Irish Famine (Abrams Discoveries) [Paperback]

Peter Gray (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 15, 1995

Explores the conditions which led to the potato famine of 1845 and its devastating effects on the people of Ireland.

Product Details

• Paperback: 191 pages
• Publisher: Harry N. Abrams (October 15, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0810928957
• ISBN-13: 978-0810928954
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 4.9 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #227,683 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars "The Irish Famine (Discoveries)", September 18, 2000

By 

John T. Healy (Flushing, N.Y. US of A) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Irish Famine (Abrams Discoveries) (Paperback)

I found this book to be very gripping. It creates a picture of the Famine painted in words. Though a fairly small book in size; it speaks volumes, informatively and clearly of the suffering of the Irish people during this period. I have often recommended it to people asking me about information on the subject of the Famine. I give it 4-stars.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The book takes an integrative approach., May 8, 2010

By 

Tom Brody (Berkeley, CA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Irish Famine (Abrams Discoveries) (Paperback)

THE IRISH FAMINE by Peter Gray is 192 pages long. The first 128 pages are printed on glossy paper and contain a color illustration on essentially every page. The remaining pages are in black and white, printed on light yellow non-glossy paper, and contain black and white illustrations on almost every page. The book measures only 5 inches by 7 inches, but is packed with information because of its use of small font print, and because the words are chosen very carefully. This means that the writing is factual and to the point, and not encumbered with decorative writing or with fictional conversations. It should also be noted that this book is published by HARRY ABRAMS, the highest quality art book publisher in the United States.

The chapters have the following titles:
1. A NATION OF PAUPERS. IRELAND BEFORE 1845.
2. THE COMING OF THE BLIGHT. 1845-1846.
3. THE GREAT HUNGER. 1846-1847.
4. FROM RECOVERY TO REBELLION. 1847-1848.
5. RELAPSE. 1848-1851.
6. THE EXODUS. 1846-1855.

The book takes an integrated approach. There is information on politicians, on sociology and the living conditions and dietary conditions of the poor, techniques of emigration to the U.S., including a cross-section of a sailing vessel, information on agriculture (graphs showing potato acreage and yield for each year from 1844-1849), a few pages devoted to botany and potato blight (Phytophtora infestans), and even poems about the Irish Potato Famine (pages 162-177).

The illustrations include a color painting of the Irish Parliament (page 18), a black ink sketch of Daniel O'Connell speaking before a crowd (page 21), a color painting of residents on the west coast of Ireland fertilizing their fields with seaweed (page 27), and so on.

A sample of the writing is as follows: "The second potato failure in 1846 caused great alarm. In normal years few dared to cross the Atlantic during the winter storms, but in 1846-1847, the fear of starvation drove thousands to take the risk. As cultural restraints broke down and the social structure of rural Ireland collapsed, panic propelled masses of people to the ports. Such traditions as the farewell "emigant wake" were abandoned, and families were torn apart." (page 99).

The book is an absolute wonder of integration -- art, politics, botany, maps, literature, all relating to a civilization in upheaval. Thank you Peter Gray for your fine presentation. While this book is suitable for all ages, I find that it is well suited for children of 7 years old and up. As such, a fine companion book to THE IRISH FAMINE is CHILDREN OF THE DUST BOWL by Jerry Stanley. Both of these books trod similar themes, though the first story takes place in Ireland in 1845-1855, while the second story takes place in Oklahoma and California in the years 1936-1940.

5.0 out of 5 stars Very Comprehensive and Helpful!, July 14, 2010

By 

Claireheartice (Cali) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Irish Famine (Abrams Discoveries) (Paperback)

I had a school research paper due on the subject of Irish Migration to U.S. I checked out a bunch of books and websites, but this book was by far the most helpful. Well written and very comprehensive, it thoroughly explained the subject. The accompanying pictures helped illustrate the ideas and points the book was trying to get across. Veryveryvery helpful. It's a great book.