<div>The potato famine of 1845-51 was a pivotal event in the development of modern Ireland. No aspect of Irish life was untouched by the crisis. Kinealy offers not just a general history of the famine, but an illuminating exploration of aspects which have received little attention, including the rise in crime, the food export controversy, the role of religion, the growth of the Orange order, and the impact of the uprising in 1848.<br></div>