The 13th Apostle: A Novel of a Dublin Family, Michael Collins, and the Irish Uprising

by Dermot McEvoy

The story-both romantic and terrifying-of how a handful of men, armed with nothing more than handguns and guts, forced the greatest nation in the world from their shores.On Easter Monday, April 24, 1916, the first great revolution of the twentieth century began as working-class men and women occupied buildings throughout Dublin, Ireland, including the general post office on O’Connell Street. Among the commoners in the GPO was a young staff captain of the Irish Volunteers named Michael Collins. He was joined a day later by a fourteen-year-old messenger boy, Eoin Kavanagh. Four days later they would all surrender, but they had struck the match that would burn Great Britain out of Ireland for the first time in seven hundred years.The 13th Apostle is the reimagined story of how Michael Collins, along with his young acolyte Eoin, transformed Ireland from a colony into a nation. Collins’s secret weapon was his intelligence system and his assassination squad, nicknamed “The Twelve Apostles.” On November 21, 1920, the squad-with its thirteenth member, young Eoin-assassinated the entire British Secret Service in Dublin. Twelve months and sixteen days later, Collins signed the Treaty at 10 Downing Street, which brought into being what is, today, the Republic of Ireland.An epic novel in the tradition of Thomas Flanagan’s The Year of the French and Leon Uris’s Trinity, The 13th Apostle is a story that will capture the imagination and hearts of freedom-loving readers everywhere.Skyhorse Publishing, as well as our Arcade, Yucca, and Good Books imprints, are proud to publish a broad range of books for readers interested in fiction-novels, novellas, political and medical thrillers, comedy, satire, historical fiction, romance, erotic and love stories, mystery, classic literature, folklore and mythology, literary classics including Shakespeare, Dumas, Wilde, Cather, and much more. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are committed to books on subjects that are sometimes overlooked and to authors whose work might not otherwise find a home.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Ireland, Historical, Irish Literature

593 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 4, 2014

Reviews

[Ed · Rating 3 out of 5]

This novel tells the story of Michael Collins' post-1916 actions through the fictional creation of a teenage "right-hand-man" that bears witness to the Irish Revolution in Dublin. Eoin Kavanagh is a great creation to tell this essential and exciting story in a very engaging way. Eoin's work and proximity of Collins allows the reader intimate access to the story, and McEvoy does a great job telling this story.

However, I was confused by some of McEvoy's artistic decisions (to the point I mentioned them to a friend as a source of frustration in an otherwise enjoyable book). The story is framed by Eoin's death as a very old man, and his grandson and granddaughter-in-law going through his possessions and finding his diary. The diary provides the first-person narrative which is the majority of the book. However, the interludes of Johnny 3 and his wife are clunky and distractingly sexual. In almost every chapter that includes them, they devolve into sexual contact, which seems extremely out of place and against the tone of the book itself. For example, as the couple take a break and walk around St. Stephens Green and note how historical the area is, Johnny 3 gets an erection and presses it against his wife in an embrace. Just out of nowhere. In the middle of the Michael Collins' story. The other distracting feature is the abandonment of the first-person narrative to an unexplained third-person perspective in separate chapters. I found this distracting while reading the book, but it is explained literally in the last page of the novel.

Despite these faults, if you have an interest in the ins and out of how Michael Collins outsmarted the Empire, I recommend this book. The faults are easily ignored, and the main story is well told.

[Sue · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story about Michael Collins and the events of the Easter uprising through his assassination were well done. The 'modern' chapters were much less so - Johnny and Diane were irritating.

[Autumn · Rating 1 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley. I did not finish this book. I could not. The formatting was horrible. Then, at 5% of the way in, I read 'they were awesomely horny for each other'. No. I expected a historical fiction novel, not something that was more a young student's first attempt at writing. Do not waste your money.

[Tessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really loved this book, I could have done without the chapters of Johnny 3 and Diane but besides that I really liked all the others characters. Eion was lovely, I adored him, same goes for micheal himself. & the parts about the squad were awesome. Although I knew how it would end I was hooked until the last page. Such an interesting part of history! 4.5 stars.

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very uneven - well written in parts, but just plain bad in others. Decent story overall, but a lot of pointless scenes (especially between the tiresome Johnny 3 and Diane) and jumping around to other places and times that added nothing to the story.

[Janine · Rating 2 out of 5]

Really struggled with this book.
Parts where ok and parts just made me frustrated as they did not belong. All the badly written sex scenes and sexual comments bothered me.

[Michael C. · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.8

[Ellie Brady · Rating 3 out of 5]

The historical portions of this book were amazing. It really brought to life the struggles, the mayhem, and how hard it was for Ireland to win its freedom. The rest of the book was just passable. If it weren’t for the historical emphasis of this book, I would not have read it.

[Helen Robson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, you really felt that you got to know Michael Collins the man, and understood his political stance and resolve. I would have liked a map of Dublin and surrounds to get a better understanding of their movements around the city.
The only disappointing parts were the stupid sexual encounters of the Kavanagh grandson and wife, with their inane comments! It rather spoiled the gravity of the historical aspects.

[Barbara Biasiotta · Rating 1 out of 5]

what a struggle! and i really wanted to like this..:(

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a pretty good book especially if you are interested in Michael Collins and the Irish fight for their independence. I learned a lot from it. The only parts I did not care for and felt were unnecessary were the parts taking place now between the American couple. Gratuitous sex scenes were added with them. All of that was unnecessary and took away from a fascinating story of the fight for independence. But I do recommend the book, just scan over those unneeded pages.

[Paul Matson · Rating 5 out of 5]

captivating read

I’ve read numerous books on Irish history most of which end badly for the Irish. It was good to finally read one in which they actually beat the English at their own game. Well written and compelling, I really felt as if I was in Dublin during those terrible but historical years.

[Pat Quinn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Listened to it on audiobook rather than text. Fun at times, weird at times. A bit smutty at some points, which feels out of place. Overall I think it was a decent historical fiction book about the Irish revolution, but it’s by no means an authority of Michael Collins - more fan fiction than anything else.

[Kate Murphy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought it was an amazing book, it’s historically accurate and Eoin and Roisin were really well written characters, but the modern scenes between Johnny 3 and Diane were really frustrating, annoying and ultimately just really unnecessary as the book would have been fine without them. I would suggest skimming over the modern chapters. But otherwise, it was an amazing book.

[Geoff Phillips · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little long but the short chapters helped the pace. History and fiction woven together well to create a engaging story and historical narrative.

Eoin’s final diary entry is a most satisfying conclusion, and it’s unfortunate that one short chapter follows.

Worth reading if you enjoy history.

[Anr706 · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was excited to to read this. Read about 1/3 then assigned it DNF. It was tedious, I didn’t learn anything I didn’t already know, and I wasn’t enjoying my reading time. great topic. I may try again.

[Thomas Brazeil · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW!!!

The Easter Monday Rebellion and the events that followed which allowed Ireland win it's independence is an extraordinary time in history. This book is one of the best about Mick Collins and the events revolving around him. Two thumbs up, five stars times two!

[Tim Fitzgerald · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating historical novel about Michael Collins and the Irish Uprising!

Although this is a novel, it’s a great read for anyone that follows Irish history. I couldn’t put it done once I started!

[Patrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

I learned quite a bit about Michael Collins, the revolution of 1921 and of the subsequent civil war. However, the dialogue between the protagonist’s grandson and his wife was tedious and quite unnecessary. I’m far from being a prude, but it got irritating reading them discussing their sex life.

[Ginny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Insights from the inside through a diary from one of the General's closest friends.Much of the Irish side of my family left Ireland before the revolution. Sad how colonialism, greed and petty politics ruin governments, countries, and revolutions. I enjoyed this very much.

[Laura Schmidt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was familiar with most of the details of the Rising and the civil war, but McEvoy’s storytelling connected the dots. And there were things I didn’t know about, like the de Valera’s National Loan chicanery — and now I’ll have to find out more about that!

[Norman Cowan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic story

I could not put this book down! It portrays the short life of Michael Collins and the lengths he went through to clear the English out of Ireland , interspersed with little bits of fiction. Buy this book now.

[Ted Dunkelberger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting early history of IRA and gripping story of 1920 Dublin.

[Ron D Myers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Understanding Ireland

Great perspective and story. Well written. Provides a very good perspective on the history and evolution of Ireland. Worth reading.

[Noreen Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! Well done

[Mike Eberhard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful Historical Fiction

The Irish battle for independence in the 192’s comes alive in this book. You feel on the scene in the pubs and streets of Dublin.

[Monical · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not an easy read but I was spellbound. Although this is a novel, it brings lots of the characters of the Irish rebellion to life for me. Warts and all- no hiding the viciousness of the fight.

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read!

I particularly enjoyed this book. The perspective was just right to communicate both the history and people. I’m looking forward to reading more by Dermot McEvoy!

[Gregory Weiss · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fine read

A book I would highly recommend to anyone interested in the late teens and early twenties of Ireland's history. Personally, I couldn't put it down.

[Pepper · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful view of a great man.

Even though Eoin only lives in this story, he really is alive and active, giving the reading an intimate view of Michael Collins. Thank you