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This work is part history, part tour guide, part trivia,
part political analysis. It is a sweeping book, covering ancient times to
modern times. In fact, I think this work is too broad in scope. It would have
been more interesting with a narrow scope. It doesn’t really work all that well
as a history book because it is too surface level. It doesn’t work too well as
a modern day guide to Ireland either (I am thinking “Lonely Planet” here). I
would have preferred one or the other.
On the positive side I did learn some things; especially
about the recent political history of Ireland. To understand the current
struggles of Ireland, I think one has to have a historical foundation. I think
this book describes the struggles over land or faith fairly well.
Overall I wouldn’t rate this book too highly. It
over-reaches and does nothing very well. In my opinion, it is better to do one
thing really well than many things in a mediocre way.
