Irish History for Dummies - Paperback

by Mike Cronin (Author)

From Norman invaders, religious wars--and the struggle for independence--the fascinating, turbulent history of a tortured nation and its gifted people

When Shakespeare referred to England as a "jewel set in a silver sea," he could just as well have been speaking of Ireland. Not only has its luminous green landscape been the backdrop for bloody Catholic/Protestant conflict and a devastating famine, Ireland's great voices--like Joyce and Yeats--are now indelibly part of world literature. In Irish History For Dummies, readers will not only get a bird's-eye view of key historical events (Ten Turning Points) but, also, a detailed, chapter-by-chapter timeline of Irish history beginning with the first Stone Age farmers to the recent rise and fall of the Celtic tiger economy.

In the informal, friendly For Dummies style, the book details historic highs like building an Irish Free State in the 1920s--and devastating lows (including the Troubles in the '60s and '70s), as well as key figures (like MP Charles Parnell and President Eamon de Valera) central to the cause of Irish nationalism. The book also details historic artifacts, offbeat places, and little-known facts key to the life of Ireland past and present.

• Includes Ten Major Documents--including the Confession of St. Patrick, The Book of Kells, the Proclamation of the Irish Republic, and Ulysses
• Lists Ten Things the Irish Have Given the World--including Irish coffee, U.S. Presidents, the submarine, shorthand writing, and the hypodermic syringe
• Details Ten Great Irish Places to Visit--including Cobh, Irish National Stud and Museum, Giants Causeway, and Derry
• Includes an online cheat sheet that gives readers a robust and expanded quick reference guide to relevant dates and historical figures
• Includes a Who's Who in Irish History section on dummies.com

With a light-hearted touch, this informative guide sheds light on how this ancient land has survived wars, invasions, uprisings, and emigration to forge a unique nation, renowned the world over for its superb literature, music, and indomitable spirit.

Back Jacket

Learn about:

• Early Irish history
• Ireland's proud religious history
• Britain and Ireland's complex relationship
• Irish culture and its impact throughout the world

A whistle stop journey through Ireland's past

Understand the people, disasters, and triumphs that have shaped the Ireland we know today. From the early Irish kings to political struggles and upheavals, discover more of Ireland's rich history and uncover the past. This book takes you on a rollercoaster journey through the highs and lows of Ireland's past, including invasions, battles, executions, religious divides, uprisings, emigration - and hurling! Ireland's story is amazingly dramatic and intense - and today the influence of Irish culture can be felt around the globe.

• Saints and kings - discover the early years of a great nation, from the arrival of the first hunters and gatherers to the introduction of Christianity
• Invasion! Middle Ages style - check out the Viking and Norman invaders that made their way to the Irish shores
• Here come the English - rebellion, a Henry or two, the Wars of the Roses, the Reformation, and more rebellion leave their mark on the island
• A nation divided - the history of Catholicism, Protestantism, and the Troubles
• More top-ten lists than you can shake a hurling stick at - ten turning points, ten things the Irish have given the world, ten great places to visit, and more

Open the book and find:

• Great places to visit - and their history
• The great turning points in Irish history
• Irish culture and its evolution around the globe
• The Reformation and its effects on Ireland
• Richard II, Henry IV and a lot of turmoil
• The Irish Cultural Revival
• The Revolution, the Irish Free State, and the Troubles

Author Biography

Mike Cronin, PhD, is the Academic Director at the Centre for Irish Programmes, Boston College, Dublin. Mike has taught history to university students for close to 20 years, and he has written five books on Irish history.