Books

In his latest book, 'The Health of the Nation', Padraig O'Morain details but fails to analyse the failings in Ireland's recent health policy. By Sara Burke

Roy Foster's latest book, 'Luck and the Irish', is strong on economics but lacking in its grasp of contemporary politics and insight into Ireland's recent cultural changes
By Eoin Ó Broin

One of the most buzzed online web comics of the year finally got a hard copy release this side of the pond last month. It's called Shooting War, and it's made waves over at Smithmag.net since May 2006, when uber-Geek (that's hard ware and binary, not math rock and horn rims) bloggers Boing Boing blew the roof off it with a throw away casual link. It threads terrain typical of graphic novels, reaching into a future dystopia to stick some allegories about the present up our ass for awkward digestion.

A memoir by David Andrews gives a unique insight into Fianna Fáil in government. By Barry Desmond

Up the Poll: Great Irish Election Stories by Shane Coleman, recounts Irish elections back to 1917. By Ursula Halligan 

One thing's for sure: the Irish love their general elections. The lust for power by some candidates guarantees not only great moments of controversy but also plenty of laughs and lots of entertainment for the public.

Séan Kelly's memoir of his time in the GAA and his involvement in removing Rule 42 gives a unique insight into the Machiavellian nature of the GAA system. By Eoghan Corry

Author, documentary maker, gaelgoir and intrepid traveller Machan Magan talks to Village about his new book, an account of a journey around India.

The rise of Napoleon, revealing relationships and restoring an empire

Richard Kearney's latest work, Navigations, is a fascinating examination of the Irish literary and artistic landscape that reveals something of the psyche of modern Ireland.

The return of Bacon, Higgins and Bayley