The Curse of Reason by Enda Delaney

The Curse of Reason by Enda Delaney

The Great Irish Famine of 1845–52 was the defining event in the history of modern Ireland. In proportional terms one of the most lethal famines in global history, the consequences were shocking: at least one million people died, and double that number fled the country within a decade. The Curse of Reason is first and foremost a survey history of this great tragedy. In particular, the testimonies of four key contemporaries are used throughout to convey the immediacy of the unfolding disaster. They are: John MacHale—the Catholic Archbishop of Tuam John Mitchel—the radical nationalist Elizabeth Smith—the Scottish-born wife of a Wicklow landlord Charles E. Trevelyan—the assistant secretary to the Treasury Each brings a unique perspective, influenced by who they were, what they witnessed, and what they stood for. By counter-pointing the progress of the Famine with the experiences of these four individuals, we get an intimate and compelling portrayal of these hungry years. The book shows how misguided policies inspired by slavish adherence to ideology—the curse of reason—contributed to and worsened the effects of a natural disaster of catastrophic proportions.

‘A significant and sophisticated addition to the historiography of the Famine'

-- Christopher Cusack * Times Literary Supplement *

'Delaney’s approach to the story is innovative … (it will be found) in the hands of those who appreciate first-rate history…a very impressive book' 

-- Breandán Mac Suibhne (historian of society and culture in eighteenth and nineteenth century Ireland) * Dublin Review of Books *

Born in Dublin, Enda Delaney is currently Reader in Modern History at the University of Edinburgh. In 2010 he was the recipient of a prestigious UK Economic and Social Research Council Mid-Career Fellowship, awarded on the basis of a proven track record of excellence in research and ‘exceptional all round scholarly ability’. He has written extensively on the history of modern Ireland and its diaspora, including three scholarly books and two jointly-edited volumes.

SKU	Unavailable
ISBN 13	9780717154159
ISBN 10	0717154157
Title	The Curse of Reason
Author	Enda Delaney
Condition	Unavailable
Binding Type	Hardback
Publisher	Gill
Year published	2012-10-12
Number of pages	325
Cover note	Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.