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The Men Who Built Britain: a Celebration of the Irish Navvy
Stories of the people of the Irish diaspora, who emigrated to Britain where they found employment constructing the roads, canals and railways.
- GenresHistory
276 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 2001
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
January 16, 2013
This book was excellent. Having lived in a house filled with Irish navvies in early 90's Cricklewood I was curious to know more about their crazy hand to mouth, hard drinking existence. I loved the oral history and the back story to why so many Irish came to London, particularly the reason they came to Camden - it was as far as a man could walk with two cases from Euston, where the boat train from Holyhead brought him. I lent my copy to one of the lads in the house, he leant it to another and it's probably still being passed on. Brilliant!
July 7, 2009
A superb example of social history that is also a very good read. Rich in photographs, original material, humour and vivid personal accounts, it describes the gaiety of the Irish dance halls and the desperate loneliness of men far from home.
I used it as a research resource when I was writing A Good Confession. Of course I had heard stories from my father and other men of his generation, but Ultan Cowley is able to put anecdotes into heartbreaking historical perspective.
I used it as a research resource when I was writing A Good Confession. Of course I had heard stories from my father and other men of his generation, but Ultan Cowley is able to put anecdotes into heartbreaking historical perspective.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews