A Death-Dealing Famine: The Great Hunger in Ireland

by Christine Kinealy

'One of the outstanding historians of modern Ireland . . . Anyone who wants to understand the making of modern Ireland should read Kinealy's book.' Irish Democrat 'Tremendous . . . An invaluable addition to that small collection of books which help us look at ourselves through our own eyes, giving us the right to feel hurt and angry, a right taken away from us, and which still, sadly, has to be fought for.' Andersonstown News Famine expert Christine Kinealy examines the influences that shaped the responses to the Famine of 1845-52. The key factors she analyses include political ideologies; providentialist ideas that read the potato blight as a judgement from God; opportunistic interpretations; the role of civil servants, Irish landlords and merchants.

Genres: Ireland, History, Nonfiction, Grad School

200 pages, Paperback

First published March 20, 1997

Reviews

[Wendy Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

I used this for research when I was in college back in 1998. I'd say it was one of my favorites with lots of anecdotal stories and a writing style that was not too dry or simply lists of facts and figures. There was a human touch here that made it readable and certainly not all history books are like that.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reads like a textbook but comprehensive overview of a tragic piece of Irish-British history. Helps to explain the "Irish Troubles" that still exist.