Product Description

Compellingly written and evenhanded in its judgements, this is by far the clearest account of what happened through the years in the Northern Ireland conflict, and why.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #146559 in Books
• Published on: 2002-04-25
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 368 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9781561310708
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

Review
A masterly account. -- Barry White, Belfast Telegraph

Buried in the text of most histories you can detect the views of the author. ...[This] is an exception. -- Anne McHardy, Observer

Comprehensive, considered and compassionate. -- Paul Arthur, Irish Times

Extraordinarily well-balanced, sane, comprehensive, and rich in sober understatement. -- Cal McCrystal, Glasgow Herald

If you want a frank, accurate and authoritative account you cannot do much better.... It should be on every bookshelf. -- Irish Independent

This book tells a sorry tale, and it tells it with a powerful clarity. -- Susan McKay, Sunday Tribune

[A]...great merit of...[the] book lies in the authors' ability to pinpoint the causes of trouble while avoiding oversimplification. -- Patricia Craig, Independent

About the Author
David McKittrick is the Ireland correspondent for the Independent. He received the Orwell Prize for Journalism in April 2000. In 1999 he was named Correspondent of the Year by the BBC's What the Papers Say. He was also co-author of the bestselling LOST LIVES, published by Mainstream in 1999. David McVea was head of the politics department at a Belfast grammar school for many years and has researched and written widely on the troubles.

Customer Reviews

Best Historical Overview On The Northern Irish "Troubles"?
David McKittrick and David McVea present a thoughtful, excellent overview of sectarian strife in Northern Ireland since the 1960's, giving a balanced look at both the Protestant and Catholic communities. They begin with a superb brief historical sketch on the origins and early history of Northern Ireland, chronicling its major events from its inception in 1921 through the 1960's. They offer many fascinating portraits of prominent British, Irish and Northern Irish politicians and terrorists, ranging from the likes of diehard Protestant minister Ian Paisley to former IRA member Gerry Adams. This is quite simply one of the best books I've read on recent Northern Irish history and may be the best historical overview on the origins and current state of "The Troubles".

Northern Ireland Eye Opener
If you are like I was before I read this book knowing only that Northern Ireland was about some kind of Religious Conflicts and the IRA then you have so much more to learn about Northern Ireland as I have learned with this book. This book covers everything in an informative way to help one absorb the information and yet not feel inundated. The book also features a chronology of events for quick references, tables and a glossary section that serves as a refresh section for the mind when the abbreviations of political parties and organizations become to much to remember. I recommend this book highly for personal or academic reasons in learning about the troubles in Northern Ireland.

A great account, but some are let off lightly
I throughly enjoyed this book - most likely because I spent the majority of my life in Northern Ireland. Unfortunately a good unbiased viewpoint is very hard to come by, so I relished the opportunity to fill in a few gaps in my understanding. The flip side of this is that it appears that the authors let a few characters off lightly, on both sides.

The issue I believe is that the situation is very fluid in that part of the world, and events often come to light that change perceptions of various characters. The famous 'They haven't gone away' remark from Mr Adams isn't mentioned for example, and this casts him in a rather different light than is presented in the book.

I do applaud the authors however for not glossing over the lowpoints of Northern Ireland's recent history. Whilst sometimes painful to read, it does help dispel the fairytale fancy of those who have been led to regard murderers as 'freedom fighters'. I just wish that the authors hadn't given their apologists such a light hand.

All in all, if you are new to the area I'd highly recommend this one. This book is a great startpoint but shouldn't be your last read on the matter.