Laurence Marley Knihy

Michael Davitt (1846-1906) is popularly known as the founder of the Irish National Land League and as the architect of the agrarian campaign of 1879-82. However, while the Land War was pivotal in Irish history, Davitt's lesser-known freelance political career after 1882, during which he engaged with a diverse range of issues and causes from the Boer War to Zionism, reveals a much more complex and, at times, contradictory political figure than that previously represented in Irish historiography. This book - now in paperback - is the first sustained study of Davitt's political career in its totality and views him in a broad political context of labor activism and international radicalism.

The collection of essays offers a comprehensive exploration of the historical ties between the Labour Party and Ireland over the past century, featuring insights from notable Irish and British scholars. Covering key figures from Keir Hardie to Tony Blair, it delves into the political dynamics and evolving relationship that shaped both entities, providing a nuanced understanding of their interconnected histories.