Black Potatoes cover art

Black Potatoes

The Story of the Great Irish Famine

 Preview

Get 30 days of Premium Plus free

£8.99/month after 30-day free trial. Cancel monthly.
Try for £0.00
More purchase options
Buy Now for £12.99

Buy Now for £12.99

About this listen

In 1845, a disaster struck Ireland. Overnight, a mysterious blight attacked the potato crops, turning the potatoes black and destroying the only real food of nearly six million people. Over the next five years, the blight attacked again and again. These years are known today as the Great Irish Famine, a time when one million people died from starvation and disease, and two million more fled their homeland.

Black Potatoes is the compelling story of men, women, and children who defied landlords and searched empty fields for scraps of harvested vegetables and edible weeds to eat, who walked several miles each day to hard-labor jobs for meager wages and to reach soup kitchens, and who committed crimes just to be sent to jail, where they were assured of a meal. It's the story of children and adults who suffered from starvation, disease, and the loss of family and friends, as well as those who died. It's also the story of the heroes among the Irish people and how they held on to hope.

©2001 Susan Campbell Bartoletti (P)2010 Audible, Inc. Europe History

Critic reviews

"A powerful and important book." (KLIATT)
All stars
Most relevant
A very interesting listen, I learned much from this writer about the hard times of the famine, indeed I often wonder if any of my Fathers relations would have lived through this time, one cannot help to feel the pain and suffering of the time.

A great read.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I listened with much sadness we will never know how much they suffered. Thank God for some they escaped the suffering .

Suffering

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Everyone should listen to this book. It is almost beyond belief but true and the stories of actual people and places cuts through histories that are often cantered on the political events. All that is there too of course but it is hearing what terrifying suffering an entire nation went through(especially lower economic groupings) that makes this a profound book and makes you appreciate every mouthful of food afterwards. I will never be able to see a humble potato in the same way again. Highly recommended.

Completely moving

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Brilliant read.
A must read for anyone who is looking for the facts about the great hunger.

Very well researched. Wonderfully written.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Really recommend this audiobook, I couldn’t stop listening extremely interesting. The story was beautifully and respectfully read

Brilliant

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
See more reviews