Michael Collins, Himself

by Chrissy Osborne

Michael Collins, Himself focuses on the man behind the mask. Not the soldier, statesman or guerilla but the real, human, Michael Collins.
This new approach offers insights into Collins' personal life and the crucial role women had to play in it; his likes, dislikes, his interests and personality; and includes the memories and anecdotes of members of his family and descendants of those who knew him.
The book is accompanied by photographs illustrating places associated with him as they are today, together with some rare and possibly unseen archive pictures.

Genres: History, Nonfiction

136 pages, Paperback

First published December 15, 2003

Reviews

[Mary Fagan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is best considered as a family memoir rather than a critical biography.It contains useful information about Collins’s immediate and extended family,the places where he lived and his relationships with family,friends and the people he worked with.The author also details his romantic relationships. Her reflections on his love life are suspect as they are arrived at using contemporary mores and morals rather the standards prevalent in Ireland at the time.

[Noreen Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Didn't think it was great or that well written

[Adriana Moura · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a cute little portrait of an important historical character. Here you will find the man behind the politician and the military leader who invented the modern guerilla warfare. The obvious worship devoted to Collins by the writer can be ignored in favour of the richness of the information she gives. The less bright side is that the book has loads of minor mistakes and misinformations. The book is probably better suited to someone who read other books about Collins (I recommend Frank O'Connor's "The Big Fellow" for a beginner and Tim Pat Coogan's "Michael Collins" as the best biography), or who doesn't care for a deeper understanding of Collins's relevance to the Irish history (or to modern "rebel" warfare).

[S. Sigerson]

A very personal look at the inner man: his private life, character, likes & dislikes, relationships, traits, fancies & foibles. Collins fans will devour it.