Number 11: The Irish in the American Civil War by Damian Shiels
Selected by: Papi
First published: October, 2012 by The History press.
Why: “A painstakingly researched labour of love. The level of detail means it is not a dry recitation of lists and rolls, but an actual look into the human aspects of being an Irishman and woman in the American civil war. The book is written, not as a civil war book, but as a chapter of Irish history that happens to be based within that conflict”
It stays with you: “Because of the staggering stories of both the heartbreak of war, but also the families left behind and futures both lost and made of almost 200,000 Irish soldiers on both sides of the war.”
Who would like this? “Any student of history, or admirer of stories of day to day people in the past – made all the more poignant due to the massive number whose stories aren’t told in the book – would be a big fan of this book.”
Availability: Still in stock; Also available in most library branches nationwide (list here).
Previously:
Emily O’Reilly
Graham Howard
David Flanagan
Maura ‘Soshin’ O’Halloran
Kevin C Kearns
Ed Moloney
Gene Kerrigan
Bobby Sands
George O’Brien
Eamonn Sweeney
Terence Patrick Dolan
‘Great-Irish Non-Fiction’ is a reading list of 100 books chosen by YOU and highlighted over the coming weeks. If you would like to include a favourite leave your suggestion below.
