Author: Constantia Maxwell

Publisher: Dundalk [Ire.] : W. Tempest

Published: 1949

Total Pages: 430

ISBN-13:

"Many books have been written which deal with Irish political history or with the struggle for Irish national independence. There are very few in which the authors have confined themselves to describing social and economic conditions. The chief authority for the Georgian period in Ireland is Lecky's History of Ireland in the Eighteenth Century, but the great historian concerned himself mainly with Irish politics; he wrote only incidentally of the social history of the country. This volume therefore tries to supply a want in giving a connected account of social and economic conditions in Ireland under the Georges. Contemporary passions and politics are intentionally left out of the picture ; it is the material and everyday life of the people which is here presented. During the eighteenth century the Anglo-Irish in Ireland were supreme, for after the defeat of the Boyne the most energetic of the Irish left the country, and those who remained were temporarily crushed into submission by the Penal Laws. This book describes the living conditions of all classes of people as far as information is available. It has been written in a spirit of scientific inquiry, and is, it is hoped, without bias or sentiment. Although unencumbered with numerous footnotes giving detailed references to authorities, no statement has been made which is unsupported by evidence, as may be realized from the full bibliography appended to the volume. This second edition, taking the place to the copies of the first edition destroyed in London during the war, contains slight changes, a few extra footnotes and ten new pictures." -- jacket.