Ireland: A History

This history of Ireland is complete, reliable, and sometimes surprising. It is also entirely readable. Where there is a choice between repeating familiar legends and setting out the facts, it always chooses that latter option. That means it does not tell us more about ancient Ireland than we actually know and does not simply repeat any of the romantic myth that often pass for modern Irish history.

The college class I am taking has greatly broadened my understanding of the reasons why Irish History developed the way it did. This book is a carefully thought out description of the facts and events. The writing style is very pleasant. The time period covered begins in 431, the date of the arrival Palladius, the first bishop of Ireland, and proceeds up to 2010. This is especially good that it is current enough to go beyond the Celtic Tiger. I enjoyed the book very much. A picture is worth a thousand words. The photographs and illustrations included have a lot to say.

This was my introduction to a thorough history of Ireland and I found Bartlett to be an enjoyable yet difficult read (much worth it). His history is appreciative of the Gaelic and Catholic sensitivities delivered in passive-voice prose giving the reader an atmospheric experience, not achieved, I believe, in most history texts. Bartlett has a mastery of nuance – of critical importance for really understanding Ireland and her people. It has an authenticity that gives it the *feel* you’re getting a first-hand account told on location *in* the vernacular. Very pleasing.

Detailed, academic and well written. This is a good book for anyone reading about Irish history, largely void of personal opinions from Nationalists or Loyalists, the book gives a good detail of the history of Ireland all the way to its current state in the Republic and in the North. This one is written with a slight bent towards Irish nationalism, despite the fact that it is written by a Scot. Or one can say history favors the Irish, but I'm not a judge of that. I enjoyed the book and I recommend it.

Bartlett is a great scholar, teacher and writer. I was super fortunate to take a history class of his some years past, and I am halfway through reading this master work of his. I am slowly savoring each rich page.

It is indeed a very well written and comprehensive one volume history of Ireelaand. Textbook size but neither tiresome nor dull ... one gets a feel for the ebb and flow of events in the life of the Emerald isle. I recommend it highly.

Book is part of a course in Irish History being taught at a local university. However it is very well written and great reading for anyone desiring a knowledge of the history of Ireland.

This book was very helpful for a grad class on Irish literature; knowing Ireland's history definitely helped with my understanding of the country's literature. My only gripe is that the book isn't organized in the best way, and is kind of sloppy with it's chronology. You often have to reference several different sections for information on one topic, which made a quick reference a bit annoying and difficult.