Book Review: Journeys to England & Ireland by Alexis de Tocqueville
Translated by George Lawrence and K.P. Mayer
Through a series of letters to one of his friends, De Tocqueville gave lengthy, objective accounts of what he observed while traveling through England and Ireland. His journey began in England, where he had the privilege of observing sessions of Parliament and meeting with prominent politicians. De Tocqueville also compared the debates in Parliament to the American and French forms of government. Plus, he explained discussed the roles of the Anglican and Catholic Churches in England and Ireland, respectively. According to de Tocqueville, the Irish were devout Catholics. Hence, the church played a central role in their lives. In Ireland, de Tocqueville described the long and taxing labors of the working class and how localities oversaw their respective legal systems.
Some of the names and dates are incorrect, according to the translators. However, the plethora of detail de Tocqueville used allowed the reader to visualize a session in Parliament, the division between Catholics and Protestants, his interviews with prominent clergy and politicians at the national and local levels, and returning to a hut after an arduous day at the mill. As a result, readers have the impression de Tocqueville wrote what he saw and heard at those moments.
Journeys to England & Ireland teaches readers about the political and social climates of England and Ireland in the 1800s from the perspectives of people who changed the laws and witnessed the transformation to an increasingly industrial economy.
This book was borrowed from a library.