Book Review: Ireland for Beginners by Phil Evans and Eileen Pollock
This is not a full history of Ireland, but more a chronology of its subjugation by England, and its long struggle for independence. Thus it begins in 1169 with a Norman invasion invited in by a deposed Irish king. Henry II of England decides that he can’t trust the Norman nobles to not take over the place for themselves, so asks Pope Adrian IV (the only English pope) to name him hereditary ruler of Ireland.
The English were theoretically in control of Ireland from that point on, but were largely ignored by the locals until Henry VIII declared that Britain and Ireland are “united” forever and the peasants were largely forced off their lands to make room for the sheep industry. This ticked off the Irish, as you can well imagine. So began a cycle of rebellion and retaliation.
This book is heavily illustrated, being in the gap between “prose book with lots of pictures” and “graphic novel.” In addition to relatively straight historical reportage and cartoonish jokes, there are essays from the viewpoints of two Northern Ireland characters, Henry John the Orangeman, and Rosie the Catholic. They’re both dirt poor without indoor plumbing (in 1982!) and both clearly victims of the then current oppressive system, but Henry John’s pride won’t let him admit they’re in the same boat. He must be superior to the Catholic trash, he must be!
This history is clearly on the side of Irish independence and unification of the island, with events depicted almost entirely from that point of view rather than anything the English might have done right. And yes, I can understand why. That Potato Famine was an entirely artificial phenomenon caused by the laws of the occupiers, much like the Holodomor of Ukraine in the next century.
What might be more controversial is that the authors also push a Socialist view of the history, spending more time and sympathy on the actions and words of figures from that political strain than a mainstream history of Ireland might do. Towards the end, they outright editorialize that unification will do Ireland no good unless it is a Socialist Irish Unification.
This book is a snapshot of where things stood in 1982, when “the Troubles” were still active. Matters have somewhat improved, as symbolized by the “Good Friday Agreement” of 1998. Currently, Ireland and Great Britain are technically at peace, and terrorist activity is low.
I don’t know if this one has ever been reprinted or updated, so it may be hard to track down a copy. Still, of strong interest to those interested in Irish history and/or socialism.
