Charles Stewart Parnell

by F.S.L. Lyons

If Daniel O Connell first articulated modern Irish nationalism, Parnell first organized it. This enigmatic, icy aristocrat became the unlikely and unchallenged leader of Irish nationalism in its early heroic phase. Without him, Home Rule would not have become the formidable cause that it was.
Parnell not only mobilized nationalist Ireland, exploiting discontent with the land system and a desire for political autonomy, he also subverted the usages of nineteenth-century British politics by introducing the filibuster into the House of Commons, by dividing Gladstone s Liberal party between those who supported Home Rule and those who opposed it, and generally forced the Irish question to the heart of British politics where it remained until 1922.

Genres: Ireland, History, Biography, Politics, Nonfiction

704 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1977

About the author

Francis Stewart Leland Lyons FBA was an Irish historian and academic who served as the 40th Provost of Trinity College Dublin from 1974 to 1981. He was educated at Dover College in Kent and later attended The High School, Dublin. At Trinity College Dublin, he was elected a Scholar in Modern History and Political Science in 1943. Lyons was a lecturer in history at the University of Hull and then at Trinity College Dublin. He became the founding Professor of Modern History at the University of Kent in 1964, serving also as Master of Eliot College from 1969 to 1972.

Reviews

[ben c]

Reading this slowly, but its good - Parnall held an almost mystical character in our history, this is a more down to earth account of how he came to lead his political party, developed party politics, etc is pure force of character,