The Partition: Ireland Divided, 1885-1925

The Partition is a 2021 book by Charles Townshend that tells the story of the turbulent journey to Irish independence and the creation of the state of Northern Ireland. It is a model of research and analysis, and a compelling history of the period. The book explores the difficult relationship between Ireland and the rest of the United Kingdom, and how the Irish problem became increasingly difficult to compromise. It describes how partition became the only answer to an insoluble problem, leading to civil war and the Ulster Troubles. The book is praised for its clear-sighted and thoughtful account of how two unthinkable events came to pass, and for its relevance to understanding contemporary preoccupations and controversies.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 368 pages
Publication date: 07 April 2022
Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd

A NEW STATESMAN BOOK OF THE YEAR 2021 A model of research and analysis ... Townshend's concise and intelligent book tells a painful story that is probably not yet over. Simon Heffer, Daily Telegraph. A compelling history of the turbulent journey to Irish independence, published for the centenary of the Partition. In the aftermath of the horrors of the Irish Famine, the grim, distrustful relationship between Ireland and the rest of the United Kingdom deteriorated into a generations-long argument about Home Rule. The unprecedented nature of the Irish problem - with most Irish people wanting to break away from the world's largest Empire - made it extraordinarily difficult for either side to come up with a compromise. For many years, actual independence seemed inconceivable. And then, as these bitter disputes continued, it became clear that under no circumstances would the Protestants be party to any of it. The Partition is a remarkable, clear-sighted, and thoughtful account of how two unthinkable events - full Irish independence and the creation of the state of Northern Ireland - came to pass. The Irish nationalist claim to leave ran into a loyalist demand to remain, increasingly centred on the north-eastern Protestant community, threatening large-scale violent resistance. Here, Charles Townshend lays out what is ultimately a tragic story, as partition became the only answer to an otherwise insoluble problem. The settlement of the Irish question drew in every major politician, conjured up heroes and villains, led to civil war and finally to Ulster's catastrophic Troubles. The hard border has always been seen as a failure of both British and Irish statecraft, but has endured now for a century. The Partition brilliantly brings to life the contingency and complexity of the Irish question, revealing the profound impact of historical events on the lives of ordinary people. It is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the roots of contemporary Ireland and the ongoing challenges of peace and reconciliation.

Weight: 270g
Dimension: 131 x 197 x 24 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780141985732