Christine Kinealy is a lecturer in history at the University of Central Lancashire. She is the author of The Great Calamity: The Irish Famine, 1845-52 (Roberts Reinhart, 1994) and The Hidden Famine (Pluto Press, 2000). She has written for History Ireland and the New York-based Irish Echo.

'A very gripping and readable account ... Anyone interested in finding out more about what really happened during 'The Great Hunger' in Ireland should read this book'

• 1. Introduction2. The great Hunger in Ireland: Ideologies and Interpretations3. A State of Degradation The Pre-Famine Ireland-- The Political background, Dispossession and Disunity: Union and Discord: The Pre famine Economy: Poverty, Population and Poor relief4. Rotten Potatoes and the Politics of relief: Pre Famine Famines: Potatoes and the Coming of the blight: Peel and Politics of repeal: The Provision of relief 5. Putrefying vegetation and Queens Pay: Party Politics and the Triumph of Ideology: The 'Male Roads' and Queens Pay': Food Supplies and Food Exports: Food Shortages and Famine Elsewhere6. Black 47: The crisis of Starvation: Soup or Starvation: Private Philanthropy7. The Expatriation of a People: Property Supporting Poverty: The Impact of Famine: The Press and Public opinion8. A Policy of Extermination: The prodigal Son: The Army of beggars: The flight form Ireland. Emigration: the Cost of FamineEpilogue: The Famine Killed Everything