The Story We Carry in Our Bones: Irish History for Americans

The Story We Carry in Our Bones: Irish History for Americans

Many Irish-Americans today know little about Ireland and their ancestry. Historian Juilene Osborne-McKnight presents Irish-American history in a compelling narrative form, accented with photographs, illustrations, and original, literary interludes. Osborne-McKnight pays homage to her ancestry in this chronicle of the Irish from ancient times to contemporary America. More than forty million people consider themselves Irish-American, and yet most of them do not truly understand the rich cultural history of their ancestors. From prehistoric times to the emigration of the Irish to Amerika, this broad, yet comprehensive, history gives a general overview of the deep history of Irish-Americans. Intricate Celtic illustrations accent each section, weaving a visual and stimulating picture of Irish history. The book includes such interesting topics as: • The four cycles of Irish storytelling • Ancient Celtic legends of shapeshifting and Fair Folk • The six Gaelic languages and their relation to one another •The Gallic Wars with Julius Caesar •The Anglo-Norman invasion • The sacred ceremonies and religious beliefs of the Druids • The real story of St. Patrick • The Great Famine brought on by British involvement • The mass exodus of Irish to America • The struggle for Irish-Americans to rebuild their lives upon new soil, in an unwelcome land. "A stylishly written precise distillation of the essence of being American of Irish descent. A must-read on par with How the Irish saved Civilization." Patrick Taylor, author of the New York Times and USA Today best-selling Irish Country Doctor Series. Osborne-McKnight is a professor of English at DeSales University in Pennsylvania. She received her MFA in poetry and creative nonfiction from Carlow University, which included a study in residence at Colaiste Naomh Padraig in Ireland. She is also a talented seanchaí, a traditional storyteller in the ancient Irish tradition.