The Oxford Illustrated History of Ireland

Under the editorship of Roy Foster, a team of distinguished Irish historians has produced a challenging assessment of Ireland's history, providing a lively and accessible synthesis of Irish history from pre-Christian times to the present-day troubles. Their approach stresses the ancient, rooted nature of Irish culture, but also looks beyond received ideas of Irish history to explore the patterns of fragmentation and change which have been characteristic of Ireland's past. The long-contested question of Irish identity and its relation to language is also examined, and the book is lavishly illustrated with over 200 pictures in colour and black and white.

Table of Contents

LIST OF COLOUR PLATES; LIST OF MAPS; 1. PREHISTORIC AND EARLY CHRISTIAN IRELAND; 2. THE NORMAN INVASION AND THE GAELIC RECOVERY; 3. EARLY MODERN IRELAND, C.1500-1700; 4. ASCENDANCY AND UNION; 5. IRELAND SINCE 1870; 6. IRISH LITERATURE AND IRISH HISTORY; FURTHER READING; CHRONOLOGY; ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS; INDEX

From The Publisher:

Few countries have such a compelling and stirring history as Ireland. This sumptuously illustrated volume captures all the color of the Emerald Isle, from the earliest prehistoric communities, through centuries of turbulent change and creativity, to the present day. Written by an expert team
of scholars--all of whom are Native to Ireland--this book offers the most authoritative account of Irish history yet published for the general reader.
Unlike most single-volume histories, this book emphasizes the paradoxes and ambiguities of Irish history, presenting a more realistic picture. It also examines more familiar themes, such as the shifting patterns of settlement and colonization, the recurrent religious strife, and the establishment
of new political entities. And in a special section, it investigates the interaction between Irish history and literature, demonstrating how the importance of language to everyday Irish life has engendered a body of fiction that is virtually a history of Ireland itself.
With over two hundred photographs, a variety of helpful maps, and many beautiful color plates, this history brings to life the conflicts, settlements, and traditions that constitute Irish history, making it wide-ranging and highly readable for anyone fascinated by this colorful island
nation.