"I've read quite a bit more about Irish history, mostly fiction. I suppose I've learned most of the history I know from novels, and I think that's not a bad thing." - Joe Offer,

You are right Joe it is not a bad thing - it is absolutely appalling. By what you state above you have read no history at all - instead you have read what undoubtedly are heavily biased STORIES about historical events - whale of a difference, particularly if you are then going to base any serious argument on what is fiction. If you are going to study any historical event you have to look at it from all perspectives, not just that of someone writing a work of fiction. You have to look at those events objectively, history has no romantic aspect.