The Tree of Liberty - (Critical Conditions: Field Day Essays and Monographs) by Kevin Whelan (Paperback)

About the Book

The 4 independent but interlocking essays included revolve around the 1790's, arguably the pivotal decade in the evolution of modern Ireland. It witnessed the emergence of separatism, popular republicanism, loyalism, the Orange Order, Maynooth College, culmintating in the act of Union, which defined subsequent relations between Ireland and Britain

Book Synopsis

If the 1790s can be seen as the pivotal decade in the revolution of modern Ireland, then an understanding of it is not just of scholarly interest, but has repercussions for current political and cultural debates. Precisely because of that enduring relevance, the 1790s have never passed out of politics into history.

These essays look again at the window of opportunity whch opened towards a non-sectarian, democratic, and insclusive politics, adequately representing the Irish people in all their inherited complexities. These four new essays by this gifted and authoritative writer explain why that project was defeated and remains uncompleted.

Understanding the reasons for its momentous defeat in the 1790s could help in ensuring that history does not repeat itself in the 1990s. Relieved of the disabling weight of confused meanings, the 1790s cease to be decisive. As the bicentary of 1798 approached, the creation of an hospitable approach to all that it symbolizes became both desirable and necessary.

The four independent but interlocking essays included revolve around the 1790's, arguably the pivotal decade in the evolution of modern Ireland. The 1790's witnessed the emergence of separatism, popular republicanism and loyalism, and the Orange Order and Maynooth College, and culminated in the act of Union, which defined subsequent relations between Ireland and Britain.

From the Back Cover

If the 1790s can be seen as the pivotal decade in the evolution of modern Ireland, then an understanding of it is not just of scholarly interest, but has repercussions for current political and cultural debates. Precisely because of that enduring relevance, the 1790s have never passed out of politics into history. These essays look again at the window of opportunity which opened towards a non-sectarian, democratic and inclusive politics, adequately representing the Irish people in all their inherited complexities. These four new essays by this gifted and authoritative writer explain why that project was defeated and remains uncompleted. Understanding the reasons for its momentous defeat in the 1790s can help in ensuring that history does not repeat itself in the 1990s. Relieved of the disabling weight of confused meanings, the 1790s cease to be divisive. As the bicentenary of 1798 approaches the creation of an hospitable approach to all that it symbolizes becomes both desirable and necessary.

Review Quotes

"Four new essays...are based on formidable research and argued with a challenging directness. Taken together, they offer the outlines of a wide ranging and coherent reinterpretation that is likely to influence debate on the meaning of late eighteenth-century Irish history for some time to come." -History Ireland

"To be recommended to all who love challenging and authoritative history writing, bristling with reference, quotation and striking phrases." -Journal of the Galway Archaeological and Historical Society

About the Author

Kevin Whelan is the Michael Smurfit Director of the Keough Naughton Notre Dame Centre in Dublin. He has written or edited fifteen books and over one hundred articles on Ireland's history, geography and culture.