Black Potatoes

The Story of the Great Irish Famine

De: Susan Campbell Bartoletti

Narrado por: Graeme Malcolm

In 1845, a disaster struck Ireland. Overnight, a mysterious blight attacked the potato crops, turning the potatoes black and destroying the only real food of nearly six million people. Over the next five years, the blight attacked again and again. These years are known today as the Great Irish Famine, a time when one million people died from starvation and disease, and two million more fled their homeland.

Black Potatoes is the compelling story of men, women, and children who defied landlords and searched empty fields for scraps of harvested vegetables and edible weeds to eat, who walked several miles each day to hard-labor jobs for meager wages and to reach soup kitchens, and who committed crimes just to be sent to jail, where they were assured of a meal. It's the story of children and adults who suffered from starvation, disease, and the loss of family and friends, as well as those who died. It's also the story of the heroes among the Irish people and how they held on to hope.

©2001 Susan Campbell Bartoletti (P)2010 Audible, Inc.

Reseñas de la Crítica

"A powerful and important book." (KLIATT)

A Decent Companion to Woodham-Smith's Book

I recommend that this book be read/listened to after you've already completed Cecil Woodham-Smith's "The Great Hunger" (also available on Audible.com). "Black Potatoes" closely follows (and comes off as heavily derived from) "The Great Hunger", but whereas "TGH" focuses primarily on the perspective of the British Government, "Black Potatoes" offers a summary of "THG" as a backdrop for presenting personal stories from the starving Irish themselves. Not authoritative by any stretch, "Black Potatoes" is a capable summary and supplement to Woodham-Smith's book. The narrator and his pronunciation of Irish names are tolerable.

amazing

it is a very good book that is not that long but very informative and with the story's imbeded in the book it is truly amazing how well they tell the story. I would recomend it to everyone.

loved it

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and its narration. I like the brevity of it. Recently, I read 'The Great Influenza,' which was waaaay too long. This book got more done in its 3 hours.

Pairs well with A Modest Proposal

Would you listen to Black Potatoes again? Why?

I doubt I'll listen to this one again. Mostly because I'm using it as an introduction to this historical event, and nothing to do with the quality of the book or narration.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It wasn't a feel good book. It's not supposed to be. It introduces one to a very sad period of time for the Irish people. It's an important book that more people should listen to.

A must read on the Irish Potato Famine!

Any additional comments?

The narrator does an incredible job of recounting the actual events of the Irish potato famine. The author is wonderful about including first hand accounts of the famine and referring to England's role, (i.e. their lack of help) without being conspiratorial or biased. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in Irish history, England landlordship or just cares about being educated on major historical events.