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Book Synopsis
The Irish potato famine of the 1840s, perhaps the most appalling event of the Victorian era, killed over a million people and drove as many more to emigrate to America. It may not have been the result of deliberate government policy, yet British ‘obtuseness, short-sightedness and ignorance’ - and stubborn commitment to laissez-faire ‘solutions’ - largely caused the disaster and prevented any serious efforts to relieve suffering. The continuing impact on Anglo-Irish relations was incalculable, the immediate human cost almost inconceivable. In this vivid and disturbing book Cecil Woodham-Smith provides the definitive account. ‘A moving and terrible book. It combines great literary power with great learning. It explains much in modern Ireland - and in modern America’ D.W. Brogan.

The Great Hunger Ireland 18451849

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    A Paperback / softback by Cecil Woodham-Smith

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      Book details

      Publisher Penguin Random House Group
      Imprint Penguin Books Ltd
      Published 30 May 1991
      ISBN-13 9780140145151
      978-0140145151
      ISBN-10 014014515X
      Also in:
      Business, Finance & Law Economic history History European history: medieval period, middle ages Social and cultural history

      Description

      Book Synopsis
      The Irish potato famine of the 1840s, perhaps the most appalling event of the Victorian era, killed over a million people and drove as many more to emigrate to America. It may not have been the result of deliberate government policy, yet British ‘obtuseness, short-sightedness and ignorance’ - and stubborn commitment to laissez-faire ‘solutions’ - largely caused the disaster and prevented any serious efforts to relieve suffering. The continuing impact on Anglo-Irish relations was incalculable, the immediate human cost almost inconceivable. In this vivid and disturbing book Cecil Woodham-Smith provides the definitive account. ‘A moving and terrible book. It combines great literary power with great learning. It explains much in modern Ireland - and in modern America’ D.W. Brogan.

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