Story of the Irish Race

Rating:
Summary: This is an old book
Review: I am glad that someone finally pointed out that this book has an original publication date in the early 1920s. This is not a good history book - historical analysis has moved on considerably since this was written. The book is more fiction and opinion than anything else. Early Irish myths, for example are taken as historical fact and his work on later Ireland, especially the eighteenth century, shows a total lack of knowledge of what was actually going on. Original source material is not something that the author apparently understood. If you are looking for a valid history of Ireland go somewhere else.

Rating:
Summary: Not a history book
Review: I have had a copy of this book for years and originally thought that it was a valid history book. However, I now know [having read much more about Irish history over the years] that while this is a very interesing read it should not be read as a history book. MacManus was a storyteller who lived about 100 years ago and was popular but he was never a trained historian in any way. Enjoy this if you want fiction.

Rating:
Summary: Start with this but keep reading.
Review: I have owned this book for nearly ten years and I keep returning to it. It tells a powerful story spanning the course of Irish history from the earliest times to the early 20th century. I found it fascinating in the first few chapters (before English Conquest) and horrifying in the subsequent chapters (Once England had taken control and set to exterminating the Irish people). Yes, it is old. It is a fabulous narrative and it isn't a textbook. It is biased toward the Irish. If you read only this book you're missing out and not seeing the whole picture but it tells a powerful story and made me want to know more about the Irish people. Read this book then keep reading! Ireland has much to offer.

Rating:
Summary: Interesting for an Irishman
Review: I was given an old dilapidated copy of the book by my Irish mother. I have read it twice. The legends and the early history are fascinating. The later material-1500 on- does not convey the sweep of history and the role of Ireland in Europe for the period. The perspective is interesting as it is entirely Irish. Although the reading can be slow, the book fills in an essential part of Irish history. I strongly recommend it.The narrative was like listening to my grandfather tell his tales of the Ireland.

Rating:
Summary: The "Truth" abot history.
Review: I wasn't even going to write a review of this book until I read the other reviews. As an Irish Cultural Anthropology minor at college, this book is a treasure! The fact about history is that it is not objective, and as far as I am concerrned it should not be. This book is refreshingly written by a real man, who lived in Ireland during one of it's most turbulent times. This is of course going to colour his views. Objectivity is simply not possible, not by the most well-meaning person, we all have our lenses. The interesting part about this book is the lens. some of his views may not be "correct" by historical scholars viewpoints, but they are the views of a man living in Donegal during the war of independence. A man who was a storyteller and a person who held many of the old traditions. For this reason alone I would reccomend this book to anyone interested. The point is not to get an objective view, but to get many differing views to create a semblance of a whole that is as multifaceted and varying as the people who experienced the world through those times.

Rating:
Summary: The "Truth" abot history.
Review: I wasn't even going to write a review of this book until I read the other reviews. As an Irish Cultural Anthropology minor at college, this book is a treasure! The fact about history is that it is not objective, and as far as I am concerrned it should not be. This book is refreshingly written by a real man, who lived in Ireland during one of it's most turbulent times. This is of course going to colour his views. Objectivity is simply not possible, not by the most well-meaning person, we all have our lenses. The interesting part about this book is the lens. some of his views may not be "correct" by historical scholars viewpoints, but they are the views of a man living in Donegal during the war of independence. A man who was a storyteller and a person who held many of the old traditions. For this reason alone I would reccomend this book to anyone interested. The point is not to get an objective view, but to get many differing views to create a semblance of a whole that is as multifaceted and varying as the people who experienced the world through those times.

Rating:
Summary: Absolutely not to be taken seriously
Review: It really is a shame that this book is still posing as a history book. Written almost 100 years ago by a Donegal storyteller it was never taken seriously as a valid history of Ireland. There is hardly anything in this book which can be regarded as true - mythology poses as history, 'stories' as given as if the events actually occurred. Some of it is so astonishing to read - it is mere caricature. For those who know anything of Irish history this book is a travesty and for those seeking to learn this book is a tragedy. You will learn nothing here that is from a valid historic source just the author's own opinion. Serious readers or students of Irish history should go somewhere else for authentic information on Ireland and the Irish.

Rating:
Summary: Absolutely not to be taken seriously
Review: It really is a shame that this book is still posing as a history book. Written almost 100 years ago by a Donegal storyteller it was never taken seriously as a valid history of Ireland. There is hardly anything in this book which can be regarded as true - mythology poses as history, 'stories' as given as if the events actually occurred. Some of it is so astonishing to read - it is mere caricature. For those who know anything of Irish history this book is a travesty and for those seeking to learn this book is a tragedy. You will learn nothing here that is from a valid historic source just the author's own opinion. Serious readers or students of Irish history should go somewhere else for authentic information on Ireland and the Irish.

Rating:
Summary: Tells a great story
Review: MacManus' work is essential for a full understanding of Irish history. I found it refreshing that I wasn't constantly assaulted with "in your face" revisionism, which seems to be the rite of passage for modern historical writers. MacManus does not try to push some political or social paradigm down your throat. He does exactly what he tells you he will do. He tells a story.

Rating:
Summary: Tells a great story
Review: MacManus' work is essential for a full understanding of Irish history. I found it refreshing that I wasn't constantly assaulted with "in your face" revisionism, which seems to be the rite of passage for modern historical writers. MacManus does not try to push some political or social paradigm down your throat. He does exactly what he tells you he will do. He tells a story.