The great irish famine in history, economy, and memory the princeton economic history of the western world by cormac o grada jan 18, 1999 3. With the most severely affected areas in the west and south of ireland, where the irish language was dominant, the period was contemporaneously known in irish as an drochshaol, loosely translated as the hard times or. The fungus destroyed about onethird of that years crop, and nearly all that of 1846. With the most severely affected areas in the west and south of ireland, where the irish language was dominant, the period was contemporaneously known in irish as an.
The arrival of phytophthera infestans or potato blight in ireland was first noted in the press on 6 september 1845. Eating people is wrong, and other essays on famine. The irish famine of 184650 was one of the great disasters of. The new disease had already struck in the us in the summer of 1843. The great irish famine in history, economy, and memory, by cormac o gradathe quarterly journal of austrian economics 3, no. The irish famine peaked in black 47, but it brought misery and increased mortality to ireland for several years. Dec 22, 2003 cormac o grada s concise survey suggests that a proper understanding of the disaster requires an analysis of the irish economy before the invasion of the potatokilling fungus, phytophthora infestans, highlighting irish poverty and the importance of the potato, but also finding signs of economic progress before the famine. The broad scope of this book is matched by its remarkable range of sources, published and archival. Though the mass emigration it caused, its notoriety and. A rich new database on the irish in 1850s new york. Cormac gr da, the acclaimed author who chronicled the tragic irish famine in books like black 47 and beyond mass starvationwhether it is inflicted by drought or engineered by misguided or genocidal economic policiesdevastates families, weakens the. In an age when famine threatens to reemerge as a global scourge, this book is a poignant reminder that not so very long ago, famine stalked the. O grada is probably the foremost economic historian of the irish famine, and i believe the book is strongest in this area.
The great irish famine of 184650 was one of the great disaster of the nineteenth century, and the great divide in mondern irish history. O grada writes well and has a gift for the telling example, although parts of the book may be too dry and analytical for some readers. His research has focused on the economic history of ireland, irish demographic changes, the great irish famine as well as other famines, and the history of the jews in ireland. Buy the great irish famine by o grada, cormac isbn. This book provides an uptodate introduction to an event of major importance in the history of ireland and britain. The great hunger 18451850 chapter 2 the great irish. The great famine and the saga of the irish people john kelly. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Cannibalism is one of our darkest secrets and taboos. His books include jewish ireland in the age of joyce princeton. The great irish famine by cormac ograda september 1995 skip to main content accessibility help we use cookies to distinguish you from other users and to provide you with a better experience on our websites. Prize for best book on irish history or social studies its an. In the final chapter he offers some views on the future of famine that may be summed up as qualified hope.
Cormac o grada, the acclaimed author who chronicled the tragic irish famine in books like black 47 and beyond, here traces the. The great irish famine new studies in economic and social. Famine a short history by cormac o grada traces the history of famine from biblical times to the present day. A short history, 2010, famine, cormac o grada shop online for books in the united states we use cookies to provide essential features and services. The great irish famine in history, economy, and memory. An overview 1 cormac o grada, university college dublin the proximate cause of the great irish famine 184652 was the fungus phythophtera infestans or potato blight, which reached ireland in the fall of 1845. Hundreds of thousands were evicted and left destitute, and another million and a half fled the country, taking with them the horrors of hunger, disease and despair. As vividly described in o gradas new work, the advent of the blight phytophthora infestans.
It is the ultimate measure of the resilience or otherwise of civilizational processes to extreme conditions. Pdf the great irish potato famine download full pdf book. Cormac ogradas concise survey suggests that a proper understanding of the disaster requires an analysis of the irish economy before the invasion of the potato. Cormac o grada lays out a history of famine around the world and uses this to extract common themes around the causes, morphology, and consequences of and reactions to famine. This book is probably the best popular treatment of the subject available. The great irish famine in history, economy, and memory princeton. Cormac grada phd university college dublin, dublin ucd.
Cormac ogradas concise survey suggests that a proper understanding of the disaster requires an analysis of the irish economy before the invasion of the potatokilling fungus, phytophthora infestans, highlighting irish poverty and the importance of the potato, but also finding signs of economic progress before the famine. The great irish famine in history, economy, and memory princeton, and ireland. According to a contemporary account from there, potatoes were subject to dry rot, attacking some in the hill, and some in the heap, and fatal to the whole wherever it makes its appearance, causing them. O grada is the foremost economic historian of the irish famine, and i believe the book is strongest in these areas. New cormac ograda book on famine the irish economy. Despite a devastating food shortage, the huge death. Irelands great famine cormac o grada, university college dublin. The irish famine of 184650 was one of the great disasters of the nineteenth century.
Less narrative than other famine histories, it nevertheless is one of the most authoritative. Cormac o gradas long anticipated book on the history of famine is a historical standard work. The proximate cause of the great irish famine 184652 was the fungus phythophtera infestans or potato blight, which reached ireland in the fall of 1845. We use cookies to give you the best possible experience. He weaves reams of statistics and economic data to create a compelling case for newer, nationalist perspectives of the irish famine. Will include dust jacket if it originally came with one. Feb 02, 20 both the nature of the evidence for famine cannibalism and the silences about it challenge the empirical historian to the limit. In the final chapter he offers some views on the future of famine that may be summed up as. The great hunger 18451850 chapter 2 the great irish famine. Discover book depositorys huge selection of cormac o grada books online. Cormac o grada s concise survey suggests that a proper understanding of the disaster requires an analysis of the irish economy before the invasion of the potatokilling fungus, phytophthora infestans, highlighting irish poverty and the importance of the potato, but also finding signs of economic progress before the famine. Oct 01, 1989 the irish famine of 184650 was one of the great disasters of the nineteenth century.
The irish famine of 184650 was one of the great disasters of the nineteenth century, whose notoriety spreads as far as the mass emigration which followed it. Cormac o grada currently works at the school of economics, university college dublin. Cormac o grada, the acclaimed author who chronicled the tragic irish famine in. Famine, cormac o grada shop online for books in the united.
Eating people is wrong, and other essays on famine, its past, and its future. Cormac o grada concludes fewer died during the famine in ulster because of its more diversified diet and economy, lessencumbered landlords better able to fund relief and less likely to evict. His books include jewish ireland in the age of joyce princeton, black 47 and beyond. Eating people is wrong, and other essays on famine, its. A short history emphasizes the symbiotic relationship between famine and a plethora of other social ills. Stephen wheatcroft, university of melbourne cormac o grada is todays leading authority on famine and this shows in the high quality of this book and its impressive ability to innovate and. Prize for best book on irish history or social studies its an ill wind that blows no good is an old saying. Joanna bourke, the times uk cormac o grada s indelible new book famine. Irish historical studies george washington university. Although it is a compact little book with generous margins, it is truly global in nature and spans the period from the beginning of written history to the present. This book provides an uptodate introduction to one of the great disasters of the nineteenth century. Central to irish and british history, european demography, the world history of famines, and the story of american immigration, the great irish famine is presented here from a. Famine, cormac o grada shop online for books in the.
The great irish famine cormac ograda, economic history. A short history, cormac o grada, a professor of economics at university college dublin and the author of black 47 and beyond. Despite a devastating food shortage, the huge death toll of one million was hardly inevitable. The great irish famine studies in economic and social history by cormac o. Central to irish and british history, european demography, the world history of famines, and the story of american immigration, the great irish famine is presented here from a variety of new perspectives. Cormac ogradas concise survey suggests that a proper understanding of the disaster requires an analysis of the irish economy before the invasion of the potatokilling fungus, phytophthora infestans, highlighting irish poverty and the. A short history, historicizes famine by studying cases from the earliest civilizations to more recent ones in north korea, malawi, and niger. Cormac ogradas concise survey suggests that a proper understanding of the disaster requires an analysis of the irish economy before the invasion of the potatokilling fungus, phytophthora. Here irelands premier economic historian and one of the leading authorities on the great irish famine examines the most lethal natural disaster to strike europe in the nineteenth century. Aug 29, 2010 famine a short history by cormac o grada traces the history of famine from biblical times to the present day.
Famine remains one of the worst calamities that can befall a society. His research has focused on the economic history of ireland, irish demographic changes, the great irish famine as well as other famines. New cormac ograda book on famine eating people is wrong, and other essays on famine, its past, and its future famines are becoming smaller and rarer, but optimism about the possibility of a faminefree future must be tempered by the threat of global warming. Cormac o gradas concise survey puts the famine in the context of the irish economy, assesses the famine. William chester jordan, author of the great famine this is an important book. Cormac o grada, the acclaimed author who chronicled the tragic irish famine in books like black 47 and beyond, here traces the complete history of famine from the earliest records to today. Famine is the most comprehensive short treatment of the subject available. An exlibrary book and may have standard library stamps andor stickers. Cormac does research in economic history and development economics. Cormac o grada is professor of economics at university college dublin. The great irish famine by cormac o grada goodreads.
New cormac ograda book on famine eating people is wrong, and other essays on famine, its past, and its future famines are becoming smaller and rarer, but optimism about the possibility of a famine free future must be tempered by the threat of global warming. A new economic history, clarendon, 1994, a professor of economics at university college, dublin, examines the irish potato famine through a different prism. Combining powerful storytelling with the latest evidence from economics and history, o grada explores the causes and profound consequences of famine. A short history by cormac o grada hardcover excellent condition. Cormac o grada born 1945 is an irish economic historian and professor emeritus of economics at university college dublin. Mass starvationwhether it is inflicted by drought or engineered by misguided or genocidal economic policiesdevastates families, weakens the social fabric, and undermines political stability. The great irish famine in history, economy, and memory, cormac o grada. The book focuses on famine itself how famine develops, its effects and efforts to deal with it. The irish famine of 18451851 killed a million people, mostly from disease resulting from months of slow starvation.