was also chairman of his local ward Labour Party in London, England, and was editorial advisor on Labour and Ireland magazine in the early 1990s. He is a member of the Society of Authors.
Apart from his Celtic Studies interests, Ellis has always been fascinated by aspects of popular literature and has written full-length biographies on H. Rider Haggard, W. E. Johns, Talbot Mundy as well as critical essays on many more popular fiction authors. His own output in the fictional field, writing in the genre of horror fantasy and heroic fantasy, began in 1977 when the first "Peter Tremayne" book appeared. Between 1983 and 1993 he also wrote eight adventure thrillers under the name "Peter MacAlan". Ellis has published (as of January, 2009) a total of 91 books, 95 short stories, several pamphlets, and numerous academic papers and signed journalistic articles. Under his own name he wrote two long running columns: 'Anonn is Anall' (Here and There) from 1987–2008 for the Irish Democrat, and, "Anois agus Arís" (Now and Again) from 2000–2008 for The Irish Post. His books break down into 34 titles under his own name; 8 titles under the pseudonym of Peter MacAlan and 49 titles under his pseudonym of Peter Tremayne. He has lectured widely at universities in several countries, including the UK, Ireland, American, Canada, France and Italy. He has also broadcast on television and radio since 1968. With the great popularity of his 7th Century set Sister Fidelma Mysteries, in January, 2001, an International Sister Fidelma Society was formed in Charleston, South Carolina, with a website and producing a print magazine three times a year called The Brehon. In 2006 the Cashel Arts Fest established the first three-day international gathering of fans of the series which is now held bi-annually and receives the full support of the Society
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
November 14, 2015
I read this book after a two week tour of Ireland. The writing was excellent and I learned a great deal. I am considering reading it a second time.
Among other things this book explains in detail how the "religious" battles between Catholics and Protestants were manufactured in the 18th century by the Anglican Church, and the British aristocracy as part of a divide and conquer tactic and later also by the Northern industrialist class who needed to keep it's workforce at its each others throats.
From chapter 4, "A Century of Unrest";
The idea of the Catholics and Presbyterians joining forces against the Establishment horrified the Anglican Archbishop of Armagh, Hugh Boulter, who wrote;
"The worst of this it that it stands to unite Protestant and Papist, and whenever that happens, goodbye to the English interest in Ireland forever."
The last chapter, "The Northern Revolution" ends with a quote by James Connolly;
"North and South will again clasp hands, again will it be demonstrated, as in 1898, that the pressure of a common exploitation can make enthusiastic rebels out of a Protestant working class, earnest champions of civil and religious liberty out of Catholics, and out of both, a united social democracy."
And the last lines a quote from Owen Dudley Edwards;
"...working class solidarity is no Utopian left wing dream in the Northern Ireland context. It has existed before, within living memory, and there is little valid reason to assume it cannot be born again."
Given the late 1990's "peace" settlement and the ongoing economic crisis in Ireland, the solidarity Edwards talks about may be developing sooner rather than later. While only there a brief time in September reading the Irish Times daily it seems few people are focusing on the long ago manufactured religious differences but rather on austerity, unemployment, increasing homelessness in the cities and cuts in social services.
I highly recommend this book by author Peter Berresford Ellis. He is a prolific writer of non-fiction as well as fiction, under the name Peter Tremayne. I plan on checking out his series of historical mystery novels based around a 7th century nun who is also a lawyer who advocates for the Brehon Laws.
Among other things this book explains in detail how the "religious" battles between Catholics and Protestants were manufactured in the 18th century by the Anglican Church, and the British aristocracy as part of a divide and conquer tactic and later also by the Northern industrialist class who needed to keep it's workforce at its each others throats.
From chapter 4, "A Century of Unrest";
The idea of the Catholics and Presbyterians joining forces against the Establishment horrified the Anglican Archbishop of Armagh, Hugh Boulter, who wrote;
"The worst of this it that it stands to unite Protestant and Papist, and whenever that happens, goodbye to the English interest in Ireland forever."
The last chapter, "The Northern Revolution" ends with a quote by James Connolly;
"North and South will again clasp hands, again will it be demonstrated, as in 1898, that the pressure of a common exploitation can make enthusiastic rebels out of a Protestant working class, earnest champions of civil and religious liberty out of Catholics, and out of both, a united social democracy."
And the last lines a quote from Owen Dudley Edwards;
"...working class solidarity is no Utopian left wing dream in the Northern Ireland context. It has existed before, within living memory, and there is little valid reason to assume it cannot be born again."
Given the late 1990's "peace" settlement and the ongoing economic crisis in Ireland, the solidarity Edwards talks about may be developing sooner rather than later. While only there a brief time in September reading the Irish Times daily it seems few people are focusing on the long ago manufactured religious differences but rather on austerity, unemployment, increasing homelessness in the cities and cuts in social services.
I highly recommend this book by author Peter Berresford Ellis. He is a prolific writer of non-fiction as well as fiction, under the name Peter Tremayne. I plan on checking out his series of historical mystery novels based around a 7th century nun who is also a lawyer who advocates for the Brehon Laws.
June 19, 2019
Seminal point of entry to Irish history for Marxist historians and students.
February 21, 2015
A comprehensive history of Ireland from a Marxist viewpoint. Very informative for a beginner, but as it covers a lot of ground in a short space, it sometimes struggles to cover topics in sufficient depth.
Quite readable - I disagree with a previous reviewer who found it dry.
Quite readable - I disagree with a previous reviewer who found it dry.
April 20, 2024
more a synoptic overview of revolutionary leaders from feudalism -> seventies than the class as such, but a very good all the same
December 28, 2022
Fundamental recorrido por la historia de Irlanda desde los primeros pobladores de la Isla hasta principios del Siglo XXI, un libro teórico desde la perspectiva de clase que responde a todas las preguntas y dudas sobre el origen del conflicto irlandés y su desenlace armado.
Es el equivalente al libro de EP Thomson sobre Inglaterra pero centrándose en el pueblo irlandés.
Es el equivalente al libro de EP Thomson sobre Inglaterra pero centrándose en el pueblo irlandés.
January 18, 2015
A bit dry, minus a star.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews