Dublin: The Making of a Capital City

by David Dickson

Dublin has many histories: for a thousand years a modest urban settlement on the quiet waters of the Irish Sea, for the last four hundred it has experienced great - and often astonishing - change. Once a fulcrum of English power in Ireland, it was also the location for the 1916 insurrection that began the rapid imperial retreat. That moment provided Joyce with the setting for the greatest modernist novel of the age, Ulysses, capping a cultural heritage which became an economic resource for the brash 'Tiger Town' of the 1990s. David Dickson's magisterial survey of the city's history brings Dublin to life from its medieval incarnation through the glamorous eighteenth century, when it reigned as the 'Naples of the North', through to the millennium. He reassesses 120 years of Anglo-Irish Union, in which Dublin - while economic capital of Ireland - remained, as it does today, a place in which rival creeds and politics struggled for supremacy. Dublin reveals the rich and intriguing story behind the making of a capital city.

Genres: Ireland, History, Irish Literature, Cities, Nonfiction

736 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2014

Reviews

[Geoffrey Kelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a thorough and detailed account of the city of Dublin from its Viking origins to the year 2000. It explores the social, political, economic and cultural forces that have shaped the Irish capital, and helped me to appreciate the city I have enjoyed during my three visits there. I had a greater understanding of the Protestant influence on the city, the links to other cities along the British coast, and the divisions between the capital and other regions in Ireland.
There is a lot to absorb in this well-researched account. One shortcoming was the absence of a good map of the city. I kept referring to my tourist guide map to help me trace the evolution of the city as new sections were opened for development, both north of the Liffey, and eastward from Dublin Castle. A map concerning the earliest development of the railroads would also have helped the reader find his or her way around.
David Dickson’s “Dublin” is a solid explanation of the history of this city, and the tensions that have so often troubled it. We hope that these troubles are now in the realm of the history books, and not a topic for the nightly news.

[T P Kennedy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A magnificent, magisterial history of Dublin covering two millennia. It's particularly strong on the middle ages and the evolution of Dublin from then until now. It's a compelling read for anyone who lives in and is familiar with Dublin. It is not as strong on recent history but that may await a second edition in 10/15 years time. The Lilliput edition is beautifully produced the production values enhanced my reading.

[Donal Reilly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Deeply ambitious - at times, one of the finest books on Dublin. Sometimes, you can tell it's not a subject to Dicksons strength but when he's writing on things he knows well nobody comes near.