An accessible overview of Ireland's War of Independence 1919-21. From the first shooting of RIC constables in Soloheadbeg Co Tipperary on 21 January 1919 to the truce in July 1921 the IRA carried out a huge range of attacks on all levels of British rule in Ireland. There are stories of humanity such as the British soldiers who helped three IRA men escape from prison or the members of the British Army who mutinied in India after hearing about the reprisals being carried out by the Black and Tans in Ireland. The hundreds of thousands of people who celebrated the Centenary of the 1916 Rising with pride and joy are the same people who will appreciate the story of the Irish Republicans who battled against all odds in the next phase of the fight for Ireland between 1919 and 1921.
Lorcan Collins co-author, with Conor Kostick, of The Easter Rising: A Guide to Dublin in 1916; founder of the 1916 Walking Tour of Dublin; lectures on Easter 1916 in the United States, and a regular contributor to radio, television and historical journals. 16 Lives is Lorcan’s concept and he is the author of the first book in the series, a biography of James Connolly.
This book reads like a well detailed Wikipedia page. Events occur in a vacuum, isolated without any discussion on social and economic change. Reasons for why certain organisations were supported or opposed are murky. it sheds no light to why an organisation such as Sinn Féin, received encouragement from parties of opposed interests, both the reactionary Catholic Church, and organised labour groups, they received support, end of discussion. That being said the recollection of events, although at times isolated, are in great detail.
As the title states, this book is clear, concise and factual. No BS. IT CLEARLY POINTS OUT THE WINSTON CHURCHILL IS.NOTHING BUT ANOTHER HITLER WHO WANTED TO MAKE THE IRISH EXTINCT!
Excellent account of the war, the noble goal and the brutal crackdown. The horrors are acknowledged and no one emerges clean - as is almost always the case with war.