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The Great Shame: And the Triumph of the Irish in the English-Speaking World Audiobook
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(3.64) - 28 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
Thomas Keneally, the Booker Prize-winning author of Schindler's List, is universally praised for crafting smooth narratives from authentic historical events. With The Great Shame, he turns his insightful eye toward the Irish struggle through the nineteenth century. In sharp contrast to much of Europe, Ireland was a terrible place to be during the 1800s. Many of the nation's finest people set sail for America and Canada. Others were forcibly exiled to Australia for committing crimes as minor as shoplifting. And approximately one million perished when a widespread potato fungus fueled a devastating famine. But the Irish survived-on their homeland and spanning the globe-making profound contributions to the world. Epic in scope, this account captures the humanity of these events and ultimately emerges as a message of hope and glory. Keneally, an Australian with Irish bloodties, powerfully examines many shattered lives-including those of his own relatives. Narrator John McDonough brings a spirit to this extraordinary book that will not soon be forgotten.
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"It seems I am getting into the habit of reading hefty tomes. I wanted to read a book about my roots - Ireland. Just getting started...more on this book later.Very engaging history shown through the perils and separation of an Irish family. Learning much! "
— Keith (4 out of 5 stars)
The Great Shame Listener Reviews
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" A facinating look at the Irish people amd culture during the Diaspora. "
— Rifleman, 10/30/2013 -
" I love these kinds of books, but The Great Shame became just too tedious for me. I only finished about a quarter, and I hope to revisit in the future. Keneally absolutely did his research and writes with authority, but in my eyes, this is also The Great Downfall of a potentially great book. "
— Adam, 9/18/2013 -
" As an "Irish-American" I am appalled by the cruelty, oppression and exploitation of the Irish by the British. "
— Thom, 8/20/2012 -
" Interesting stories. Irish-Americans will recognize a lot in the experiences of Keneally's Irish-Australians. "
— Bill, 4/29/2012 -
" vast, did I say VAST, compendium of the irish diaspora, with stress on that which headed to australia, but pretty much a solid reference work on the diaspora as a whole.. too encyclopedic to be a "good tead" though many highly readble segments. "
— Maureen, 4/3/2012 -
" After reading Angelas Ashes I attempted to read this . It took me a long time to get through it but is well worth the time. I love anything about Ireland/Scotland and this is a wonderful about the famine & oppression "our" ancestors endured. "
— Crystal, 1/30/2012 -
" A through write up of the early Irish revolutionaries. Gets vey detailed at time and is rather long. "
— Betsy, 12/31/2011 -
" Genocide the old fashioned way. "
— Ed, 10/20/2010 -
" This book covers an incredible amount of modern irish history and really explains the impact of the exodus of the Irish to America and Australia. "
— Linda, 8/9/2010 -
" vast, did I say VAST, compendium of the irish diaspora, with stress on that which headed to australia, but pretty much a solid reference work on the diaspora as a whole.. too encyclopedic to be a "good tead" though many highly readble segments. "
— Maureen, 10/21/2009 -
" Interesting stories. Irish-Americans will recognize a lot in the experiences of Keneally's Irish-Australians. "
— Bill, 1/1/2009 -
" This book covers an incredible amount of modern irish history and really explains the impact of the exodus of the Irish to America and Australia. "
— Linda, 7/29/2008 -
" A facinating look at the Irish people amd culture during the Diaspora. <br/> "
— Rifleman, 2/23/2008
About Thomas Keneally
Thomas Keneally began his writing career in 1964 and has published nonfiction and more than thirty novels, including the Booker Prize winning Schindler’s Ark, which was the basis for the major motion picture Schindler’s List.
About John McDonough
John McDonough, one of AudioFile magazine’s Golden Voices, has narrated dozens of audiobooks, and won eleven Earphones Awards. He is known for his narrations of children’s books, including Robert McCloskey’s Centerburg Tales and Albert Marrin’s Commander-in-Chief Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War. Outside of his audiobook work, he has starred in a revival of Captain Kangaroo on the Fox Network.