Overview

Oliver MacDonagh described the first edition of ""Ireland: The Union and its Aftermath"", published in 1968, as ""a very small book with very large themes"". The book rapidly reached the status of a classic and remains a thought-provoking survey of the history of Ireland from the Act of Union of 1800 until modern times. It has been unavailable for a long time. MacDonagh regarded the Act of Union as the most important single factor in shaping Ireland as a nation in the modern world. Although subordination to Britain had influenced Irish development before 1800, it took a rapidly different form under the Act of Union: ""The experience of being assimilated by, and resisting assimilation into, a powerful and alien empire - perhaps the master-culture of the 19th century - was truly traumatic."" For the second edition, published in 1977, which is reprinted here with a new introduction by W. J. Mc Cormack, MacDonagh included a chapter on the period 1968-73, taking account of the early years of the troubles in Northern Ireland.

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This is a top-line political history of the old school, and none the worse for it. Irish Democrat March 2004 all readers should appreciate the total achievement of MacDonagh's ... a gathering of clearly and gracefully presented original and perceptive ideas and observations, the product of much research and deep reflection, compacted into a relatively short space ... should be in the library of all those interested in Irish Studies. It is an ideal complement to standard texts in college and university Irish history courses. Irish Literary Supplement Fall 2004 a book that deserves its new designation as a classic of Irish history. Irish Studies Review 13 (4) 2005 University College Dublin Press has now published over thirty 'Classics of Irish History'. These contemporary accounts by well known personalities of historical events and attitudes have an immediacy that conventional histories do not have. Introductions by modern historians provide additional historical background and, with hindsight, objectivity. Books Ireland Nov 2007 Scholars of nineteenth-century Irish and Irish-American politics should reacquaint themselves with these classics, part of a long running and immensely useful series from University College Dublin Press. Irish Literary Supplement Fall 2008

"""This is a top-line political history of the old school, and none the worse for it."" Irish Democrat March 2004 ""all readers should appreciate the total achievement of MacDonagh's ... a gathering of clearly and gracefully presented original and perceptive ideas and observations, the product of much research and deep reflection, compacted into a relatively short space ... should be in the library of all those interested in Irish Studies. It is an ideal complement to standard texts in college and university Irish history courses."" Irish Literary Supplement Fall 2004 ""a book that deserves its new designation as a classic of Irish history."" Irish Studies Review 13 (4) 2005 ""University College Dublin Press has now published over thirty 'Classics of Irish History'. These contemporary accounts by well known personalities of historical events and attitudes have an immediacy that conventional histories do not have. Introductions by modern historians provide additional historical background and, with hindsight, objectivity."" Books Ireland Nov 2007 ""Scholars of nineteenth-century Irish and Irish-American politics should reacquaint themselves with these classics, part of a long running and immensely useful series from University College Dublin Press."" Irish Literary Supplement Fall 2008"

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