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The Irish Famine (book)
Encyclopedia
The Irish Famine is a book co-authored by Diarmaid Ferriter
and Colm Tóibín
in 2001. The book is two volumes, the first of which was written and originally published by Tóibín in 1999. The second volume, written by Ferriter, is entitled The Capricious Growth of a Single Root and was added in 2001.
(writers, historians, government officials) have approached the task of describing and creating accounts of the Famine. Tóibín wrote his volume in part, for Irish-Americans; he has been critical of how the Potato Famine of 1845-1850 has been taught in American schools. He mentions that Americans are "full of emotional language, selective quotation and vicious anti-English rhetoric" and that "[Americans] assert, despite all evidence to the contrary, that Ireland remained a net exporter of food during the Famine."
Famine Papers; reports from various Relief Committees; the Prendergast family letters; statistics from the Office of Public Works during 1845-1850; reports from County Inspection Officers; personal statements by leading religious officials; reports from the Irish Constabulary; and personal correspondence of Richard Dowden
, the former Mayor of Cork
, the Lord Lieutenant
, the Duke of Leinster
, Lord Cloncurry, Robert Peel
, Charles Trevelyan
, and John Russell
, among others.
called the primary sources that Ferriter collected "fascinating and revealing." Ferriter himself, however, has said that "These documents...do nothing to settle the [Famine] argument; instead, they establish its terms and complexity." The Irish Famine, as a whole, has been well-received also; Read Ireland reviewed it as a "unique book [that] opens a door to a new and deeper understanding of the Great Irish Famine."
Diarmaid Ferriter
Diarmaid Ferriter is an Irish author, historian, and university lecturer. He has authored several books on the subject of Irish history. Diarmaid attended St. Benildus College in Kilmacud in Dublin.-Career:...
and Colm Tóibín
Colm Tóibín
Colm Tóibín is a multi-award-winning Irish novelist, short story writer, essayist, playwright, journalist, critic, and, most recently, poet.Tóibín is Leonard Milberg Lecturer in Irish Letters at Princeton University in New Jersey and succeeded Martin Amis as professor of creative writing at the...
in 2001. The book is two volumes, the first of which was written and originally published by Tóibín in 1999. The second volume, written by Ferriter, is entitled The Capricious Growth of a Single Root and was added in 2001.
Volume One
The first volume of The Irish Famine discusses how the IrishIrish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
(writers, historians, government officials) have approached the task of describing and creating accounts of the Famine. Tóibín wrote his volume in part, for Irish-Americans; he has been critical of how the Potato Famine of 1845-1850 has been taught in American schools. He mentions that Americans are "full of emotional language, selective quotation and vicious anti-English rhetoric" and that "[Americans] assert, despite all evidence to the contrary, that Ireland remained a net exporter of food during the Famine."
Volume Two
The second volume of The Irish Famine is a selection of primary source documents chosen by Ferriter that pertain to the Famine and its history. Documents include: British Parliamentary Papers; Distress papers from the National Archives of Ireland; Relief Commission Papers; Society of FriendsReligious Society of Friends
The Religious Society of Friends, or Friends Church, is a Christian movement which stresses the doctrine of the priesthood of all believers. Members are known as Friends, or popularly as Quakers. It is made of independent organisations, which have split from one another due to doctrinal differences...
Famine Papers; reports from various Relief Committees; the Prendergast family letters; statistics from the Office of Public Works during 1845-1850; reports from County Inspection Officers; personal statements by leading religious officials; reports from the Irish Constabulary; and personal correspondence of Richard Dowden
Richard Dowden
Richard Dowden is a British journalist who has specialised in African issues. Since 1975, he has worked for several British media and for the past eight years he has been the Executive Director of the Royal African Society...
, the former Mayor of Cork
Cork (city)
Cork is the second largest city in the Republic of Ireland and the island of Ireland's third most populous city. It is the principal city and administrative centre of County Cork and the largest city in the province of Munster. Cork has a population of 119,418, while the addition of the suburban...
, the Lord Lieutenant
Lord Lieutenant
The title Lord Lieutenant is given to the British monarch's personal representatives in the United Kingdom, usually in a county or similar circumscription, with varying tasks throughout history. Usually a retired local notable, senior military officer, peer or business person is given the post...
, the Duke of Leinster
Duke of Leinster
Duke of Leinster is a title in the Peerage of Ireland and the premier dukedom in that peerage. The title refers to Leinster, but unlike the province the title is pronounced "Lin-ster"...
, Lord Cloncurry, Robert Peel
Robert Peel
Sir Robert Peel, 2nd Baronet was a British Conservative statesman who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 10 December 1834 to 8 April 1835, and again from 30 August 1841 to 29 June 1846...
, Charles Trevelyan
Sir Charles Trevelyan, 1st Baronet
Sir Charles Edward Trevelyan, 1st Baronet, KCB was a British civil servant and colonial administrator. As a young man, he worked with the colonial government in Calcutta, India; in the late 1850s and 1860s he served there in senior-level appointments...
, and John Russell
John Russell, 1st Earl Russell
John Russell, 1st Earl Russell, KG, GCMG, PC , known as Lord John Russell before 1861, was an English Whig and Liberal politician who served twice as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom in the mid-19th century....
, among others.
Critical response
Reviews of Ferriter's volume have been positive; AmericaAmerica (magazine)
America is a national weekly magazine published by the American Jesuits that contains news and opinion about Catholicism and how it relates to American politics and cultural life....
called the primary sources that Ferriter collected "fascinating and revealing." Ferriter himself, however, has said that "These documents...do nothing to settle the [Famine] argument; instead, they establish its terms and complexity." The Irish Famine, as a whole, has been well-received also; Read Ireland reviewed it as a "unique book [that] opens a door to a new and deeper understanding of the Great Irish Famine."