Compelling perspectives from leading historians on Joe Lee's historical classic and its relevance to our current understanding of the history of modern Ireland.
In 1989, renowned historian J.J. Lee published his magnum opus,
Ireland 1912-1985: Politics and Society
. Not only had Lee written a classic, but he transcended the reach of the academy when the book became a popular bestseller—going over a dozen reprints, selling thousands of copies, and winning an array of awards.
Over three decades later, this collection of essays honors Lee’s contribution to historical scholarship by gauging the influence of
Ireland 1912-1985
as a historical analysis and commentary through the contributions of a dozen leading historians of modern Ireland. Simultaneously, this collection measures the applicability of Ireland's 1912-1985 historiographical and methodological approach to more recent history. Nearly all of the contributors to
A Tract for Our Times
were trained as historians with
as a touchstone text. Thus, each author revisits this book with their own field of expertise in mind.
Lee's stature as a sought-after public intellectual and a widely published scholar, combined with the profile of contributors, makes
an essential reading for anyone interested in the trajectory of Ireland since the decade before independence, and the craft of history writing.
Contributors include Andy Bielenberg, Marion R. Casey, Anne Dolan, Diarmaid Ferriter, Cormac Ó Gráda, Gearóid Ó Tuathaigh, Richard McMahon, Daniel Mulhall, Bernadette Whelan, Niall Whelehan and Nicholas M. Wolf.