Those Are Real Bullets: Bloody Sunday, Derry, 1972

by Peter Pringle, Philip Jacobson

On January 30, 1972, British paratroopers opened fire on unarmed Irish Catholic demonstrators in Derry, killing thirteen and wounding another fourteen. Five were shot in the back. A major turning point in the recent history of Northern Ireland, the massacre galvanized Catholics in their struggle against the British presence in Ulster. In Those Are Real Bullets, Peter Pringle and Philip Jacobson provide the definitive, full-length narrative account of Bloody Sunday. Using extensive interviews and recently declassified documents unavailable for previous books about the shootings, they vividly re-create the chaos and terror of the day and capture the full human impact of the tragedy. Those Are Real Bullets provides an intimate portrait of a city in revolt and the climax of a failed military response that plunged Northern Ireland into three decades of armed conflict. "A shocking, stomach-turning, enraging narrative history that should be required reading." -- Irish Independent "Written by two veteran, first-rate reporters, this book will remain the standard account of that miserable day." -- Geoffrey Wheatcroft, Daily Mail

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Ireland, Irish Literature, European History, Politics

320 pages, Paperback

First published April 27, 2000

About the author

Peter Pringle is a veteran British foreign correspondent. He is theauthor and coauthor of several nonfiction books, including th ebestselling Those Are Real Bullets, Aren't They? He lives in New York City.

Series:
* Arthur Hemmings Mystery

Reviews

[Phil Overeem · Rating 5 out of 5]

An angering, disquieting read.

[Míceál Ó Gealbháin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book on the struggle for freedom in Northern Ireland.

[Alexis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actual rating: 3.5

I am (shamefully and alarmingly) new to learning about the Troubles and the IRA. I've read The Ferryman and Say Nothing and that is all of my prior knowledge on the subject. That being said, I think that I would have benefited from reading more general books about the events and times before stepping into this one. This one is a perfect look at one specific, horrific event during the Troubles, but I felt I lacked a lot of the context, though the authors do go into some overview. Still, what happened on Bloody Sunday is unbelievable and awful, and the authors capture that very, very well. They also do well to end on the note they do, which suggests that what happened afterwards was little better.

[David Fitzpatrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

While at times a confusing read (many, many people and street names to sift through), the book pieces together a coherent picture of a traumatizing day from hundred of accounts. It aims to and succeeds in giving a comkpelt rundown of the events of Bloody Sunday and lay deserve blame at the feet of the government and military establishment in Derry at the time.

[Cormac · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a book that's hard to follow - there's a lot of different people and a lot of different things going on. But it's a book that is saddening, angering, unsettling. It would be shocking enough even without remembering that the army was firing on civilians they themselves defined as British citizens in British territory. Important to remember just what's at risk in Northern Ireland.

[Kael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Couldn’t put down, reads better than a documentary. Clear British war crimes, riot control with guns. Traumatized Derry and served as a catalyst for rapid IRA expansion into “the Troubles” period. Little bit too visceral in some parts.

[Feenie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Informative. Scary. While reading, so many times I had to put the book down and walk walk away I was that mad. It still boggles the mind that this happened.

[Lauren Patton · Rating 5 out of 5]

You can definitely read this and feel like you’re there and it’s devastating. Insanely impeccable resources and research.

[Melissa Riley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brilliantly written. From what I can see there is a slight bias toward the Catholic community but I think they have taken evidence from both sides of the tradegy and have tried to paint a realistic picture of what happened that day. I read this book because when I was travelling through Ireland we stopped off in Derry/Londonderry and I was intrigued by the segregation between the Catholic and Protestant communities. I wasn't actually aware that Bloody Sunday occured until we arrived in the city and there were posters for the 40th anniversary.

I would certainly recommend this for people who want the real story of Bloody Sunday, there was surely no sugar coatings.

[Dawn]

Didn't finish this one. I wanted to read it to learn more about Bloody Sunday. This book is good if you want a very detailed description of the events of the actual day. I would have preferred more historical context. It seems to have been written for an Irish audience, and I found it hard to keep track of all of the organizations, individuals, and acronyms. I did learn some stuff, though.

[Jennifer Stone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Overall a pretty good read. I have always had an interest in Irish history and this book was a long yet interesting account of the Bloody Sunday Massacre in 1972. It seems to be a bit biased on the Catholic side, but it gave a truer account of the atrocities that occurred that day, even if it was long in coming. I would definitely recommend it to anyone with interests in Irish history.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

We all know about Bloody Sunday but this gives a whole new perspective. You get to truly know some of these people. When you've finished reading it, watch 'Blood Sunday' (the movie). Or don't...it's hard to take all of it in.

[Grant · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really well written disturbing book. Being 40 this was all during my life time yet I know so little about this important period. It has made me go out and by two more books about the period. Any recommendations welcome

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chilling account of a devastating day. Since I have not previously read much recent Irish history, I would have preferred more historical context and fewer details, but I suspect I was not the intended audience.

[Ablevins · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's hard to say that you love a true story about innocent people who are killed. It's a great book and it's upsetting. It's a very complicated subject.

[Felicia Maisey · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most gut-wrenching finest portrayals of a truth that will not be denied. The book is written form a first hand perspective and sugar coates nothing.

[NYLon Carry On · Rating 5 out of 5]

How could this have ever happened?

:-(

[JLucasey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really difficult stuff to digest. An unbelievable and extremely distressing moment in history brought very vividly to life.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this in preparation for my trip to Ireland. It is a chilling and important read.