Clair Wills Livres

Exploring the nuances of Irish emigrant culture, this study delves into the experiences and representations of Irish immigrants in Britain. It highlights the challenges and triumphs faced by these individuals, examining how their identities are shaped by both their heritage and the British context. Through various lenses, the book sheds light on the cultural dynamics and social interactions that define the Irish diaspora, offering insights into the broader implications of migration and identity.

How far would you go for the missing? When Clair Wills was in her twenties, she discovered she had a cousin she had never met. Born in a Mother and Baby home in 1950s Ireland, Mary grew up in an institution not far from the farm where Clair spent happy childhood summers. Yet she was never told of her existence. How could a whole family - a whole country - abandon unmarried mothers and their children, erasing them from history? To discover the missing pieces of her family's story, Clair searched across archives and nations, in a journey that would take her from the 1890s to the 1980s, from West Cork to rural Suffolk and Massachusetts, from absent fathers to the grief of a lost child. There are some experiences that do not want to be remembered. What began as an effort to piece together the facts became an act of decoding the most unreliable of evidence - stories, secrets, silences. The result is a moving, exquisitely told story of the secrets families keep, and the violence carried out in their name.

Ireland's controversial neutrality during the Second World War sparked accusations of betrayal and hypocrisy, leading to a complex media landscape. The book delves into the political and social ramifications of this stance, exploring how it shaped national identity and international relations. Through a detailed examination of various perspectives, it highlights the tensions and dilemmas faced by the Irish government and its citizens during a tumultuous period in history.