The Wearing of the Green

A History of St Patrick's Day

Daryl Adair author Mike Cronin author

Format:Hardback

Publisher:Taylor & Francis Ltd

Published:20th Dec '01

Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back

This hardback is available in another edition too:

The Wearing of the Green cover

The full history of St. Patrick's day is captured here for the first time in The Wearing of the Green.

Illustrated with photos, the book spans the medieval origins, steeped in folklore and myth, through its turbulent and troubled times when it acted as fuel for fierce political argument, and tells the fascinating story of how the celebration of 17th March was transformed from a stuffy dinner for Ireland's elite to one of the world's most public festivals.

Looking at more general Irish traditions and Irish communities throughout the world, Mike Cronin and Daryl Adair follow the history of this widely celebrated event, examining how the day has been exploited both politically and commercially, and they explore the shared heritage of the Irish through the development of this unique patriotic holiday.

Highly informative for students of history, cultural studies and sociology, and an absolute delight for anyoneinterested in the fascinating and unique culture of Ireland.

'An inventive, delightful, and percipient book which uses the national feast day as a means to examine the texture and drama of the history of the Irish wherever they might find themselves.' – Thomas Keneally

'The most complete history we are ever likely to have of [St Patrick's Day] ... A work of popular history that is readable, entertaining, challenging, provocative, well-written and thoroughly researched.' – Joseph O'Connor

'A fascinating exploration of what has become one of the world's most public and internationally celebrated festivals.' – Visitor

ISBN: 9780415180047

Dimensions: unknown

Weight: 820g

358 pages