The Partition: Ireland Divided, 1885-1925
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- Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
- Create Date：2022-04-07 08:51:33
- Update Date：2025-09-06
- Status：finish
- Author：Charles Townshend
- ISBN：0141985739
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Summary
A NEW STATESMAN BOOK OF THE YEAR 2021
'A model of research and analysis 。。。 Townshend's concise and intelligent book tells a painful story that is probably not yet over' Simon Heffer， Daily Telegraph
A compelling history of the turbulent journey to Irish independence， published for the centenary of the Partition
In the aftermath of the horrors of the Irish Famine， the grim， distrustful relationship between Ireland and the rest of the United Kingdom deteriorated into a generations-long argument about 'Home Rule'。 The unprecedented nature of the Irish problem - with most Irish people wanting to break away from the world's largest Empire - made it extraordinarily difficult for either side to come up with a compromise。 For many years actual independence seemed inconceivable。 And then， as these bitter disputes continued， it became clear that under no circumstances would the Protestants be party to any of it。
The Partition is a remarkable， clear-sighted and thoughtful account of how two unthinkable events - full Irish independence and the creation of the state of Northern Ireland - came to pass。 The Irish nationalist claim to leave ran into a loyalist demand to remain， increasingly centred on the north-eastern Protestant community， threatening large-scale violent resistance。
Here Charles Townshend lays out what is ultimately a tragic story， as partition became the only answer to an otherwise insoluble problem。 The settlement of the Irish question drew in every major politician， conjured up heroes and villains， led to civil war and finally to Ulster's catastrophic Troubles。 The hard border has always been seen as a failure of both British and Irish statecraft， but has endured now for a century。 The Partition brilliantly brings to life the contingency and uncertainty that created it。
'A timely and important book 。。。 so much of its content remains relevant to understanding contemporary preoccupations and controversies' Diarmaid Ferriter， Irish Times
'A model of research and analysis 。。。 Townshend's concise and intelligent book tells a painful story that is probably not yet over' Simon Heffer， Daily Telegraph
A compelling history of the turbulent journey to Irish independence， published for the centenary of the Partition
In the aftermath of the horrors of the Irish Famine， the grim， distrustful relationship between Ireland and the rest of the United Kingdom deteriorated into a generations-long argument about 'Home Rule'。 The unprecedented nature of the Irish problem - with most Irish people wanting to break away from the world's largest Empire - made it extraordinarily difficult for either side to come up with a compromise。 For many years actual independence seemed inconceivable。 And then， as these bitter disputes continued， it became clear that under no circumstances would the Protestants be party to any of it。
The Partition is a remarkable， clear-sighted and thoughtful account of how two unthinkable events - full Irish independence and the creation of the state of Northern Ireland - came to pass。 The Irish nationalist claim to leave ran into a loyalist demand to remain， increasingly centred on the north-eastern Protestant community， threatening large-scale violent resistance。
Here Charles Townshend lays out what is ultimately a tragic story， as partition became the only answer to an otherwise insoluble problem。 The settlement of the Irish question drew in every major politician， conjured up heroes and villains， led to civil war and finally to Ulster's catastrophic Troubles。 The hard border has always been seen as a failure of both British and Irish statecraft， but has endured now for a century。 The Partition brilliantly brings to life the contingency and uncertainty that created it。
'A timely and important book 。。。 so much of its content remains relevant to understanding contemporary preoccupations and controversies' Diarmaid Ferriter， Irish Times
Reviews
Gareth Russell
，
In the centenary year of Irish partition and Northern Ireland’s creation， I have wanted to read more about this particular chapter in my country’s history。 Partition is something which is simultaneously passionately invoked in modern Irish political cultures， yet frequently misunderstood。 Stepping back from the conflicting passions of unionism and nationalism， Charles Townshend has produced a meticulously researched history of how - and why - Ireland was politically separated in the early 1920s， In the centenary year of Irish partition and Northern Ireland’s creation， I have wanted to read more about this particular chapter in my country’s history。 Partition is something which is simultaneously passionately invoked in modern Irish political cultures， yet frequently misunderstood。 Stepping back from the conflicting passions of unionism and nationalism， Charles Townshend has produced a meticulously researched history of how - and why - Ireland was politically separated in the early 1920s， as well as the ways in which the partition continues to matter a century later。 While， at times， a little dry， “The Partition” is nonetheless an excellent piece of history and Townshend’s assessment on how unionism was misunderstood as much in the 1910s as it was in the countdown to Brexit is superb， nuanced， and it gave me pause for thought。 Perhaps not for a beginner， I’m glad to have read this book as we live， a century later， with the consequences of the folly， heroism， bigotry， pettiness， greatness， and intentions of the Partition era。 。。。more
Liam Ostermann
，
This is an exceptional fine book and I doubt if there is a better one on Ireland's partition。 It makes it a worthy companion to Mr。 Townshend's other books on Ireland。It was only after I started to read this book that I realised that I hand not previously， despite the number of books on Irish History that I had read， ever read anything， or encountered anything， specifically dealing with the partition; it was always dealt with within the general account of the history of the period。 This wonderfu This is an exceptional fine book and I doubt if there is a better one on Ireland's partition。 It makes it a worthy companion to Mr。 Townshend's other books on Ireland。It was only after I started to read this book that I realised that I hand not previously， despite the number of books on Irish History that I had read， ever read anything， or encountered anything， specifically dealing with the partition; it was always dealt with within the general account of the history of the period。 This wonderful book shows how much the subject needs individual treatment。 It forces one to think outside preconceptions and prejudices and also to explain how something that nobody wanted came to pass。I am not going to rehash what Mr。 Townshend says。 If you think you know why Ireland was partitioned， particularly if you have a belief about the wickedness of Nationalists， Unionist or the British government， then you need to read this。 Reality is messier and has no real heroes or villains， many stupidities and mistakes for sure， but a sad and dispiriting tale of things coming to pass that no one wanted。 。。。more
Joseph
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Too dry for my taste but important for researchers。
Senioreuge
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As usual with Townshend you get a very informative and detailed analysis of the events， the motivations of the main players and the consequences of their various action。 Nothing is left out of this work and it even includes a reference to the 2 nation theory that briefly became popular around 50 years ago。 Thankfully he avoids the trap of dwelling on it， as it is a swamp of fanciful nonsense。 An example of this is his quote on page 179 from Colm Tóbín， that the owners of lands were fearful that As usual with Townshend you get a very informative and detailed analysis of the events， the motivations of the main players and the consequences of their various action。 Nothing is left out of this work and it even includes a reference to the 2 nation theory that briefly became popular around 50 years ago。 Thankfully he avoids the trap of dwelling on it， as it is a swamp of fanciful nonsense。 An example of this is his quote on page 179 from Colm Tóbín， that the owners of lands were fearful that republicans wanted to take their lands and one land owner is reassured by a policeman that "ye bought your land"。 He meant that they had not come during a plantation or Confiscation"; they had bought their land-in1732。" Leaving open the question of from whom and how was it acquired。 A timely work well worth reading。 。。。more
Mat
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