{"product_id":"the-oxford-illustrated-history-of-ireland","title":"The Oxford Illustrated History of Ireland","description":"\u003cp\u003eFew countries in the world have such a compelling  individual  and stirring history as Ireland. This new volume  the latest in the widely acclaimed Oxford Illustrated Histories series  offers the most authoritative account of Irish history yet published for the general reader. Written by an expert team of scholars--all of whom are native to Ireland--this richly illustrated work takes us from the very earliest prehistoric communities and first Christian settlements  through centuries of turbulent change and creativity  to the present day. Unlike earlier one-volume histories  which have tended toward oversimplification  this book emphasizes the paradoxes and ambiguities of Irish history  presenting a much more realistic picture. Why  for instance  are there such intense variations in agriculture  prosperity  and political affiliation in an island that compasses such a small area? And why do Victorian norms prevail in certain areas of 20th-century Irish life? In each chapter  the author marks new paths  redefining the preoccupations of the Irish and casting a cold eye on their ruling pieties. Overall unifying themes do  of course  emerge--and provide the familiar ground of Irish historiography: the shifting patterns of settlement and colonization  the recurrent religious strife  the establishment of new political entities. The predominance of language in Irish life has led to the creation of a literature that is  in a way  a record of Irish history. A special feature of this book is a chapter that explores the interaction of Irish history and literature  what some have called \"a bloody crossroads.\" The conflicts  settlements  discontinuities  and unities of Irish history are illustrated with a broad range of visuals covering the landscape  artefacts  architecture  and an enormous variety of contemporary material. There are over 200 photographs  including 24 full-color plates  and the volume is completed with reference material  maps  a chronology  lists of further reading  and a full index. Wide-ranging  challenging  and highly readable  this vivid view of Irish history will instruct and entertain students  scholars  and general readers alike.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"My Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44946511298613,"sku":"ByrdShop_0198229704","price":42.76,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0627\/8139\/0901\/files\/9780198229704_9dd11bfb-8c8d-465f-8097-1ac5bcbb8c2b.jpg?v=1770144885","url":"https:\/\/atxbooks.com\/products\/the-oxford-illustrated-history-of-ireland","provider":"ATX Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}