Fintan O’Toole, prominent Irish author and journalist, writes for the Irish Times, among other venues. In the Fall, several of his IT columns concluded with reference to his new book, Heroic Failure: Brexit and the Politics of Pain. The title had a familiar ring. It turns out that O’Toole’s 2018 book’s title is a variation on a 2016 book written Clemson History colleague, Stephanie Barczewski, Heroic Failure and the British.
At the time, O’Toole’s book was not available in the US, but I believed that he was metaphorically in a conversation with Professor Barczewski. For example, he cites her positively in a 2017 piece. Among other things, the citation shows the influence of Professor Barczewski’s analysis, and points to the positive relationship between historians and journalists.
On Monday, the two of them meet and speak to each other publicly for the first time, about Brexit, here, at Clemson University.
The event is free and open to the public: 4PM, Hardin 232.