The Great Shame : And The Triumph Of The Irish In The English -Speaking World

Rating:
Summary: Vivid of Irish Political Exiles
Review: Thomas Keneally's The Great Shame (and the Triumph of the Irish in the English Speaking World) is more specific in topic than the title implies. It is the essentially the story of two groups of transported (to Australia) political prisoners in the nineteenth centures, the Young Irelanders in 1848 and the Fenians in 1865. This long book is vividly written to bring to life the careers of these men whose exploits touched the nations of Ireland, England and America, as well as the budding nation states of Canada and Australia. The only flaw of the book is that it could have done with some shortening of sections, such as the Civil War exploits of Thomas Francis Meagher and the escape of the Fenain soldiers from Australia. At any rate, the author takes the reader on an expansive adventurous journey through a people's struggle and their tragic century of protest. It is fascinating to watch each of the men (and one notable woman, Eva of the Nation) adapt to whichever country they adopt and fight and, sometimes, die for their new nation, Irish rebellion transformed into a universal form of idealism and heroism. A truly monumental work.

Rating:
Summary: Vivid of Irish Political Exiles
Review: Thomas Keneally's The Great Shame (and the Triumph of the Irish in the English Speaking World) is more specific in topic than the title implies. It is the essentially the story of two groups of transported (to Australia) political prisoners in the nineteenth centures, the Young Irelanders in 1848 and the Fenians in 1865. This long book is vividly written to bring to life the careers of these men whose exploits touched the nations of Ireland, England and America, as well as the budding nation states of Canada and Australia. The only flaw of the book is that it could have done with some shortening of sections, such as the Civil War exploits of Thomas Francis Meagher and the escape of the Fenain soldiers from Australia. At any rate, the author takes the reader on an expansive adventurous journey through a people's struggle and their tragic century of protest. It is fascinating to watch each of the men (and one notable woman, Eva of the Nation) adapt to whichever country they adopt and fight and, sometimes, die for their new nation, Irish rebellion transformed into a universal form of idealism and heroism. A truly monumental work.

Rating:
Summary: Long, detailed, and worthwhile
Review: Thomas Keneally's The Great Shame was very well documented and extremely detailed and vivid but twice as long as many contemporary histories (605 pages of text). A commitment is needed to follow the story of the Ribbonmen, Fenians and the Young Ireland Movement; the trial of William Smith O'Brien; the deportation of political prisoners to Australia; the amazing story of General Thomas Meagher of the US Union army; and the sad story of John Michell, a Confederate.