In the name of God and of the dead generations from which she receives her old tradition of nationhood, Ireland, through us, summons her children to her flag and strikes for her freedom. ~Opening line of the Proclamation of the Irish Republic, 1916
I think I am not alone in my preference to absorb history through stories. That’s natural, though. My experience and formal education taught me that any time you say, “Let me tell you a story,” people sit up (maybe wake up) and wait expectantly for whatever is coming next. I tried to exercise that muscle in my February 2024 post that addressed the power of attitude. If you read it, it worked, but only you know the result.
The Origin of the Word "History"
Don’t judge me for it, but before working on this post I never considered the fact that the word story is embedded in history. According to Time site, history derives from the Greek word historia, which means seeking knowledge and gaining knowledge from the effort. It follows that that is where stories come from. People who write books that deliver history in story form have done the work.
There are great historians who know their stuff and there are technically proficient writers. They aren’t always in the same body. Perhaps that’s why history books aren’t as appealing as they could be. I have learned much, however, from authors such as Frank McCourt, who wrote Angela’s Ashes (a tough, but excellent read) and Kristin Hannah, a skillful author who has written more than two dozen books. Each of them have historical novels about Ireland. They will make learning a painless and highly satisfying experience. If you want to venture beyond the Green Isle, Erik Larson has a wide array of topics of which I’ve read at least four. You can’t go wrong with a book off Larson’s shelf. Back to topic.
And About Irish History Specifically
Even I, with my limited knowledge of any European history, have known for a long time that Ireland has had its share of turbulence. This was particularly true in the 19th century, which is remembered for famine and rebellion, per Thought Co. There was a bit of conditioning before the year 1800 rolled around, however. The squashed uprising of 1798 did not, in fact change the hearts and minds of Irishmen. Rather, it just set the stage for a difficult century.
Robert Emmet was one of the young men whose discontentment simmered, then erupted into action. After the 1798 failure, he went to France to enlist support for another effort but returned to Ireland in 1802. His plans were foiled when, in 1803, his few hundred like-minded Irishmen failed to maintain their stand against the Dublin authorities. Emmet evaded arrest for a month but a month after he was located, he was hanged.
So then everyone gave up and acquiesced to British rule, right? No. Emmet was viewed as a martyr and drew even more young people into the cause. That brings us to Eva of the Nation.
Eva of the Nation, a Part of the Irish Story
Recently I had the pleasure of reading a friend’s book, Eva of the Nation, Romance and Rebellion in the Irish Famine by Katherine Kirby Smith. I won’t lie. I had never heard of Eva, nee Mary Anne Kelly. The article I found on the Irish Historian site echoes Smith’s description of Eva’s passion and maturity. Even as a teenager, Eva (her pen name) was a prolific writer, focusing primarily on poetry. She was born in 1826, a time at which her country was already well-immersed in conspiracies and plots to rebel against the English.
To illustrate her level of maturity, consider that at 16 I was struggling to memorize Poe’s “The Raven” for a mid-term exam. When Eva was 16, she was writing odes to Irish history characters and submitting her writings to rouse young women to get involved in current affairs. That was the year she was first published in “The Nation,” a pro-loyalist newspaper. No comparison. High contrast.
Smith’s book begins in 1907 Australia where Eva was living and beginning to write her memoir. “Why Australia,” you ask. If you can’t guess, you definitely need to read up. Through Eva’s memories, we go back to mid-19th century Ireland and all the chaos that entails. I won’t give away the plot, but I will say the characters are well-developed, the hardships of the Irish people are clearly described, and the story is impactful. This kind of narrative enables the reader to become familiar with the culture of the time by examining the life of a young girl and the dynamics of her family life. If history is difficult for you to digest, this kind of book is the spoonful of sugar in your medicine, but better.
You can find this book on Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Connect with this author through the Authors Guild of Tennessee website, Facebook or X.
Give it a try. Larson, Hannah or Smith. Or someone else. Maybe you’ll develop an appetite for learning about the past. In my experience, looking back to learn enhanced my perspective on today and my expectations of the future. Perhaps that path will do the same for you.
Our family history is entangled with the potato famine. Our maternal great grand father migrated from Ireland looking for work and eventually got pressed into the Confederate army, under Robert E. Lee. He served at Appomattox. Thus, our grandfather’s name, Robert E. Lee Perry.
I knew he was at Appomattox, but not that his father came from Ireland. Go figure.