A Short History of Ireland

by Martin Wallace

Wallace, Martin, Short History of Ireland, A

Genres: History, Nonfiction

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1973

Reviews

[Kevin Keating · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good book. What I was kinda looking for except has a few big omissions. No Meagher. No Bloody Sunday. Has an English tinge to it. Not sure I learned a whole lot.

[Spencer Kerrigan · Rating 3 out of 5]

In history class, many students know how the United States became a country and how they became a superpower country. However, when quizzed on other countries, many students struggle at knowing how other countries became powerful and how they ended up like they are today. In the book, ¨A Short History of Ireland,¨ readers are able to learn about the people of Ireland from the Neolithic days to modern history. Readers also get to learn important figures like St. Patrick and how he ¨travelled all over Ireland¨ (Wallace 19) to spread the word of God and Jesus Christ. Readers also get to experience different events in Ireland's history that made it the country it is today.

Martin Wallace proves that he took a lot of time and effort in making a book that has Ireland's history throughout different periods of time. It is very interesting to see how Ireland is similar and different to the United States. However, the book is mostly paragraphs of information that makes the book less interesting to read as you go further into the book. After the main Chapters, there were sections about famous writers, politicians, etc., which is better organized and brief (not too much info) that does not bore the reader.
I would give this book three stars since there is many unique and interesting facts about Ireland but fails to organize in a way that makes it seem like a pile of information. Readers that like history and Ireland would enjoy this read.

[MrsEnginerd · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a very compact review of the history of Ireland, quick enough to accompany you during your trip through its beautiful scenery and rich history. It stops around 2005, and I'm not sure if there is an updated edition floating around. Nice souvenir for those visiting the natural history and other museums.

[Anne Charlton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am half-Irish, so I decided I should know something about Ireland. This is the perfect book. It is small and concise. the main part of the book tells the history in narrative form. Then he has good references in the last part of the book...LIsts of historic places, important leaders, famous writers, and a timeline. Good reading and then good reference material.

[Conor · Rating 1 out of 5]

A very British version of Irish History full of inaccuracies.

[Joseph · Rating 3 out of 5]

Exactly what it says on the cover. A brief rundown of the major events in Irish history, from its first Neolithic settlements through to Irish independence in the 20th century and the unrest that followed. Not an in-depth discussion of the history of the island, but then again, it never claimed to be.

The biggest shortcoming is its age: originally published in the 1970s, it thus misses the critical developments of the 1990s, perhaps the most important meaningful events in the past 70 years of Ireland's history. This edition only provides a cursory mention of the Good Friday Agreement in a timeline at the end of the book, which was clearly a supplement added into later editions.

Nevertheless, A Short History of Ireland sets out to provide exactly that, and it accomplishes a very respectable success.