Value for money? One of the suggestions most frequently made to me over the years has been: why don’t you compile an index of the magazine? Great idea, but neither the time nor the resources were available. And as one issue led to another, and one year to the next, the task grew bigger and … Read more
Ireland since 1939: the persistence of conflict Henry Patterson (Penguin Ireland, ?37) ISBN 9781844881031 In this book Henry Patterson outlines the political and social developments of both states on the island of Ireland from the start of the Second World War to 2005. Over the past couple of decades numerous works of general Irish history, … Read more
Where’s where in Dublin: a directory of historic locations 1913–1923 Joseph Connell (Four Courts Press, ?15pb, ?29.95hb) ISBN 9780946841820This book has been in the making for more than ten years. A decade of research has culminated in an extremely useful compendium to the history of early twentieth-century Ireland. The author is a practising lawyer in … Read more
The War of the World: History’s Age of Hatred Niall Ferguson (Allen Lane, £25) ISBN 9780713997088This book is a tremendous read, thoroughly researched and presented in a style easily followed. Despite often sickening subject-matter, the author holds the reader’s attention. Yet the text raises serious questions that it never answers. It gives facts that do … Read more
The earldom of Desmond, 1463–1583: the decline and crisis of a feudal lordship Anthony M. McCormack (Four Courts Press, ?45) ISBN 1851828826 The Gaelic lordship of the O’Sullivan Beare Colin Breen (Four Courts Press, ?45) ISBN 1851829555 Labourers in various fields of endeavour periodically feel called upon to sketch out agendas of desiderata. Historians are … Read more