Agony at Easter: The 1916 Irish Uprising

by Thomas M. Coffey

Here is a minute-by-minute account of the bizarre, outlandish and tragicomic events that brought on the 20th Century's first successful revolution. On Easter Monday, 1916, a half-trained army led by poets and intellectuals launched an invasion of Dublin's General Post Office, the most strategically useless building in the city. Agony at Easter is not just another book about this foolish, yet somehow magnificent, rebellion. Though it adheres rigidly to the facts as gathered from long interviews and thorough research, it is told as a story from the viewpoint of those in and around the Post Office during its week of siege. The author weaves it all into a spellbinding narrative that brings out an extraordinary truth - the rebel leaders believed that through defeat and death they could arouse the Irish people to a triumphant fight for independence - and amazingly, they were right.

Genres: History, Ireland, Nonfiction

271 pages, Hardcover

First published May 1, 1969

About the author

A former critic for the Los Angeles Mirror, Thomas Coffey grew up in Madison, Wisconsin, studied at the University of Wisconsin and served as a pilot in the Pacific during World War II.

Reviews

[Claud · Rating 4 out of 5]

a fitting read not only for the dissertation but also deeply representative of the current mood in the Sinclair household, happy easter

[Eugene · Rating 5 out of 5]

A detailed account of the Easter Rising in Dublin, 1916 that eventually led to most of Ireland gaining its rightful and long overdue independence from England/Britain. Well written and incredibly moving ... several times I was in bits reading this book. Talk about idealism and heroism in the face of impossible odds. It was fascinating to learn that many Irishmen returned from overseas to take part, and also the role of so many 'Cumann na mBan' women who shared the same risks. My grandfather and grand-uncle both fought for independence in the Wexford uprisings that followed so it's naturally a subject close to my heart, and I'm glad to find out more of the details. The next time I'm in Dublin I'll be sure to visit the GPO and O'Connell Street and pay my respects!

[Leo Mccarthy · Rating 4 out of 5]

author must have been a brit with occasional shots at the Irish rebels.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great book on the events of the uprising, giving a thorough day-by-day account of events. What little I previously knew about the uprising was from a friend's rendition of The Ballad of James Larkin. (There's a nice Dubliners version of it on youtube) The book also included some good photos. However, Agony at Easter was pretty lacking in any analysis of causes or aftermath, so I will have to do a lot more reading if I'm going to understand this part of Irish history. Having the typical American's sympathy for the underdog, of course my natural inclination is to side with the rebels, yet I realize that I simply don't know enough about Irish history to have any judgment. It does seem that the leaders of the uprising were not very well prepared and were perhaps more interested in grand gestures than in success.

[Brighid O'Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well documented Irish history of the 1916 Easter Rising. The facts come form newspapers and personal letters and some details I had never heard before like the mention of "shawlies" who tried to storm the Post Office when it was taken over by Irish Rebels, convinced the rebels were trying to keep them from their paychecks owed to them from sons and husbands who were fighting in WWI. Well worth the read if you like Irish history

[Kieran Guckian · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got this in a sale of work at the weekend, started reading it on Saturday afternoon and couldn't put it down until Sunday when I finished it. Fantastic read, quite objective and for someone from Dublin completely fascinating.