Compassionate Stranger: Asenath Nicholson and the Great Irish Famine

Irish Studies, Syracuse University Press

by Maureen O'Rourke Murphy

The first biography of Asenath Nicholson, Compassionate Stranger recovers the largely forgotten history of an extraordinary woman. Trained as a school teacher, Nicholson was involved in the abolitionist, temperance, and diet reforms of the day before she left New York in 1844 “to personally investigate the condition of the Irish poor.” She walked alone throughout nearly every county in Ireland and reported on conditions in rural Ireland on the eve of the Great Irish Famine. She published Ireland’s Welcome to the Stranger , an account of her travels in 1847. She returned to Ireland in December 1846 to do what she could to relieve famine suffering—first in Dublin and then in the winter of 1847–48 in the west of Ireland where the suffering was greatest. Nicholson’s precise, detailed diaries and correspondence reveal haunting insights into the desperation of victims of the Famine and the negligence and greed of those who added to the suffering. Her account of the Great Irish Famine, Annals of the Famine in Ireland in 1847, 1848 and 1849 , is both a record of her work and an indictment of official policies toward the land, employment, famine relief. In addition to telling Nicholson’s story, from her early life in Vermont and upstate New York to her better-known work in Ireland, Murphy puts Nicholson’s own writings and other historical documents in conversation. This not only contextualizes Nicholson’s life and work, but it also supplements the impersonal official records with Nicholson’s more compassionate and impassioned accounts of the Irish poor.

366 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2014

Reviews

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating story about a remarkable woman. I live very close to Greenwood Cemetery...I will try to go pay my respects as soon as the shelter in place is lifted!

[Elliot G · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting summary of a driven and determined woman. Compiling this was clearly a labour of love for the author who digs up many letters and other correspondences not found in Nicholson's works.

[Helen Burke]

Absolutely fascinating read ! I'm Irish born and I thoroughly enjoyed being transported back in time to walk the walks, and see the sights with this amazing lady from so long ago.

Beautifully written, I laughed, and I cried at this stirring depiction of the lives of the poor Irish on the brink of the famine.

I've read the facts of the Irish famine, and its causes but have never before felt the essence of the Irish people as portrayed in this book. The good humour, and the kindness of the poor won over Ms Nicholson. A truly humbling read, written by a truly amazing person. Highly recommended !!

[C.A. Coffey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Awesome companion book

I recommend you read this book after reading the two books about Ireland and the potato famine written as an eye witness account by Asenath Nicholson. A very good first hand reference to life in Ireland of the mid 1800’s.