Rot: An Imperial History of the Irish Famine

This book is a brand-new look at what caused the Irish great famine. Historian Padraic X. Scanlan reveals how British imperialism and its embrace of modern capitalism were really at the heart of this apocalyptic disaster. As opposed to traditional historical arguments on the backwardness of Ireland, Scanlan shows how British Laissez-faire economic policies and hindered relief efforts left more than a million people dead and prompted a mass emigration. Ultimately, Rot (Basic Books) offers a different lens on the great famine and its tragic legacy.