Luck and the Irish: A Brief History of Change, 1970-2000

(Paperback)

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Description

From 1970, Irish history moved into a fast-forward phase - the Celtic Tiger had woken, and the rules for everything from gender roles and religion to international relations were being entirely rewritten. By the end of the twentieth century, Ireland had become a global brand, and the almost completely unexpected wave of prosperity had brought with it upheavals in economics, sexual mores and culture, as well as a shift in North-South attitudes. Luck and the Irish examines how the country has weathered these last thirty years of change, and what these changes may mean in the long run. R. F Foster also looks at how characters as wide ranging as Charles Haughey, Bob Geldof and Mary Robinson have contributed to Ireland's altered psyche, and uncovers some of the talent, scandals and political masterminds that have transformed Ireland - and its luck.

Reviews

The brilliance of the writing places him as a historian in a league of his own ... A balanced work offering his own distinctive, original and elegant insights -- Diarmaid Ferriter * Times Literary Supplement *
Occasionally angry, sometimes whimsical and frequently hilarious ... Appeals both to those who know nothing and those who think they know everything -- Conor Gearty * Financial Times *
Examines our society with fierce intelligence and insight -- Colm Tibn * Irish Times *
[Foster is] the great demythologizer of Ireland -- Terry Eagleton * Guardian *

Author Bio

R.F. Foster is Carroll Professor of irish History at the University of Oxford and a Fellow of Hertford College, Oxford. His books include Modern Ireland 1600-1972, The Irish Story and W. B. Yeats- A Life.