Michael Davitt book launch

by kbranno Mon May 21, 2007 12:19 kevinbrannigan at hotmail dot com

When will this be onsale nationwide and where can it be picked up?

by JC Mon May 21, 2007 12:57

Laurence Marley's book came out a few days ago. As it's published by Four Courts Press, it should be widely available in bookshops (and also on-line). And you could persuade your local library to order a copy

by Tolstoy - grassroots Sun May 27, 2007 09:50

One of the underestimated figures in Irish history, Michael Davitt had a range of interests national and international. He took an interest in the Boer War (sympathised with the Boers, though he didn't notice their racism), sympathised with Jews who were victims of the Tsar's pogroms in Russia, was active as an MP late 1890s in the area of penal reform, toured Australia, visited Palestine, read the agrarian writings of Henry George (American economist), was active in the early 1900s in discussions that eventually led to the foundation of the trade union-supported British Labour Party. All these interests were pursued when he had only one arm. (Lost in a teenage industrial accident). He was a scholar who spent many days and hours reading in the National Library. I hope this new book generously pays tribute to his wide ranging intellect.

by Garret Tue May 29, 2007 17:27

Mahatma Gandhi cited Michael Davitt and the Land League as an inspiration for his civil resstance movement in India. Davitt really is one of the greatest, but least famous figures of Irish history. His memory has been sadly neglected.

by sceptic Tue May 29, 2007 17:59

But Davitt was also against strikes and industrial disputes and in favour of 'conciliation boards', i.e. social partnership. On his poor relationship with Dublin socialists have a look at Fintan Lane's book Origins of Modern Irish Socialism (1997) pages 167 to 170. He also saw native Africans as 'savages' and fully supported the Boers without reflecting on their treatment of the native peoples. Short version: let's not romanticise yet another figure from Irish history. Yeah, Davitt was really good on many issues, but he was also problematic on some topics.

by Mick O rourke Wed May 30, 2007 10:22

I understand that it is a very good volume

Well done

by Forgotten Hero Thu May 31, 2007 23:06

Forgotten Hero
The Landlord's agents standing with their crowbars in their hands,
Four little children watch the fire and do not understand
Just another family evicted from their home
And the memory never faded for one brave man from Mayo.

He grew up in an English town and ideas filled his head
He read about John Mitchell and what Fintan Lalor said
How the landed gentry with their property unearned
Took the food from millions gave them famine in return

Michael Davidd was nineteen when he joined the IRB
But the police they arrested him in 1870
And the lies of the informer sent Michael Davitt down
For fifteen years in Dartmoor as a traitor to the crown

The Landlord and his agent wrote Davitt from his cell
For selfishness and cruelty have no parallel
And the one thing they're entitled to these idle thoroughbreds
Is a one way ticket out of here third class to Holyhead

After seven years and seven months this convict was released
His spirit was unbroken his commitment but increased
And with one clear call he then unveiled his plan
We'll form a mighty Land League and we'll nationalise the land

O Forgotten hero in poverty you came
But you never looked for riches and you never looked for fame
The interests of the common man it was your life's aim
Forgotten Hero never vanquishes in the struggle

The rain lashed down all summer and filled the people's heart with fear
And the harvest was the worst since the dreadful Famine years
But the Land League's Monster Meeting showed the farmers they were strong
And if we all stick together, boys, it won't take very long

Out the ruins of the cottage where he first he drew his breath
Davitt said I hope that I may have pleasure yet
Of trampling on the ruins of this greedy useless band
And driving landlordism from the shores of Ireland

With Parnell as its leader the land war held his course
Hold the rent and hold the harvest they can't evict us all
And Davitt crossed the ocean saying give what you can spare
And the Irish in Amerikay they paid up their full share

But not for the first time and neither for the last
The Dublin Castle Bishops nailed their colours to the mast
And the Altars rang with warnings, respect the law we say
For these Fenians and these Socialists are leading you astray

With the laws of Private Property and the army at his back
Buckshot Forster then arrested all the leaders of the pack
In the Hallowed House of Commons the Gents did cheer and howl
When they heard that Michael Davitt was safely back in jail

And the treaty of Kilmainham Parnell threw it all away
It was the turning point in his career and he turned the wrong way
And the revolution missed its chance with victory in its sight
And fell down like a house of cards collapsing overnight

Davitt saw the Land war as the first step down the track
And he hoped to see the end of the Queen and the end of Union Jack
And I hope some tremor reached him where he lies in bleak Mayo
When they raised the Harp without the Crown above the GPO

O Forgotten Hero in peace may you rest
Your heart was always with the poor and the oppressed
A prison cell could never quell the courage you possessed
Forgotten Hero never vanquishes in the struggle
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by Tolstoy - grassroots Fri Jun 01, 2007 01:41

Agree with 'sceptic' that Davitt's personality and sympathies are problematic. He was a pragmatic reforming victorian very much of his time. His only formal schooling was at a Wesleyan primary school in Lancashire (?) before having to discontinue and seek menial work to support the struggling family. He was a gradualist social reformer in the mould of Nye Bevan rather than, say, Tony Benn. Definitely not attracted to marxism, possibly due to his small farmer origins with its emotional attachment to land. Hence his attraction to the ideas of Henry George. Let us say, as they do about the British Labour Party, that Davitt's social philosophy owed more to methodism than to marxism. I hope no historian tries to romanticise Davitt - a realist study would be more interesting. (The pacifist Sheehy Skeffington wrote a romantic biography that overlooked the warts.) Warts and all, Davitt was a very interesting Irishman with national and international sympathies, whose personality and achievements deserve factual examination.

by Antti Fri Jun 01, 2007 10:35

Agree with most of what has been said so far - this is an excellent book. It not only puts Davitt back in the public eye, it is a fair and balanced account, aware of the foibles noted above.