Ireland’s landscape is marked by fault lines of religious; ethnic; and political identity that have shaped its troubled history. Troubled Geographies maps this history by detailing the patterns of change in Ireland from 16th century attempts to "plant" areas of Ireland with loyal English Protestants to defend against threats posed by indigenous Catholics; through the violence of the latter part of the 20th century and the rise of the "Celtic Tiger." The book is concerned with how a geography laid down in the 16th and 17th centuries led to an amalgam based on religious belief; ethnic/national identity; and political conviction that continues to shape the geographies of modern Ireland. Troubled Geographies shows how changes in religious affiliation; identity; and territoriality have impacted Irish society during this period. It explores the response of society in general and religion in particular to major cultural shocks such as the Famine and to long term processes such as urbanization.
#2000234 in Books 2010-01-15Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.00 x .80 x 6.00l; .85 #File Name: 0252077237256 pages
Review
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Unthinkable Indian SlaveryBy Kindle CustomerA well informed book on Indian slavery. I did not know it exist until this book and was upset to see that not only did it exist; but my ancestors were the owner of the slave girl Marian. I find slavery deplorable.0 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Five StarsBy K. K. BransonI like well written historical things such as this;.20 of 20 people found the following review helpful. Wonderful Addition to the Literature - a review of "Stealing Indian Women"By Pam"Stealing Indian Women" is a remarkable piece of academic work. I didn't realize initially how strongly I felt about the book until after I began reading Shirley Christian's "Before Lewis and Clark: The Story of the Chouteaus". Though Christian's book is well documented; it has been nothing but a slog. And despite the detail with which she has written about Auguste and others; I don't feel any particular attachment to their characters; nor do I feel like I understand their motivations. Which is entirely unlike the experience I had reading "Stealing Indian Women". Once I started it; I could hardly put it down. And the pictures of the community was so well composed; and enthusiastically presented; that I have to say that I was left caring about the people I was introduced to -- something that doesn't often happen with an academic book.Structurally the book falls into two sections. The first lays out the background for the development of French relations with the Indian tribes of the Upper Louisiana Territory -- commonly called the Illinois Country. These discussions cover personal relationships; such as the many forms of 'marriage' that existed between French men and Indian women; as well as general politics. And there is also quite a bit of interesting material that pertains directly to the Indian notion of slavery and how the Indians worked over time to pressure and finagle the French to bend and accept the practice.The second half of the book focuses on what the author calls "The Celadon Affair". Leaving behind all general discussions of the Illinois Country; Dr. Ekberg plunges the reader into the midst of one of Ste. Genevieve's few serious crimes. The story begins when a party of young people; some of whom are free and some of whom are slaves; cross the river to get drunk with some friends on the British side of the Mississippi. Celadon is amongst them. A metis; he's somewhat of a bold character; and one prone to thumb his nose at authority. In any case; at some point; he and and a young female slave get separated from the rest of their party; and somehow in a botched effort to escape with Celadon; or else return home; she is shot.The question is was it accidental or deliberate? In most cases the historian would be left with only scanty evidence on which to surmise. But the records of Ste. Genevieve are hardly sparse and Dr. Ekberg is able to fit together a scenario based on the numerous depositions that were taken at that time.Besides being entertaining; Ekberg deftly handles this material and uses it to draw together all the previous threads of discussion --slavery; gender relations; politics -- so that you are left with a vivid sense of how these factors affected the lives of ordinary people on the frontier.SUMMARY :::I had a marvelous time reading this book. Dr. Ekberg certainly turned quite a few of my historical notions on their head. It was absolutely fascinating to read about how the Indians worked to modifying French politics; as well how Indian/French slavery was very much different than that practiced in the American South.For those who have read Ekberg's "Colonial Ste. Genevieve" and wonder what this new book has to offer; I would say that it provides a refinement on Ekberg's previous research. One thing that I noticed; for example; was that his population figures have been tweaked.I would highly recommend this book to anyone with a serious interest in the earliest European settlements/settlers along the Mississippi; especially if you are interested in a different sort of cultural interface between Europeans and Indians.Pam T.
