Ireland and the Irish: Portrait of a Changing Society (Penguin Non Fiction) [Paperback]

John Ardagh (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 1997 | Series: Penguin Non Fiction

This is a book about Ireland and the Irish. Although not history, it will cover the past extensively, although not politics it will cover north and south, "the troubles" and their background. There will be much about the people, their defining national character and personality, the relationship to Europe, Britain and the US and although not literary criticism, there will be a lot about the arts and literature of the country.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

"The Irish are keen to be part of Europe, but their gaze is mainly at themselves. They know what they think, and they don't want to be confused by the facts." With that statement, the author takes the reader on a wonderful trip around the Ireland of today, which?with the help of the EEC and TV?has finally burst into the 20th century with an eagerness and an aggressiveness that are tempered by old-time moral values. Ardagh looks at Ireland and change in Ireland through its politicians: the autarchic and myopic Eamon de Valera, the visionary Sean Lemass, the rogue Charlie Haughey and chic President Mary Robinson. He sees a young country (44% of the population is under 25) that attempts to coax the high-tech corporations of Japan, Germany and the U.S. to its shores but still treasures its own music, culture and language. Ireland, according to the author, is the "Pope's last bastion," where 82% of the population attend Sunday mass. But Ireland's Catholics no longer blindly obey Rome's rulings: Birth control is in and the issue of divorce still pending. It is a nation divided politically, slowly coming together, where the most eager students of the Irish language are Northern Protestants. Ardagh (France Today) has written an eye-opening, comprehensive and delightful book.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

The author, among other works, of France Today (Penguin, 1988) and Germany and the Germans (Harper, 1987), Ardagh is particularly adroit at drawing cultural portraits of European countries. Ardagh's ability to tell readers enough about his subject to inform them, without a great deal of theoretical or historical background, remains his greatest strength. Turning his hand to contemporary Ireland, he once again has produced a worthwhile book, although not quite of the same depth as the France and Germany titles. His theme is the movement of Ireland from self-encapsulation to European identity, from provincialism to a modern pluralist and somewhat secularized society. Ardagh draws on interviews, stories, and description to highlight the improved condition of the economy, the state of agriculture, the problems of urban sprawl in Dublin, the (slowly) changing status of women, and the struggle of the Church to grapple with a changing Irish society. While Ardagh has grasped the central issues and problems of this unique island, it must be stated that his book, however well crafted, remains a snapshot of Ireland and that one must turn to other works for a more probing analysis. Highly recommended for the general reader.?Richard B. Finnegan, Stonehill Coll., North Easton, Mass.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 496 pages
• Publisher: Penguin (Non-Classics) (March 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0140171606
• ISBN-13: 978-0140171600
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,255,711 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars outdated, but still interesting, December 21, 2003

By 

cammykitty "cammykitty" (Minneapolis, MN United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ireland and the Irish: Portrait of a Changing Society (Penguin Non Fiction) (Paperback)

I may have had a slightly older edition of this book since the last dates refered to were 1995 and Amazon lists this as 1997. ...Ardagh doesn't hesitate to put forth his own personal opinions, which are very British. But it takes an outsider eye to write a book such as this that looks at the general character of a people and their changing history. An insider would find many things, such as the casual mixing of classes, not worth mentioning. But to an outsider, those are the very things that set the Irish apart as a people.

As a reader from the United States, his use of pounds and constant camparisons to the British political system weren't very helpful, and his use of the term "wetback" was disconcerting. I'm not sure he meant it to be a colorful word or an offensive word. However, Ardagh clearly loves Ireland and has spent plenty of time there. He shows political trends and the changing role of the church unflinchingly -- complete with all the scandals. I remember reading about Miss X, a 14-yr old rape victim who was stopped from going to England for an abortion, when it happened. What you get from this book that wasn't in the U.S. Newspapers was this mixed reactions of the Irish people. Ardagh makes it very clear that although there are generalizations that can be made about the Irish, they are certianly not "One Voice."

I also appreciated the 100 pg chapter on Northern Ireland. He managed to write about "the troubles" without taking sides other than that of anyone who wanted a lasting peace. He did defend the British role in a way that reflected his native heritage, but at the same time he openly admitted that some of the actions of the British Army and the Royal Ulster Constabulary have fanned the fires. I understood and respected the more recent British approach in a way I hadn't before. I had not been aware that the IRA and UDN were both involved in vigilante activities in their own communities, and that extorting collection money was common practice. I shouldn't have been surprised, but I was. For some reason, I thought the paramilitary groups spent their time and energy on each other and didn't have time for these sideline, ganglike activities.

It was also interesting to read the postscript that was written during the ceasefire and peace attempt during John Major's premiership. Ardagh had spent many, many pages talking about different Irish-led ventures that brought Protestants and Catholics together to foster peace. I found myself asking, with so many people working towards peace, how come it isn't happening? And the description of the Mid-90s peace attempt sounded so similar to the more recent attempt under Tony Blair & Bertie Ahern's premierships, that it was both interesting and frustrating. I followed the last round very closely, as an Irish American yes, but more because "the troubles" is my first memory of war. I remember my father answering questions like "what is a hunger strike." I remember watching buildings in London coming down on the nightly news. But I wasn't old enough to connect the two. I was eager to see a war that had been in the background all my life, wrapped up and ended. Alas. When I was reading Ardagh's hopeful postscript, I wanted to throw the book against the wall because I knew the violence still continues.

In summary, worthwhile read, but there are probably more current books available. And I still hope for peace in Northern Ireland.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A good read, February 21, 2005

By 

M. K. Lombardi "Poet and Writer" (Coastal Maine) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Ireland and the Irish: Portrait of a Changing Society (Penguin Non Fiction) (Paperback)

The Ardagh book has been in my collection since it came out. I found it very intelligent and fair in its depictions of Ireland. It presented a good overview and Ardagh seems to have a sense of affection for the country. He has a good grasp on the role of the Catholic church in Ireland and,all in all, was respectful of others' beliefs although he was puzzled by them I travel there often and only wish that with the tremendous social and economic changes, almost upheavals, which have occured in Ireland in the last 10-12 years that he would do an update on the book. This book, although outdated today, is well worth reading for the insights which can be gained.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another Great Book by John Ardagh, September 22, 1999

By 

AZ2SI (Phoenix, AZ) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ireland and the Irish: Portrait of a Changing Society (Penguin Non Fiction) (Paperback)

Highly Recommended!

John Ardagh has written a number of highly praised books on modern European societies, and this book is as good as the others. Once you read an Ardagh book, you will walk away with a good understanding of what really makes a country tick. Please realize that this is not a history book (although it does provide the necessary historical background). If you need to know ANYTHING about modern Irish society, look no further. "Ireland and the Irish" is a complete and unbiased profile of a rapidly changing nation.