Ireland: A History by Thomas Bartlett

(Cambridge University Press), 2010

625pp., £25 hard, ISBN 0-978-521-19720-5

There are many good histories of Ireland such as the Oxford History of Ireland series, the two volumes by Connolly on the early modern period and Paul Bew on the period after 1789 but we lack a well-written and up-to-date history of the country across its history.  Thomas Bartlett's excellent history now fills that important gap. 

It is based on an excellent understanding of the literature, well structured, clearly written and with a sardonic wit that has resulted in a judicious study that, according to J. Joseph Lee steers ‘a skilful course through the treacherous ideological rapids of Irish historiography'. 

As a general survey of Irish history, I think it will take a great deal to beat and such is its authority that it will be of value equally to teachers and students.  The development of Ireland in the millennium between 431 and 1541 is considered in two succinct chapters that provide a clear summary of major developments as well as pointing students in the right directions if they wish to examine the medieval period in greater detail. 

The creation of Protestant Ireland is the subject of the third chapter.  It is, however, the remaining chapters that deal with Ireland from 1691 through to 2010 that form the bulk of the book with chapters on the long eighteenth century, the short nineteenth century from 1830 to 1914 and two excellent chapters on the two Irelands from 1914.  Bartlett eschews a bibliography and focuses his references in detailed notes, his choice of illustrations and maps is excellent and the index is very detailed allowing readers to find specific topics with ease.  This is a book to be read, re-read and savoured and at a price that the most credit-crunched history department can afford.