Rebellions: memoir, memory and 1798

Tom Dunne (Lilliput Press, 320) ISBN 1843510391 In this ambitious and often deeply personal book, Tom Dunne offers his own perspective on Irish history, on the process of historical commemoration and on current interpretations of the 1798 Rebellion in Wexford. Dunne’s book is divided into three quite distinct parts that might each have formed the … Read more

Harry Boland’s Irish revolution

David Fitzpatrick (Cork University Press, 335) ISBN 1859182224   In writing this biography at the request of Harry’s nephew and namesake Annraoi Ó Beolláin, David Fitzpatrick declared his objective to be ‘a balanced and impartial account of an outstanding life’. With unlimited access to the family archive, it undoubtedly presents an unprecedented wealth of detail. … Read more

A new anatomy of Ireland: the Irish Protestants, 1649–1770

Toby Barnard (Yale University Press, 344.40) ISBN 0300096690 Irish Protestant ascents and descents, 1641–1770 Toby Barnard (Four Courts Press, 355) ISBN 1851826939   The preface of A new anatomy of Ireland mentions the works of other historians with the startling statement that ‘anyone keen to know what happened in Ireland between 1659 and 1800 should … Read more

W.B. Yeats: a life. Volume II: The arch-poet 1915-1939

R.F. Foster (Oxford University Press, 344.40) ISBN 0198184654   W.B. Yeats: vain, glorious, lout: a maker of modern Ireland Anthony J. Jordan (Westport Books, 313) ISBN 0952444720   ‘The work is done,’ grown old he thought, ‘According to my boyish plan; Let the fools rage, I swerved in naught, Something to perfection brought’; But louder … Read more