Irish History For Dummies (PDF)

From Norman invaders, religious wars--and the struggle for
independence--the fascinating, turbulent history of a tortured
nation and its gifted people

When Shakespeare referred to England as a "jewel set in a silver
sea," he could just as well have been speaking of Ireland. Not only
has its luminous green landscape been the backdrop for bloody
Catholic/Protestant conflict and a devastating famine, Ireland's
great voices--like Joyce and Yeats--are now indelibly
part of world literature. In Irish History For Dummies,
readers will not only get a bird's-eye view of key historical
events (Ten Turning Points) but, also, a detailed,
chapter-by-chapter timeline of Irish history beginning with the
first Stone Age farmers to the recent rise and fall of the Celtic
tiger economy.

In the informal, friendly For Dummies style, the book
details historic highs like building an Irish Free State in the
1920s--and devastating lows (including the Troubles in the
'60s and '70s), as well as key figures (like MP Charles Parnell and
President Eamon de Valera) central to the cause of Irish
nationalism. The book also details historic artifacts, offbeat
places, and little-known facts key to the life of Ireland past and
present.

* Includes Ten Major Documents--including the Confession of
St. Patrick, The Book of Kells, the Proclamation of the Irish
Republic, and Ulysses

* Lists Ten Things the Irish Have Given the World--including
Irish coffee, U.S. Presidents, the submarine, shorthand writing,
and the hypodermic syringe

* Details Ten Great Irish Places to Visit--including Cobh,
Irish National Stud and Museum, Giants Causeway, and Derry

* Includes an online cheat sheet that gives readers a robust and
expanded quick reference guide to relevant dates and historical
figures

* Includes a Who's Who in Irish History section on
dummies.com

With a light-hearted touch, this informative guide sheds light
on how this ancient land has survived wars, invasions, uprisings,
and emigration to forge a unique nation, renowned the world over
for its superb literature, music, and indomitable spirit.