Irish Materialisms: The Nonhuman and the Making of Colonial Ireland, 1690–1830

Irish Materialisms is the first book to apply new materialist criticism to Ireland, challenging colonial stereotypes and revealing the subversive entanglement of the Irish peasantry with nonhuman materiality. It argues that reading literature through the agency of materiality and nonhuman narrative offers a more egalitarian and varied understanding of colonial experience, presenting a new portrait of Irish character that reflects greater empowerment, resistance, and expression in the oppressed Irish than has been previously recognized.

Format: Hardback
Length: 256 pages
Publication date: 04 January 2024
Publisher: Oxford University Press

Irish Materialisms: The Nonhuman and the Making of Colonial Ireland, 1690-1830, is a groundbreaking work that pioneers the application of recent trends in new materialist criticism to Ireland. It challenges and subverts conventional colonial stereotypes by revealing the intricate and subversive relationship between the Irish peasantry and nonhuman materiality. This book delves into a series of focused case studies, examining everyday objects such as coins, flax, spinning wheels, mud, and pigs in colonial Ireland. By analyzing the unique materiality of each object, the author demonstrates how it contributed to the colonial ideology of British paternalism and provided a platform for creative Irish expression.

The central argument of Irish Materialisms revolves around its innovative methodology. The author advocates for reading literature through the lens of materiality and nonhuman narrative, aiming to achieve a more egalitarian and diverse understanding of colonial experience. By emphasizing the agency of nonhuman elements, the book challenges the dominant narratives that portray the colonized as passive and powerless. Irish Materialisms demonstrates the immense postcolonial potential of new materialism by offering a fresh perspective on Irish character. Through an intimate exploration of the materiality that the Irish peasants encountered on a daily basis, the book presents a nuanced and empowered portrayal of the Irish, highlighting their resistance, resilience, and expressive capabilities in the face of oppression.

This groundbreaking work not only contributes to our understanding of colonialism but also expands our horizons by challenging traditional disciplinary boundaries. Irish Materialisms seamlessly blends literary analysis, historical research, and material culture studies, offering a multi-dimensional perspective on the complex and multifaceted history of Ireland. It is a must-read for scholars and students interested in postcolonial studies, cultural history, and the intersection of human and nonhuman agency.

Weight: 580g
Dimension: 240 x 160 x 20 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780198894834