Rot

In "Rot," historian Padraic X. Scanlan presents a striking new account of the Irish Great Famine, connecting its catastrophic impact to the vulnerabilities created by British imperial policies. The narrative explores how Ireland's reliance on the potato as a staple food, coupled with an unstable market environment fostered by colonialism, set the stage for widespread devastation. Scanlan critiques the relief efforts that prioritized free markets and wage labor during the crisis, ultimately reshaping our understanding of this tragic period and its lasting consequences.