The Insurrection in Dublin

by James Stephens

In the Land of Youth recounts the rivalry between the courtly Queen Meave and Eochaid, the earthy king. It is filled with scenes of ribaldry and revelry and acts as a prelude to Maeve’s war with the men of Ulster.

Stephens's two novellas, Deirdre (1923) and In the Land of Youth (1924), are drawn from the Ulster cycle of Irish mythology. They were intended to be part of a five-volume work, recounting the great Irish epic: An Táin Bó Cuailgne (The Cattle Raid of Cooley), but Stephens abandoned the idea, discouraged by critical reaction.

Genres: History, Ireland, Irish Literature, Nonfiction, Politics, Military Fiction

Paperback

First published January 1, 1913

About the author

James Stephens was an Irish novelist and poet. James' mother worked in the home of the Collins family of Dublin and was adopted by them. He attended school with his adopted brothers Thomas and Richard (Tom and Dick) before graduating as a solicitor's clerk. They competed and won several athletic competitions despite James' slight stature (he stood 4'10" in his socks). He was known affectionately as 'Tiny Tim'. He was much enthralled by tales of military valour of his adoptive family and would have been a soldier except for his height. By the early 1900s James was increasingly inclined to socialism and the Irish language (he could speak and write Irish) and by 1912 was a dedicated Irish Republican. He was a close friend of the 1916 leader Thomas MacDonagh, who was then editor of "The Irish Review", manager of the Irish Theatre and deputy headmaster in St Enda's, the radical bilingual Montessori school run by PH Pearse, and spent most with MacDonagh in 1911. His growing nationalism brought a schism with his adopted family.
James Stephens produced many retellings of Irish myths and fairy tales. His retellings are marked by a rare combination of humour and lyricism (Deirdre, and Irish Fairy Tales are often especially praised). He also wrote several original novels (Crock of Gold, Etched in Moonlight, Demi-Gods) based loosely on Irish fairy tales. "Crock of Gold," in particular, achieved enduring popularity and was reprinted frequently throughout the author's lifetime.
Stephens began his career as a poet with the tutelage of "Æ" (George William Russell). His first book of poems, "Insurrections," was published in 1909. His last book, "Kings and the Moon" (1938), was also a volume of verse.
During the 1930s, Stephens had some acquaintance with James Joyce, who mistakenly believed that they shared a birthday. Joyce, who was concerned with his ability to finish what later became Finnegans Wake, proposed that Stephens assist him, with the authorship credited to JJ & S (James Joyce & Stephens, also a pun for the popular Irish whiskey made by John Jameson & Sons). The plan, however, was never implemented, as Joyce was able to complete the work on his own.
During the last decade of his life, Stephens found a new audience through a series of broadcasts on the BBC.

Reviews

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this my last day in Dublin, and wish I'd read it my first as it is a detailed account of the week of the Easter rising as Stephens was walking about the city trying to find out what was happening. It has a beautiful immediacy, and is written from the point of view of a writer involved in the radical renaissance but not in the rising itself, so sympathetic but still very open about the widespread initial sentiment against the rising from the knots of folk he spoke with in the street. It has a couple of quick but lovely portraits of those involved whom he knew. You couldn't ask for a better sense of how widespread in Dublin the rising was (I had always thought it took place only at the post office, but it was spread across a much wider area, in the castle and St Stephen's green), and what the city felt like during the week of fighting. That was marvelous, as are the pictures inserted in the middle!

[Sally · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a first-hand account of the Easter Rising in 1916, published in October of the same year. Stephens wrote what he saw and heard, and the account is riveting in its straightforwardness: "the city is at war and here's what I know." Very little, as it turns out, as there is a lot of walking around talking to others, trying to find out what is happening.

With today's instantaneous information, it seems hard to imagine this uncertainty if something so dire was to befall us, but then again, who hasn't watched the talking heads on TV go on and on about some breaking news when they really have very little factual material to share? We haven't come that much farther.

[Ruby · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read the free Kindle edition. It gave a real sense of being a man-on-the-street during a turbulent time. James Stephens was an articulate patriot who, given the state of news dissemination in 1916, had little idea what was actually going on around him even though he was an eye-witness to some of the public actions in the Easter Rising. Also, Stephens used a very accessible style. Reading the book was like getting a series of letters from a friend.

[Dave · Rating 5 out of 5]

This year marks the 100 year anniversary of the Easter Rising so I decided to re-read this book as each day unfolded but I did finish one day early. The rising ended 100 years ago tomorrow which was then followed by executions. I love the immediacy this history was told with and the chapters covering after the rising are very informative. Overall I would definitely recommend to anyone interested in Irish 20th century history.

[Linda Kenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am taking an on-line course on the Irish rebellion and found this book on my shelf of Irish history. Stephens' daily account of the Easter Rebellion added insight on the impact of the rebellion on the daily life of Dubliners. No paper, no bread, no milk, sleepless nights, not being able to head to work. His summary at the end was prophetic.

[Max Nemtsov · Rating 5 out of 5]

Написанный за несколько дней и изданный по горячим следам отчет очевидца о Пасхальном восстании, очень личный. Позиция у Стивенза настолько тут человечна (а не политична), что можно многое понять об этом сложном и болезненном «стокгольмском синдроме» ирландцев к англичанам (то, что дублинцы восстания не поддержали и не поняли, факт широко известный, но этим все не ограничивается). Бесценны такие записки обывателей, хочу я сказать.

[Núria Azanza · Rating 4 out of 5]

Es un paperbag, se lee en un rato y el periodista James Stephens cuenta en primera persona y en directo, lo que fue el levantamiento de pascua de 1916 en Dublín.
Viviendo aquí no podía dejar de leerlo y aprender algo más de la historia de la ciudad que nos acoge y que mejor que contada en primera persona.

[H. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written with wonderful phrasing where most sentences are more beautiful than the ones they follow. Stephens fully captures what was happening during the insurrection, but does not glorify it. He speaks with the indifference of a Murrow describing the bombing of London; a remarkable accomplishment that Stephens pulls off with no show of effort.

Plus, wow, the sand in this guy for all the places he walked while the fighting was going on. And this whole encounter is made the more remarkable as he was a Catholic, but first and foremost and Irishman.

[Chad Malone · Rating 5 out of 5]

An interesting book about and was written during the events of the rising and Insurrection in Dublin of Easter week in 1916. As the writer was trying to figure out what was happening. You felt like you were there with him as it was happening. Truly a great read if you are into history, Ireland, war and so forth.

[William Guerrant · Rating 4 out of 5]

Most of this book are diary entries written by a Dubliner during the 1916 Easter Rising, then dashed off to press. Beyond documenting the rumors that were circulating in the city at that time, they are of little value to those interested in the history of the episode. But to be fair, the author (a poet and novelist) announces in the second paragraph of the forward that: "The few chapters which make up this book are not a history of the rising."

More interesting are the final few chapters, which are the author's reflections on the rising and on "the Irish Questions."

"Soon now the military tale will finish, the police story will commence, the political story will recommence, and perhaps, the weeks that follow this one will sow the seed of more hatred... From this day the great adventure opens for Ireland. The Volunteers are dead, and the call is now for volunteers."

[Martín Castagnet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un auténtico hallazgo de los editores de Godot. Así es como se viven las revoluciones: menos románticas que lo imaginado, más rumor que hecho, y sin una opinión precisa por parte de sus testigos. Es impactante la clarividencia de Stephens, que escribió el diario a medida en que se desarrollaba la semana pero al terminar trazó una radiografía de los próximos cincuenta años de historia irlandesa.

[Differengenera · Rating 3 out of 5]

chatty account of what a littérateur who moved in the same circles as MacDonagh, Plunkett and to a lesser extent Pearse spent the few days over which the Rising unfolded. it is written in real time and is not very informative or insightful, mostly interesting from the point of view of which rumours were breaking past the British lines and when and maybe one or two memorable images.

My Ulysses / Finnegans Wake lecturer once passed on an anecdote about how Joyce, anxious about his failing health and not yet finished the Wake, alighted on James Stephens as someone he would entrust the conclusion of the Wake to, in large part because of his historically resonant name. Joyce must have been very confident in the systematic or structural nature of his compositional methods cos this guy, not sure he's got the juice

[_delletres · Rating 2 out of 5]

**
Aquest llibre arriba a les meves mans en ser la guanyadora d'un sorteig al perfil de @lauravillar.

"La verdadera esencia y singularidad de la insurrección yace en su sencillez".

Es tracta d'un relat en primera persona on el periodista Stephens va narran amb immediatesa el que sent i el que veu a la ciutat de Dublín el matí del dia 24 d'abril de 1916, la Revolta de Pasqua.

" Esta mañana no hay periódico, no hay pan, no hay leche, no hay noticias".

El periodista es troba entre la població que no sap ben bé què està passant mentre un grup d'homes armats, patriotes irlandesos, pretenen assaltar el Castell per aconseguir la independència del Regne Unit.
La rebelió fou reprimida en 6 dies peró històricament suposà una victòria.

La meva lectura ha estat com els ciutadans que passaven sense saber què passava, aquest diari m'ha tingut força estones deambulant per la ciutat i no podia llegir amb fluidesa. Les reflexiosn i els rumors es sumen a la narració.

Si bé no he gaudit de la lectura, m'ha despertat força curiositat sobre el fet històric.

Recomanaria aquesta lectura a algú que tingui curiositat pel fet concret o per la història en general, no com a lectura amena. S'ah de llegir amb deteniment per entendre'n les posicions, motivacions i el desenvolupament del dia a dia.

**Com he comentat moltes vegades, practico activament el Bookcrossing o Passallibres i aquest llibre en concret l'ha passat a un lector habitual de novel.la bèl.lica qui de ben segur gaudirà molt més de la lectura.

[Nicolas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Es un registro interesante sobre las pascuas de 1916, que Stephens escribió a modo de diario personal. Disfrute mucho esta lectura porque fue en simultaneo con conocer la ciudad. Un ejercicio muy interesante el poder escuchar y ver lo que el autor describía en la mismísima Dublin más de 100 años después.
Me permitió conocer y entender mucho más un lugar , una historia y una sociedad que hasta entonces me resultaba bastante ajena.

[Paula · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really good insight into what it was like to actually be in Dublin during the Rising. If you're looking for a book about the facts and figures of the Rising, this isn't the book for you, but if you want to know the gossip that was peddled through Dublin, the feelings of Dubliners and the view of someone who was pro Irish independence, you cant go wrong with this book.

[Psientist · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very short (148 pages) first-hand account of the the Easter Rising of 1916 in Dublin. Clearly and elegantly written. Worth a read. Stephens seems to slant in favour of the Irish Free-State and to give Eoin MacNeill a good deal of credit. His analysis of the problem of Ulster and dismissal of class/labour politics in the last two chapters is interesting and un-convincing.

[Sally Ashmore · Rating 4 out of 5]

"And I believe that all but local politics are unfruitful and soul-destroying....We have more problems to resolve in our towns and cities than many generations of minds will get tired of striving with."

[lucy · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 estrellas. Stephen escribe una crónicas increíble de cómo se vivió la insurrección de 1916. Relatos cortos y precisos, me hubiese gustado que sea un poco más largo y detallado.

“La imaginación es la suma de la amabilidad y la inteligencia, y mucha falta nos hace”

[Timothy Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

The must read book on 1916 in Ireland

James Stephens’ observations of the week of the rising and his musings after are a rare and valuable insight to what followed; a war of independence, partition and a civil war are all seen in the shadows of his conclusion

[Terry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Precision and economy in a war story that reads like poetry

It's short; you can easily read the book in under two hours, but I can't, nor will I upon the second reading.

[Merceditas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excelente diario de un ciudadano dublinés de a pie que atestiguó el Easter Rising y dejó sus impresiones. Muy buena la traducción.

[aidan suri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful

A short concise read that follows the life of a Dublin resident during this tumultuous period. Surprisingly emotional, an excellent read.

[DannyKidd · Rating 3 out of 5]

a true account of the uprising in Dublin as it was happening and life continued around it.

[Josh · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn't sure what to expect with this piece, but I was pleasantly surprised -- if not shocked -- by what I found. That's not to say that this is a work of pure propaganda, or that it goes too far in describing the events of a tumultuous period in a countries history. If anything, it does the events that unfolded due justice and portrays the period of turmoil with mostly unabashed realism. Stephens spares no description of bloodshed and death, and his theoretical and psychological discussions on the events is poignant and appropriate. He does, however, occasionally get into personal squabbles that takes away from the universal message of valiant uprising and courage men, but these moments are few and forgettable.

I don't know would be better: reading the novel and then going to Dublin, or visiting the city and then reading Stephens' account. Personally, I went with the latter, finding out about the novel more than three years after visiting the city. Thus, I was able to visualize the scenes according to the landscape that I remembered, placing he dead horses where they laid and the barricades appropriately high in front of the Post Office. Connecting with history like that truly gave me a better appreciation for what unfolded, and reading this personal account only made the reality that much more palpable. Sparked by this account, I look forward to reading more on the events of the revolt in Dublin and the Easter Rising. And if all the accounts to follow are as riveting as Stephens', then I'm certainly in for a rousing bit of history lessons.

[Nicola Pierce · Rating 5 out of 5]

A hundred years later and there are a hell of a lot of books about Easter 1916 in all different sizes and prices but I strongly recommend this little account of the rising as witnessed by Dublin writer James Stephens. He explains that his book is not a history of the rising and it's not -in fact it's much better than that because James is writing day by day as the confusion unfolded about what exactly was going on.

The reader accompanies Stephens to and fro from his job as he gradually becomes aware that something is afoot in Dublin. It certainly appears that most citizens hadn't a clue what was going on but it doesn't stop certain types from stating some incredible 'facts' and presenting it as the truth. For instance someone declares that a hundred German submarines are hiding out in the pond in Stephen's Green while another says that thousands of Irish Americans have arrived to join forces with a German army ready to aid the Volunteers against the British in Dublin. You cannot, I think, beat the immediacy and honesty of a diary where the reader only knows as much as the writer does. It won't take more than an hour to read but you'll be surprised at the amount of information you'll gain from it.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting eye witness account of Dublin during the insurrection.

[Ardyth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very brief, excellent journal from The Easter Rising of 1916.

Stephens does not pretend to give the whole story of The Rising, but only his experience in one corner of Dublin. He closes with some reflections on the state of affairs.

I was surprised by this little book. The on-the-ground situation was murkier than I ever knew.

Worth the couple hours for anybody interested even slightly in Irish history.

[Paul Roper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Written 6 months after the Easter Rebellion of 1916, James Stephen's and his writers eye capture the chaos of Dublin in 1916. A first class history because the writer was THERE, and you can't do better than that, unless you have a time machine...

[Teresa Darragh · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a interesting account about the events that took place over a number of days during the 1916 easter rising that took place in Ireland .

[Nigel Ewan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cool firsthand account of the Easter Rising. His prose is delightful. I need to brush up on my Irish history, though—several specific geopolitical terms used here that I'm not familiar with.