Elizabeth Ham's 1845 novel, The Ford Family in Ireland, provides a snapshot, based on the personal experiences of the author, of a pivotal period in that country’s history. It examines the state of Ireland following the failed rebellions of 1798 and 1803 with a focus on the uprising of the “Thrashers,” an agrarian society in Ireland, and their putting down by martial law. Such movements attempted to avenge the wrongs which they perceived were being carried out against the natives of Ireland by landowners and the English government. This rare novel, alongside extensive editorial commentary, will be of much interest to students of literature and Irish history.
