Biting at the Grave: The Irish Hunger Strikes and the Politics of Despair

by Padraig O'Malley

A haunting account of the hunger strikes of 1981 and their lingering effects on the troubled peoples of Northern Ireland.

Genres: Ireland, History, Nonfiction, Politics

344 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1990

Reviews

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

As 2021 drew to a close I returned to re-reading this remarkable book by Padraig O'Malley. The Irish Hunger Strikes took place 40 years ago and in that same year, 1981, I stood in my first election for the Alliance Party of Northern Ireland. This book was published almost a decade later, not least because it took a long time for the author to gain the confidence of the families of most of the ten men who died. Those interviews themselves would set the book apart from other socio-political analyses of the subject, but Seamus Heaney's more profound assessment of the book rightly takes it to another level. He described it as "A book equal to the pity and terror of its subject. Padraig O’Malley simplifies nothing, extenuates nothing, and scrutinizes everything. This is not only a heartfelt narrative but a sustained exercise of moral and political intelligence." It is also, as O'Malley says, 'a voyage of self-discovery'. He is a man of considerable courage, intellectual honesty and determination, and if I had to recommend only one book to someone interested in understanding the 'Northern Ireland problem' it would be this one, for it not only gives a remarkable narrative of the terrible events of that time, but also conveys deep insights into the conflicting cultures of Northern Ireland. Much has happened since then, most notably the 1998 Belfast/Good Friday Agreement, but this book remains relevant because it sets out many of the key reasons why the Peace Process that led to that Agreement was necessary and also gives an analysis of why 'very clever agreements' such as the 1985 Anglo-Irish Agreement do not of themselves solve problems of disturbed historic relationships despite the ingenuity of their institutional and constitutional adaptations or their attempts to address specific grievances. Throughout the book, and despite the political and personal efforts of his interlocutors to portray the hunger strikers as exceptional people, one is struck by the ordinariness of the ten who died. None were brought up in circumstances of physical deprivation or poverty except Micky Devine, and other than Bobby Sands, the names no longer trip off the tongue, because the memory is collective, not personal. These observations support the view that such problems are an expression of large group psychology rather than individual psychology, and are not driven by mere socio-economic disadvantage. It is therefore something of a surprise that in his final comments he refers in passing to it as a 'class war'. Four decades and a peace process later, I think we are probably able to build more firmly than that on the analysis that he eloquently sets out, and also to understand, as he himself demonstrates in his other writings and activities, how the lessons learnt in Ireland have profound relevance in many other intractable violent, political conflicts.

[Kate Zimmerbaum · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent history of the hunger strikes in Ireland in the early 1980's

[Belinda · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars - English novel - I have dyslexia -
Notebook mentions about this book : why does Ierland and it's struggles goes to my gut? 🌸🌸🌸

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book made cry in places. It was a great insight into the "troubles" of Northern Ireland in the late 70's and early 80's. It's about Bobby Sands, an Irish Catholic living in British ruled Northern Ireland. He went on hunger strike after being sent to jail for being associated with the Irish Rebuplican Army. He and 10 other prisoners went on hunger strike to demand political prisoner status under British rule. He would only leave jail in a coffin. A must read for those interested in Irish history.

[Ar · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very academic look at the hunger strikes. Due to this, you are given a lot more information about the background, history and specific details of the strikes themselves than you otherwise would. The author had access to the families of the hunger strikers and pulls no punches when it comes to the church, the families, the IRA, the British, etc. Attempts to lay the truth bare.

At times the academic writing can be a bit OTT, especially when trying to shoe-horn every event into some grand narrative. But otherwise a key text for those interested in the hunger strikes.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wish I had had time to finish this one, but it had to be shelved - a thorough and engaging account of an interesting piece of Northern Irish history.