Northern Ireland: The Orange State [Paperback]

Michael Farrell (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0861043006 | ISBN-13: 978-0861043002 | Publication Date: June 1980 | Edition: 2nd

A political history of Northern Ireland is reprinted here. Michael Farrell charts the story of Northern Ireland from its violent birth to its violent present. He describes the bloody pogroms with which the Unionist leaders, armed and financed by Britain, established their state. He records the fruitless efforts of the Catholics in and out of parliament, to redress their grievances. He shows how, in every decade, they have been driven to armed revolt. And he describes the few great moments of working-class solidarity and the way Unionist leaders crushed the working-class movement with sectarian politics. Farrell argues that this crisis can only be resolved by British withdrawal and an end to partition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 406 pages
• Publisher: Pluto Pr; 2nd edition (June 1980)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0861043006
• ISBN-13: 978-0861043002
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 4.9 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,101,983 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Must-Read on Northern Ireland's History, December 6, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Northern Ireland: The Orange State (Paperback)

Farrell's "Northern Ireland: The Orange State" is tough to find but well worth the effort for those seriously interested in the history and politics of Northern Ireland. Written in 1976 by a committed Irish republican and socialist, this not the book for someone with no prior background in Northern Irish history. Yet the same characteristics that make it unsuitable for newcomers to the topic -- its age and biased viewpoint -- make it valuable for students of Northern Ireland.

Farrell's history is not simply a curiosity, however. His treatment of Northern Ireland's early history (1920s through 1950s) is far more in-depth than more recent texts, which tend to gloss over the state's formation and pick up the story with the beginning of the present "Troubles" in the late 1960s. Additionally, Farrell is a good history writer and his narrative style is often more engaging than more recent, balanced accounts. Those who read extensively on Northern Ireland and wish to add a unique volume to their shelves would do well to track down a copy of this book.