Tag Archives: Ireland

The Irish Soldiers of Mexico

Posted on August 6, 2017 by smellincoffee

The Irish Soldiers of Mexico© 1997 Michael Hogan298 pages And it was there in the pueblos and the hillsidesThat I saw the mistake I had madePart of a conquering army, with the morals of a bayonet brigadeAnd amidst all these … Continue reading →

Posted in history, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , | 11 Comments

Dubh-Linn

Posted on October 31, 2016 by smellincoffee

Dubh-Linn: A Novel of Viking-Age Ireland© 2014 James Nelson326 pages All Thorgrim Nightwolf wanted was to go home.But the gods and Irish women have a way of…complicating things.  Thorgrim has more sense than to tangle with this benighted island and … Continue reading →

Posted in historical fiction, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Scotch-Irish

Posted on March 26, 2016 by smellincoffee

The Scotch-Irish: A Social History© 1989 James Leyburn397 pages         Though they have long ceased to be a distinct ethnic group outside of Appalachia, for years the greatest non-English minority in the United States were the Scotch-Irish. … Continue reading →

Posted in history, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Words worth Reading

Posted on March 17, 2016 by smellincoffee

From A Literary History of Ireland: “Of all the tribes of the Celts, and indeed of all their neighbours in the west of Europe, the children of Milesius have been at once blessed and cursed beyond their fellows, for on … Continue reading →

Posted in quotations | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Fin Gall

Posted on March 4, 2016 by smellincoffee

Fin Gall: A Novel of Viking-Age Ireland© 2013 James Nelson290 pages When a Danish longboat happened upon a small Irish craft on the rough seas , it found more than quick booty.  Onboard the boat was the Crown of the … Continue reading →

Posted in historical fiction, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Warriors of the Storm

Posted on January 24, 2016 by smellincoffee

Warriors of the Storm© 2016 Bernard Cornwell320 pages “May God strike me dead this moment if I lie!”I drew Serpent-Breath, her blade scraping loud and fast on her scabbard’s throat.“Lord Uhtred!” Æthelflaed called out in alarm. “No!” Uhtred of Bebbanburg is … Continue reading →

Posted in General | Tagged , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Born Fighting

Posted on March 25, 2015 by smellincoffee

Born Fighting: How the Scots-Irish Shaped America© 2004 Jim Webb384 pages Born Fighting is a family story of the Scots-Irish, a clan of forgotten men. Beginning with the Celts, author Jim Webb moves swiftly through British history to the establishment … Continue reading →

Posted in history, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Race with the Devil

Posted on December 3, 2014 by smellincoffee

Race with the Devil: My Journey from Racial Hatred to Rational Love© 2013 Joseph Pearce264 pages How does a neo-Nazi become a Catholic literary critic?  An act of God?   Joseph Pearce would surely make the claim, his life having … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics and Civic Interest, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

How the Irish Saved Civilization

Posted on February 10, 2009 by smellincoffee

How the Irish Saved Civilization: the Untold Story of Ireland’s Heroic Role from the Fall of Rome to the Rise of Medieval Europe© 1995 Thomas Cahill230 pages plus bibliography, chronology, and index. Last week I began the “Hinges of History” … Continue reading →

Posted in history, Reviews | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments