Rot discusses the physical and political reasons for the Irish potato famine of the 1840s and 50s. What caused so many to have to choose between emigration and starvation? Where were the rich British landlords when their workers were starving? However, it shines a harsh light on our current American system of worrying more about profits than people too. After all, the oligarchs’ playbook hasn’t really changed in 200 years.
England in the 19th century believed that market forces could fix any problem. It wasn’t capitalism that caused the potatoes to rot in the ground. But, it did encourage some pretty harsh ideas like blaming the Irish for being too lazy to work for wages and too “country” to eat bread like civilized people. If only the Irish were more like the English poor. Why in the world would the British government give them free food or money? That would just encourage them not to work. Some in England even thought that the Great Famine would help cull the large Irish families of their weakest members, which was perceived as a good thing.
So why were the Irish so dependent on a single, originally imported, crop? England effectively used all the good Irish land as a giant cash machine for producing crops and livestock that would bring a great profit to its English owners when exported. The worst land was left to the Irish farmers who grew potatoes because they grew in poor soil and provided a complete meal without additional processing.
Originally, I chose to read Rot because I’m 50% of Irish descent. My ancestors were the lucky ones who immigrated to America, in 1847, rather than starve. I wanted to know more about how such a long lasting famine was allowed to continue without English government intervention. However, as I was reading the book, I kept seeing the parallels in the thinking of the English government then and the USA government now.
Rot is a fascinating look at how unfettered capitalism is not necessarily a good thing when unscrupulous, rather than compassionate, people are in charge. It will really make you think long after the book is finished. 5 stars and a must read!
Thanks to NetGalley and Basic Books for providing me with an advanced review copy.