{"product_id":"the-curse-of-reason","title":"The Curse of Reason","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe Great Irish Famine of 1845–52 was the defining event in the history of modern Ireland. In proportional terms one of the most lethal famines in global history, the consequences were shocking: at least one million people died, and double that number fled the country within a decade.\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Curse of Reason\u003c\/em\u003e is first and foremost a survey history of this great tragedy. In particular, the testimonies of four key contemporaries are used throughout to convey the immediacy of the unfolding disaster.\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eThey are:\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cul\u003e\r\n\u003cli\u003eJohn MacHale—the Catholic Archbishop of Tuam\u003c\/li\u003e\r\n\u003cli\u003eJohn Mitchel—the radical nationalist\u003c\/li\u003e\r\n\u003cli\u003eElizabeth Smith—the Scottish-born wife of a Wicklow landlord\u003c\/li\u003e\r\n\u003cli\u003eCharles E. Trevelyan—the assistant secretary to the Treasury\u003c\/li\u003e\r\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eEach brings a unique perspective, influenced by who they were, what they witnessed, and what they stood for. By counter-pointing the progress of the Famine with the experiences of these four individuals, we get an intimate and compelling portrayal of these hungry years. The book shows how misguided policies inspired by slavish adherence to ideology—the curse of reason—contributed to and worsened the effects of a natural disaster of catastrophic proportions. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis major new history book tells of the last great famine in European history. First-hand accounts and writings by four contemporary real people are used to give a complete and personal picture of the historic tragedy.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gill Books","offers":[{"title":"Hardback","offer_id":55123911344515,"sku":"9780717154159","price":19.99,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0910\/3664\/7811\/files\/3807a79fd783eb5a681a4bb6355e15fe.jpg?v=1741012978","url":"https:\/\/shop.gill.ie\/products\/the-curse-of-reason","provider":"Gill","version":"1.0","type":"link"}