Marcus Tanner, formerly assistant foreign editor of the London Independent, is the author of Croatia: A Nation Forged in War (ISBN 0 300 09125 7, pb. [pound]9.99), also published by Yale University Press.
"This is a compellingly written book... The whole narrative is enriched by local portraits and personal stories. It is a successful example of the very best history-writing; learned, balanced, and thoroughly readable." Marianne Elliott, Times Literary Supplement "Tanner's book is astute, well-written, and formidably researched." Fintan O'Toole, New Republic "Excellent, readable, controversial, and original." John Bruton, Daily Telegraph "Tanner has been able to assemble a mass of information across a vast canvas of Irish history in a very short space." Irish Independent
"This is a compellingly written book... The whole narrative is enriched by local portraits and personal stories. It is a successful example of the very best history-writing; learned, balanced, and thoroughly readable." Marianne Elliott, Times Literary Supplement "Tanner's book is astute, well-written, and formidably researched." Fintan O'Toole, New Republic "Excellent, readable, controversial, and original." John Bruton, Daily Telegraph "Tanner has been able to assemble a mass of information across a vast canvas of Irish history in a very short space." Irish Independent
Economic disadvantage was considered the root of "The Troubles" until Ireland belatedly enjoyed economic growth in the late 20th century, and still the conflict raged. A foreign editor with the Independent, Tanner (Croatia: A Nation Forged in War) visited the Republic and Ulster, chummed around with Orangemen and Republicans alike, and looked at the island's history purely in religious terms. He pronounces not politics or economics but religious differences to be the root of centuries of violence. Nothing can be so simple, of course. Catholics, with higher birth rates, now outnumber Protestants in Ulster. With the Good Friday Agreement creeping toward enaction amid evidence that Britain wants out, the Orange Order, seeing the future of an elective government, is panicked and lately is guilty of violence comparable to that of the IRA's worst days. What terrifies the Protestants? Their perception of Catholic-inspired social conservatism in the Republic? Tanner dismisses this by pointing out the balky but persistent growth of a secular Irish state, as well as the peculiar phenomenon of minority immigration to Ireland. Tanner seems to be suggesting that the Orangemen should just calm down, as the Irish Republic will soon look more like England. Irregular, perhaps visionary, and certainly provocative, this book should start arguments if anyone is still listening. Robert Moore, Parexel Corp., Waltham, MA Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.
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