Eyewitness to Irish History

I picked this book up one day almost as an afterthought and have been thoroughly delighted by it ever since. As the name and cover imply this is not a typical history book; no one should expect a thorough exposition of Irish history or any part of it. Instead, Peter Beresford Ellis has compiled for us 270-some odd pages of various letters, journals, poetry and transcribed folklore detailing instances -- snapshots, if you will -- in Irish history that do a surprisingly great job of capturing the essence of the grander events surrounding them. Think of this book as a "peek beneath the surface" or "organic history" -- you're given the gritty details but not the big picture. The joy of this book lies in forming the latter in your mind. Highlights include: the naming of Ireland; excerpts from the early monastic and bardic writers and scholars; a snippet of the famous "Pangur Ban"; dozens of written accounts from the various wars, insurrections and related skirmishes of Ireland's storied past; a captivating look into the hearts and minds of those who suffered the Easter Uprising; media and personal accounts of recent Irish affairs up to the year 2002. This book is not for newcomers to Irish history who want a foundation introduction to Ireland and her past; "The Making of Modern Ireland" (Beckett) and "The Oxford Companion to Irish History" (Connolly) are better sources for that. However, it should be an excellent appetizer for any uninformed but inquiring mind to whet their appetite for the vast feast that is the story of Eire, as well as for the more knowledgeable reader who wants a little mortar between the bricks, so to speak.