Malachy McCourt's History of Ireland

Rating:
Summary: Looking forward to reading anything from this author!
Review: Having lifted a pint with this fine man I am eagerly looking forward to reading this book.

Rating:
Summary: Save your money.
Review: The author unintentionally wrote an accurate summation of his book in his section on James Joyce: "It is difficult to state here what Joyce did for modern literature-that is a job for men much more capable that I". The book might be subtitled "The English think they're better than us but they're not". Did he intentionally misnomer the famous Irish barrister Edward Carson as Edmond Carson? One supposes he did, because Carson was a Unionist and McCourt obviously doesn't like Unionists. I bet he spends a lot of time challenging them to knock the chip off of his shoulder.


Rating:
Summary: Engagingly Irish...a warm overview of the Emerald Isle
Review: To tell the history of Ireland, one needs to not only capture the truth of Ireland, but also the spirit of Ireland. What a tragedy it would be to tell Irish history in a boring or dry fashion. Fortunately for readers, McCourt not only captures fascinating historical details, but he is able to convey the story in an entertaining and rollicking fashion...as befitting the subject matter. The cast of characters here is huge and varied, ranging from St. Patrick to Yeats to Bono, and the book feels a bit like a friendly night at the pub with a nice fire, some songs, and a pint or two. McCourt takes an epic history, filled with triumph and tragedy, and brings it down to a personal level. This is a must-read for all who are Irish and all who are Irish at heart.