two books i always seem to recommend:
Irish history:
Laffan, Michael
The Partition of Ireland 1911-1925 (1993)
possibly the clearest, most well written book to deal with this subject. Quite short, less than 200 pages, but required reading for anyone wanting to get into this subject. he was my history professor too but im not biased
[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Partition-Ireland-1911-1925-Michael-Laffan/dp/0862211069/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1299925080&sr=1-1"]Amazon.com: The Partition of Ireland: 1911-1925 (9780862211066): Michael Laffan: Books[/ame]
Spanish Civil War:
Preston, Paul
The Spanish Civil War. Reaction, Revolution and Revenge. (2006)
Superbly written. He's definately got sympathies for the non-communist left, indeed he says this in the intro, but it was hailed in Spain as the best, most even handed account of the war ever published. As above, seriously recommended for people wanting to get into the subject.
[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Spanish-Civil-War-Reaction-Revolution/dp/0393329879/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1299925114&sr=1-1"]Amazon.com: The Spanish Civil War: Reaction, Revolution, and Revenge (Revised and Expanded Edition) (9780393329872): Paul Preston: Books@@AMEPARAM@@http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51I54E%2B07SL.@@AMEPARAM@@51I54E%2B07SL[/ame]
Both these books i've passed on countless of times, and every single time they've gone on to read more about the period in question.
now, for me. Colombia / Cental America books please! I've read loads of general histories of South America but some specific ones (in English preferably) would be great. Moving over there in September
