Nature and the Environment in Nineteenth-Century Ireland

The environmental humanities is a rapidly expanding area of interdisciplinary study, and this collection of essays offers new insights into nineteenth-century Ireland by bringing together historians, geographers, and literary scholars. It re-considers OConnellism, Lord Palmerston, and Isaac Butt, examines agricultural improvement, Dublin's animal geographies, and Irelands healing places, and encourages transnational perspectives on Irelands national park history and the dynamics of Irish natural history.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 248 pages
Publication date: 01 August 2022
Publisher: Liverpool University Press

The environmental humanities are a dynamic and rapidly evolving field of interdisciplinary inquiry, and this collection of essays represents a pioneering endeavor to apply these approaches to the study of nineteenth-century Ireland. By bringing together historians, geographers, and literary scholars, the collection offers fresh insights into both familiar and unfamiliar aspects of Irish history. Essays exploring topics such as OConnellism, Lord Palmerston, and Isaac Butt sit alongside examinations of agricultural improvement, Dublin's animal geographies, and Ireland's healing places. Literary writers like Emily Lawless and Seumas OSullivan are reevaluated, prompting us to reconsider Darwinian influences in Ireland and the history of the Irish literary revival. Transnational perspectives are also brought to bear on Ireland's national park history and the dynamics of Irish natural history.

In contemporary Irish history, access to natural resources has played a significant role, whether reflecting the devastating consequences of the Great Famine or the conflicts associated with agrarian politics. However, historical and literary analyses of these issues are rarely framed explicitly in terms of environmental concerns. The collection responds to the "material turn" in the humanities and the growing awareness of environmental issues by re-imagining Ireland's nineteenth century in fresh and original ways.

The contributors to this collection are esteemed scholars in their respective fields, and their essays provide a wealth of knowledge and insights into nineteenth-century Ireland. Matthew Kelly, Helen OConnell, David Brown, Colin W. Reid, Huston Gilmore, Ronan Foley, Juliana Adelman, Mary Orr, Patrick Maume, and Seán Hewitt are among the contributors.

In conclusion, the environmental humanities offer a unique perspective on nineteenth-century Ireland, and this collection of essays is a valuable contribution to the field. By bringing together diverse disciplines and approaches, the collection provides new insights into familiar topics and challenges our understanding of unfamiliar subjects. It is a testament to the power of interdisciplinary scholarship and the importance of re-examining historical narratives in light of contemporary environmental concerns.

Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781802076929