Making Sense of the Troubles - Softcover

Mckittrick, David

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0141003057 ISBN 13: 9780141003054

Publisher: Penguin Books, 2001

Synopsis

By far the clearest account of what happened in the Northern Ireland conflict - and why. The troubles rolled grimly on for almost thirty years from the late '60s until the onset of the current shaky peace process. In that time they never strayed far off the news schedules of the world's media. But behind the wall of information and opinion there was a straightforward and gripping story, demanding to be told in an accessible way. Award-winning Ireland correspondent for the Independent David McKittrick and historian David McVea at last tell that story - clearly, concisely and above all fairly.

About this title

About the Author

David McKittrick is the Ireland correspondent for the Independent. He received the Orwell Prize for Journalism in April 2000. In 1999 he was named Correspondent of the Year by the BBC's What the Papers Say. He was also co-author of the bestselling LOST LIVES, published by Mainstream in 1999. David McVea was head of the politics department at a Belfast grammar school for many years and has researched and written widely on the troubles.

Review

Buried in the text of most histories you can detect the views of the author. Making Sense of the Troubles, the first attempt to tell the whole story of the past 30 years in Northern Ireland, is an exception. (Anne McHardy Observer)

One of the great merits of David McKittrick and David McVea's book lies in the authors' ability to pinpoint the causes of trouble while avoiding oversimplification.... A valuable resume of causes and effects. (Patricia Craig Independent)

If you want a frank, accurate and authoritative account you cannot do much better.... There could be no better guide through the intricacies of the Peace Process. This book...is likely to be the definitive account.... An important book.... It should be on every bookshelf. (Irish Independent)

Comprehensive, considered and compassionate. (Paul Arthur Irish Times)

A masterly account. (Barry White Belfast Telegraph)

Extraordinarily well-balanced, sane, comprehensive, and rich in sober understatement. (Cal McCrystal Glasgow Herald)

This book tells a sorry tale, and it tells it with a powerful clarity.... It took steady nerves to undertake such a book. (Susan McKay Sunday Tribune)

Edition details

• Publisher: Penguin Books
• Publication date: 2001
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0141003057
• ISBN 13: 9780141003054
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 368