The Easter Rising: Revolution and Irish Nationalism

by Alan J. Ward

In this innovative work, Alan Ward uses the pivotal event in twentieth-century Irish history as a prism through which to survey Irish history from the twelfth century to the present. By asking why the Easter Rising occurred, Ward is able to review the history of Anglo-Irish relations, from the time of Norman settlement to World War I, as well as the development of several kinds of Irish nationalism in the nineteenth century. Then, by asking what the effects of the Rising have been, Ward discusses the Irish war of independence, the creation of the Irish Free State, and the Irish civil war, pondering the influence of the various strands of Irish nationalism on the modern state. Finally, the book reviews the conflict in Northern Ireland from the 1960s all the way to the fall of 2002, making this distinctive and analysis ideal for use as a core text in Irish history or superb supplementary reading for survey courses in British, European, and World History.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Ireland

208 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 1980

Reviews

[Gregory · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alan J. Ward has an interesting perspective on the Easter Rising.

He documents the importance of the United States and their pressure on the English to give Ireland more freedom, especially through World War I. Surprisingly, Irish Americans were one of the biggest groups trying to keep America from joining the war on the Allied side. They were advocating to perhaps even join the Central Powers.
The book also shows the different type of nationalism in Ireland. You had the Romantic, the Revolutionary(which was terrorism as early as 1883) and the Constitutional types. He explains these in detail.
Good book in all. My only complaint is that I found it almost "academic" or "dry" in the sense that it was a times a struggle to finish. This may not be the case for others though.

[J.S. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've always had difficulty understanding the situation in Ireland, but Mr. Ward's slender book does an excellent job of summarizing the history that has led to so much conflict. He explains briefly the history of Ireland, from the earliest Norman settlers and the colonialism of England, and it's attempts to gain greater control through settlement and land reform, and how Catholicism and Protestantism play into that mix. He also discusses the various forms of nationalism - Constitutional, Revolutionary, and Romantic - and how each has contributed to the political makeup over the years. Mr. Ward sees the 1916 Easter Rising, although not especially successful at the time, as a pivotal point in Ireland's history, galvanizing those in the Catholic south to push for their independence, and fortifying those in the Protestant north in their allegiance to the British crown. He also explains the consequences of the Rising and how it has shaped conditions since then. Especially interesting was learning how America and the many Irish who immigrated have had such a profound effect on the situation in Ireland.

Although the actual discussion of the Rising itself is cursory, the history discussed is very enlightening in helping to understand such a complex situation. My initial impulse to read this book came from listening to U2's "Sunday Bloody Sunday" (particularly the "Rattle & Hum" DVD version) and to better understand the sentiments expressed. But I immediately found myself fascinated with the complex history of Ireland and started digging back into my family genealogy to find which counties my few Irish ancestors came from, giving me a greater feeling of connection to their lives. But mostly, it gave me a greater understanding of the reasons behind the conflicts I remember hearing about on the news when I was a kid back in the 70s and 80s. The book is perhaps a bit too academic and scholarly in it's focus to be considered casual reading, but it's short and not difficult.

EDIT: After discussing this book with others more knowledgeable of Irish history I've learned that Mr. Ward greatly minimizes the extent of British culpability for the problems in Ireland. By sanitizing the history in this way, I feel that it can't possibly provide an accurate understanding of the reasons behind the violence and conflicts.

[Rudy Herrera · Rating 5 out of 5]

A seminal overview of the historical context and the content of the Easter rebellion. Great for getting back into things, or for a casual observer, as it is peculiarly well written and interesting throughout.

[Emily]

a pro-empire chronicle of resistance; abandoned