Ireland (Inventing the Nation)

This book provides a fascinating history of Ireland, focusing on the ways in which the nation has been depicted by competing interests, from political factions to religious groups to commercial powers. The book examines the origins of Ireland's various identities, looking at Irish culture, religion, and language. The result is an original work of scholarship that analyzes Ireland's rich history and traces the formation of its national identity. Richard Vincent Comerford is Professor of Modern History at National University of Ireland, Maynooth, Ireland. This book provides a fascinating history of Ireland, focusing on the ways in which the nation has been depicted by competing interests, from political factions to religious groups to commercial powers. The book examines the origins of Ireland's various identities, looking at Irish culture, religion, and language. The result is an original work of scholarship that analyzes Ireland's rich history and traces the formation of its national identity. "The scholarship and clarity of argument is hugely impressive. A whole range of historical stereotypes are effectively challenged."—HISTORY  Journal of the Historical Association "This book gains credibility from its sensitivity to the relevance of concepts of nationhood outside the abstract concerns of academia."—Irish Studies Review  "The scholarship and clarity of argument is hugely impressive. A whole range of historical stereotypes are effectively challenged."—HISTORY  Journal of the Historical Association