Part One: That Time Britain Did A Genocide in Ireland

Theodore W. Allen's 'The Invention of the White Race' presents a comprehensive analysis of the origins of racial oppression in America. The work challenges the notion of 'whiteness' as a natural attribute, instead positing it as a social construct used by ruling classes to maintain power over working-class people of all colors. Volume 1 focuses on racial oppression and social control, while Volume 2 explores the origin of racial oppression in Anglo-America.

In 'The Famine Plot', Tim Pat Coogan presents a vivid account of the Irish Famine, highlighting how the British government's policies exacerbated the crisis. He argues that the famine was not just a natural disaster but a result of deliberate actions by the British, which led to massive starvation and emigration. The book explores themes of colonialism, laissez-faire economics, and the invocation of Divine Providence as excuses for inaction.

The book chronicles the Irish potato famine of the 1840s, one of the most appalling events of the Victorian era, which killed over a million people and drove many more to emigrate to America. Woodham-Smith highlights the British government's 'obtuseness, short-sightedness, and ignorance' and their stubborn commitment to laissez-faire policies, which exacerbated the disaster. The book also explores the long-term impact on Anglo-Irish relations and the foundation it laid for the Irish Independence movement. Woodham-Smith's account is vivid, disturbing, and combines great literary power with historical learning.