The Anglo-Irish War: The Troubles of 1913–1922

Osprey Essential Histories #65

by Peter James Cottrell

The Anglo-Irish War has often been referred to as the war 'the English have struggled to forget and the Irish cannot help but remember'. Before 1919, the issue of Irish Home Rule lurked beneath the surface of Anglo-Irish relations for many years, but after the Great War, tensions rose up and boiled over. Irish Nationalists in the shape of Sinn Féin and the IRA took political power in 1919 with a manifesto to claim Ireland back from an English 'foreign' government by whatever means necessary. This book explores the conflict and the years that preceded it, examining such historic events as the Easter Rising and the infamous Bloody Sunday.

Genres: History, Ireland, Nonfiction, Military Fiction, British Literature, War

96 pages, Paperback

First published March 8, 2006

About the author

Despite being born on an RAF base in East Anglia I have always thought of myself as Welsh. Both my parents came from Glamorgan so that was where we went when my father left the RAF when I was four and where I grew up and went to school. I joined the Territorial Army whilst still in the sixth form and went on to gain commissions in both the Royal Navy and British Army after qualifying as a teacher.

I decided to leave the regular army to spend more time with my family and return to teaching after a long, enjoyable and somewhat eclectic service career that encompassed learning to parachute; Loan Service in Saudi Arabia; being a UN Military Observer in Bosnia whilst taking in Northern Ireland; the Arctic Ocean; Iraq; Sierra Leone and Afghanistan along the way.

The Army funded my Master's degree and inadvertently got me into writing. Since 2005 I have written histories of the Anglo-Irish Troubles that followed the end of the Great War and the Irish Civil War that resulted from the Anglo-Irish Treaty. I have also written an historical novel called 'England's Janissary' about a young Irish soldier who returns from the Great War and joins the Royal Irish Constabulary as well as an historical fantasy novel called 'Wyrdegrove' set during the English Civil War.

My wife, Heather has given me much of the inspiration and encouragement that I have needed to write and I would be lost without her.

Reviews

[Margaret Madden · Rating 1 out of 5]

I found this book very weak and extremely biased. Phrases like 'Arguably many Rebels like Pearse, Childers, Connolly and Griffith had as much English [...] blood in their veins as many Unionists had Irish.' and 'the protagonists on either side were mostly Irish' are irrelevant, offensive and have no references showing their basis. There is also an opaque view of the executed leaders of 1916, when the author says 'Although the executions that followed the Easter Rising were perfectly legal they damaged British standing and created a new crop of martyrs for the cause'. The author may call these executions 'legal' but dues not elude to the fact that these men were 'prisoners of war', and as such, should have been imprisoned, not shot en-masse.
I should have abandoned the book after reading the very first line: 'It is likely that many people have never heard of the Anglo-Irish War.'
Seriously??? Did he mean Irish people, English people? Americans? I think he may be underestimating a vast percentage of Europe.
Should you want to read an Englishman's view of another of England's colonies, go for it. Should you want a balanced, non- biased look at the relationship between Ireland and England, buy a decent book, like Charles Townshend's 'The Republic' or go online and read witness statements on http://www.bureauofmilitaryhistory.ie/

[Sam · Rating 1 out of 5]

For the most part this was imperialist drivel.

[Mary Fagan · Rating 2 out of 5]

The author’s opinions are biased and not evidence based.The absence of references and footnotes are glaring faults.

[Andrew Daniels · Rating 1 out of 5]

wildly biased, lacking in depth and context,
basically sympathetic for the Unionists and against the Republicans
reads a bit like an apologist text sometimes,

not reliable
I feel the Derry Girls would not approve!

[Declan Waters · Rating 4 out of 5]

Being of Irish and British descent, my knowledge of the independance of the Republic of Ireland is lamentable. With the anniversary of the Easter Rising, I decided to find more about the other country I have connections with, and it's connections with the one I live in.

This broad book covers the period 1913 to 1922 referred to as the Anglo-Irish War or 'The Troubles'.

It is well presented, well researched and an easy read as I would expect from an Osprey book. It also concentrates on some of the military / violent engagements of the period, with a spattering of other actions. I was suprised at how much I didn't know and it gives a good history as to the birth of Northern Ireland as well as Republic of Ireland and organisations such as the Garda / Police Service of Northern Ireland / IRA / UVF. The book is equally damning of both nations, but includes important background to the actions of the people involved.

My only criticsm would be the clear assumption that the reader knows about the Easter Risings as it gets only a short mention. However I know a little of this following documentaries on BBC4 so the mention provided the aide-memoir required.

Well worth a read if you're interested in the history of these two neighbours, allies, and the violent disagreements that have occured.

[John Savage · Rating 1 out of 5]

Gave up on this short volume as the first error that James Connolly was Glaswegian (born in The Cowgate Edinburgh) was bad but then the line that HMS ASGARD shelled Dublin was the final straw. It was the Naval Yacht HELGA which bombarded Dublin, the ASGARD was Erskine Childers' yacht which landed the Mauser Rifles at Howth in 1914. Poor show, especially from someone who has written two very good novels set during the period. I wasn't expecting too much as I have several volumes on the period it covers, but these two glaring errors are beyond comprehension. Fortunately I did not pay a lot of money for this or I would be demanding my money back.

[Patrick · Rating 2 out of 5]

Osprey certainly is a British publisher. I can quibble with the authors point of view but I found this book worthwhile.

[Bill Bailey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Could have used more photos and illustrations, and a "Further Reading" list.

[John Somers · Rating 2 out of 5]

9/20.