Customer Reviews

Arctic Ireland: The Extraordinary Story of the Great Frost and Forgotten Famine of 1740-41

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I wish I had enough money to buy this book about bliadhain an áir but famines are never completely natural--the 1741 famine affected much of Europe I may be wrong but only Norway suffered as much as Ireland--this is suggestive the social arrangements put in place after the Willamite usurpation in 1688 surely contributed to this slaughter. Britain's hands are stained with the blood of the Irish holocaust.

You will be amazed to read what the Irish survived when nature unleashed Arctic cold and desperate drought on their green isle in 1740 and 1741. Indoor temperatures were just 10 degrees. Frozen rivers paralyzed the mill wheels needed for grinding grain and powering small industry. Up to half the population did not survive; many other lives were saved by heroic philanthropy of resident landlords and the church. Many fled on ships to the New World. The 74-page narrative is indexed and augmented by 13 pages of reference notes. A brief book that you will not forget!!