I see Matthew Yglesias has taken to reading Irish history.
I’d been envisioning a pretty two-sided British/Protestant versus Irish/Catholic kind of history. But no! You’ve got your Anglo-Irish, your Old English, your Dissenters, etc., etc., etc. Quite the mess. Lee is perhaps the funniest historical writer I’ve encountered in a good long time (perhaps ever). Can’t quite decide if Foster’s footnote capsule biographies of notable figures are charming or annoying.
Feckin’ sure its complicated Matthew. In fact I think if anyone can study and remember Irish history it pretty much prepares them for just about any subject in any field whatsoever.