The Coffin Ship: Life and Death at Sea during the Great Irish Famine

Theodore Saloutos Book Award, given by the Immigration and Ethnic History Society, was awarded to Cian T. McMahon's The Coffin Ship for his outstanding academic title 2022. This book offers a fresh perspective on Irish migration during the Great Famine by analyzing the personal experiences of the emigrants aboard the "coffin ships" through their letters and diaries. It demonstrates how the emigrants created new social networks and left a lasting mark on Irish life at home and abroad.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 328 pages
Publication date: 08 November 2022
Publisher: New York University Press

A captivating and groundbreaking exploration of Irish migration is presented in Cian T. McMahon's The Coffin Ship, a work of transnational history that challenges the conventional narratives surrounding the Great Famine. Between 1845 and 1855, over two million people fled Ireland in search of a better life, embarking on the perilous journey aboard the infamous "coffin ships." These ships, characterized by their brutal crews, heartless captains, and unforgiving weather, have become iconic symbols of nineteenth-century migration.

However, McMahon's book goes beyond the mere description of these voyages. Through meticulous archival research spanning three continents, he delves into the personal experiences of the emigrants, examining their letters and diaries to unravel the complex social networks they formed while traveling overseas. The Coffin Ship offers a fresh perspective on this pivotal moment in modern history, highlighting the ways in which the emigrants created new threads in the worldwide web of the Irish diaspora.

What sets this book apart is its vivid portrayal of the emigrants' voices, which have been long lost to history. Through their words, McMahon brings the emigrants to life, capturing their struggles, hopes, and fears as they embarked on a journey that would forever change their lives. The book also makes an ambitious argument for recognizing the sailing ship as a central and dynamic element of migration history, alongside the tenement and the factory floor.

The Coffin Ship is an indispensable read for anyone interested in Irish history, migration, or the broader study of transnationalism. It offers a rich and nuanced understanding of a period that shaped the course of Irish life both at home and abroad. McMahon's meticulous research and engaging writing style make this book a pleasure to read, and it will undoubtedly inspire further exploration of this important chapter in history.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781479820535