The Story of the Great Irish Famine
Incredibly powerful, this book masterfully tells the story of the Irish Famine. Without focusing on a single character, or set of characters, the book compiles the succession of events that Irish people endured during the famine. The text is strong, direct and vividly descriptive, capturing the emotional weight of the topic.
The separation of chapters through double- page spreads creates a clear timeline of how the famine began and its devastating consequences. This structure is particularly useful for readers, especially if it is used as an introduction to the topic. Each chapter brings the reader through a journey of emotions, from frustration and despair to faint glimmers of hope.
Rooney’s remarkable ability to channel emotion through his art is truly astonishing. The dark, evocative illustrations exquisitely complement the text, immediately conveying the harsh realities faced by far too many Irish people. The technique used is called scraperboard, an engraving medium that involves scratching away a layer of black ink from a chalk-coated board.
Including contemporary quotes alongside each double spread, further amplifies the authenticity and emotional weight of the narrative, grounding it firmly in the harsh truths of history. Readers can easily imagine how catastrophic it could be for any one family to go through one or more of the events described.
