The History of the Great Irish Famine of 1847 (3rd ed.) (1902) With Notices of Earlier Irish Famines

"The History of the Great Irish Famine of 1847" by John O'Rourke is a record from the early 1900s about the devastating Great Famine in Ireland, and also examines previous famines that affected the country. The author wants to describe the important facts about the famine, what made it happen, and how it impacted the Irish people, using different sources and stories from that time to show what people suffered. The beginning of the book shares the author's thoughts on why the famine was important, and he explains that he wants to collect historical stories before the people who lived through it pass away and their stories are lost. O'Rourke talks about how he did his research, which included asking people who were alive at the time for information, looking at old records, and reading firsthand accounts. In the beginning, the book also explores the past of the potato, how it was brought to Ireland, and how it became the main food source, which led to terrible consequences when disease ruined the potato crop, connecting farming practices and the looming fear of famine in Irish history.