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When the Irish Invaded Canada: The Incredible True Story of the Civil War Veterans Who Fought for Ireland's Freedom
"Christopher Klein's fresh telling of this story is an important landmark in both Irish and American history." --James M. McPherson
Just over a year after Robert E. Lee relinquished his sword, a band of Union and Confederate veterans dusted off their guns. But these former foes had no intention of reigniting the Civil War. Instead, they fought side by side to undertake one of the most fantastical missions in military history: to seize the British province of Canada and to hold it hostage until the independence of Ireland was secured.
By the time that these invasions--known collectively as the Fenian raids--began in 1866, Ireland had been Britain's unwilling colony for seven hundred years. Thousands of Civil War veterans who had fled to the United States rather than perish in the wake of the Great Hunger still considered themselves Irishmen first, Americans second. With the tacit support of the U.S. government and inspired by a previous generation of successful American revolutionaries, the group that carried out a series of five attacks on Canada--the Fenian Brotherhood--established a state in exile, planned prison breaks, weathered infighting, stockpiled weapons, and assassinated enemies. Defiantly, this motley group, including a one-armed war hero, an English spy infiltrating rebel forces, and a radical who staged his own funeral, managed to seize a piece of Canada--if only for three days.
When the Irish Invaded Canada is the untold tale of a band of fiercely patriotic Irish Americans and their chapter in Ireland's centuries-long fight for independence. Inspiring, lively, and often undeniably comic, this is a story of fighting for what's right in the face of impossible odds.
Just over a year after Robert E. Lee relinquished his sword, a band of Union and Confederate veterans dusted off their guns. But these former foes had no intention of reigniting the Civil War. Instead, they fought side by side to undertake one of the most fantastical missions in military history: to seize the British province of Canada and to hold it hostage until the independence of Ireland was secured.
By the time that these invasions--known collectively as the Fenian raids--began in 1866, Ireland had been Britain's unwilling colony for seven hundred years. Thousands of Civil War veterans who had fled to the United States rather than perish in the wake of the Great Hunger still considered themselves Irishmen first, Americans second. With the tacit support of the U.S. government and inspired by a previous generation of successful American revolutionaries, the group that carried out a series of five attacks on Canada--the Fenian Brotherhood--established a state in exile, planned prison breaks, weathered infighting, stockpiled weapons, and assassinated enemies. Defiantly, this motley group, including a one-armed war hero, an English spy infiltrating rebel forces, and a radical who staged his own funeral, managed to seize a piece of Canada--if only for three days.
When the Irish Invaded Canada is the untold tale of a band of fiercely patriotic Irish Americans and their chapter in Ireland's centuries-long fight for independence. Inspiring, lively, and often undeniably comic, this is a story of fighting for what's right in the face of impossible odds.
384 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2019
74 people are currently reading
3807 people want to read
About the author
Christopher Klein
10 books69 followersWHEN THE IRISH INVADED CANADA now available
I’m a total history geek. Favorite historical figure: Teddy Roosevelt. Favorite historical event: the Defenestration of Prague. (Go ahead, Google it.) I love writing about history because it allows me to indulge my passion, travel back in time, and constantly learn more about humanity’s incredible backstory. History helps to explain our present-day world and acts as our roadmap to the future. After all, how can we know where we are going without knowing where we’ve been? (Not to mention, writing about dead people means never having to worry about your subjects returning your phone calls.)
I love to sweep away the cobwebs of history and introduce modern-day audiences to incredible figures who have begun to fade from our collective memory. My latest book is When the Irish Invaded Canada, the outlandish, untold story of the Irish American revolutionaries who tried to free Ireland by invading Canada. Taking their cue from a previous generation of successful American revolutionaries, these Great Hunger refugees and Civil War veterans attacked Canada five times between 1866 and 1871 in what are known as the Fenian Raids. With the tacit support of the U.S. government, these Irish Americans established a state in exile, planned prison breaks, weathered infighting, stockpiled weapons, and assassinated enemies. Defiantly, this motley group, including a one-armed war hero, an English spy infiltrating rebel forces, and a radical who staged his own funeral, managed to seize a piece of Canada--if only for three days.
In addition to When the Irish Invaded Canada, I am also the author of Strong Boy The Life and Times of John L. Sullivan America's First Sports Hero, Discovering the Boston Harbor Islands A Guide to the City s Hidden Shores, and The Die-Hard Sports Fan's Guide to Boston. I’m a frequent contributor to History.com, the web site of the History Channel, and often write about subjects from the past for the travel and Ideas section of the Boston Globe. I have also written for the New York Times, National Geographic Traveler, Harvard Magazine, Red Sox Magazine, ESPN.com, Smithsonian.com, and AmericanHeritage.com.
I am a member of the Authors Guild, Biographers International Organization, Boston Authors Club, and American Society of Authors & Journalists (ASJA).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 82 reviews
September 15, 2020
Who knew?
December 23, 2021
I probably know as much as any person about the Fenian Raids having planned and staged "Fenian Raid" reenactments at a Pioneer Village in Southern Ontario for several years. I've read a number of books on the subject including Peter Vronsky's "Ridgeway: The Battle that Made Canada", "The Year of the Fenians" by David Owen and "Driving Back the Fenians" by Robert Dallison. I've also toured the site of the Battle of Ridgeway and visited the monument to the University of Toronto students from the Queen's Own Rifles who died or were wounded at Ridgeway which has a place of honour near Queen's Park in Toronto. When I saw this book at Chapters, I thought it might be worthwhile reading about the history of the Fenian Raids from an American perspective. It was much more than that. The book really gives you the backstory of the oppression suffered by the Irish people leading up to and during the period of the "Great Hunger" otherwise known as the Potato Famine of the 1840's. Christopher Klein is a skilled storyteller and he dives deep into the biographies of the key leaders of the Fenian Brotherhood, both in the USA and Ireland. The principle military actions are primarily from the Fenians' perspective providing a number of insights I wasn't aware of having read the other three, Canadian histories noted above. As this ties in directly to my family history (having descended from the Corrigan, Gallivan, O'Connor and Macauley families, all of whom settled in Ontario before and during the time period) it gave me a heightened awareness of the social and political issues my ancestors faced. I'd strongly recommend this book for those who have an interest in the subject matter.
September 16, 2019
Irish Americans one year after the Civil War invaded Canada and tried to hold it hostage until Britain freed Ireland. A bit of a crazy story that’s true.
August 7, 2019
The Irish invaded Canada? I was captured, in a sense, by the title; and, at the end of the experience, happy I read Christopher Klein’s latest book, When The Irish Invaded Canada: The Incredible True Story of the Civil War Veterans Who Fought for Ireland’s Freedom. Klein lives in Andover, Massachusetts, and has authored four books previous to this publication. He has written for the New York Times, Boston Globe, as well as, Smithsonian.com and History.com.
This is a story I was not aware had even occurred. And to find that it not only took place shortly after the end of the Civil War, but that elements of the “invasion”, —subsequently referred to as the “Fenian Raids”— transpired in Maine and Canada, specifically Eastport and Campobello, surprised me even more.
Providing an excellent backstory supported by historical data on the epic struggle between the Irish and English (Great Britain), Klein, no doubt, has done his homework, as he expeditiously brings the reader to the crux of the story. Beginning just 13 months after the end of the Civil War, soldiers from both North and South— having laid down their arms— begin the arduous challenge of trying to put the Union back together. But, for Irish Americans, there is a new cause; to finally secure the independence of Ireland from British rule.
To do this, the leadership of the Fenian Brotherhood, a precursor to future Irish organizations seeking independence, sees an opportunity to once again strike a blow against Great Britain by seizing Canadian territory and simultaneously sparking an uprising on their native soil of Ireland.
The term Fenian is derived from the Fenian Cycle in Irish Literature, which centers on the deeds of the legendary Finn MacCumhaill and his volunteer corps of warriors known as Fianna Eireann. A person of the Fenian Brotherhood was a member of an Irish nationalist society active in the United States and Ireland. Fenian leadership in the US fell to John O’Mahony, and in Ireland to James Stephens.
In the book’s prologue, Klein introduces 32 year-old Colonel John O’Neill as he stands with his men on the banks of the Niagara River in May of 1866. After a six-mile march through Buffalo, O’Neill and his men, dressed in tattered uniforms with green ribbons tied to their hats and buttonholes, make ready to cross and strike the first blow against the British in a fight for Irish independence.
It is O’Neill who Klein uses to effectively sum up the pent up feelings and attitudes, of over 700 years of English rule over the Irish. The once Civil War officer who took a Confederate bullet in defense of the Union, O’Neill was now fulfilling a childhood dream.
“The governing passion of my life apart from my duty to God is to be at the head of an Irish Army battling against England for Ireland’s rights. For this I live, and for this if necessary I am willing to die.”
What O’Neill’s passionate cry embodies, and what Klein so adeptly communicates throughout the pages of this book, is the essence of a grand story— “to capture the British colony on America’s northern border, hold it hostage, and ransom it for Ireland’s independence.”
Touching on topics of immigration, famine (Great Hunger), political, economic and racial injustices, Klein’s work exposes a myriad of degradations which serve to only fuel Irish contempt for Great Britain, and ignite numerous attempts to establish their own country under their own rule.
To do this, leaders of the Irish resistance decide to promote their cause, strike from both Ireland and the U.S. and as recruitment begins, plans are developed to establish Ireland as a free and independent country. Irish Americans begin an arduous journey back across the Atlantic to add to the already growing numbers of men in Ireland. Likewise, here in the US, men in the Irish neighborhoods of cities across the Northeast join the ranks of the brotherhood, and make ready for whatever is to come.
John O’Mahony, a Gaelic scholar born in County Cork, Ireland, emigrates from Ireland to the US in 1853 to form the Fenian Brotherhood operating in New York City. James Stephens, born in Kilkenny, Ireland, who was political out of the gate, forms the Irish Republican Brotherhood. These two men then organize and recruit members for a two-prong assault in the US and Ireland against Great Britain.
Soon after, a splinter faction forms when O’Mahony becomes complacent. William Roberts heads that group, and begins siphoning members and money with plans to invade Canada. But, seeing his leadership threatened, O’Mahony reluctantly approves a new strategy proposed by Bernard Doran Killian, to seize Campobello Island and use it as a base of operations for a much larger invasion.
The base of operations for this invasion is Eastport. Klein devotes an entire chapter on this mission, giving a good glimpse into the inner-workings of the developing resistance and to the mood of Eastport residents. The occupation in preparation to take and hold Campobello was one of five raids to be made from the US into Canada between 1866 and 1871. The series of incursions involved New Brunswick, Ontario, Quebec (twice) and Manitoba.
Klein’s detail on the events, major players, the historical underpinnings from both the US and British governments provides a wealth of information, allowing this period in history to surface as if reading a novel. The book’s flow and descriptive narrative with its unvarnished views of an Irish American trail by land and sea from a decimated homeland to the grimy streets of New York City is quite good.
This story has it all—Civil War veterans and a one-armed war hero, spy games, counter-intelligence, a radical’s faked funeral, tongue-in-cheek US support, stockpiling of weapons, planned assassinations; culminating in what is today regarded as a sometimes comical insurrection of one against another. Yet the deeper message Klein leaves with the reader, is that this is an important piece of history, and that the struggle of some fiercely patriotic Irish Americans was just one chapter of a much longer story about independence and a fight against impossible odds.
This is a story I was not aware had even occurred. And to find that it not only took place shortly after the end of the Civil War, but that elements of the “invasion”, —subsequently referred to as the “Fenian Raids”— transpired in Maine and Canada, specifically Eastport and Campobello, surprised me even more.
Providing an excellent backstory supported by historical data on the epic struggle between the Irish and English (Great Britain), Klein, no doubt, has done his homework, as he expeditiously brings the reader to the crux of the story. Beginning just 13 months after the end of the Civil War, soldiers from both North and South— having laid down their arms— begin the arduous challenge of trying to put the Union back together. But, for Irish Americans, there is a new cause; to finally secure the independence of Ireland from British rule.
To do this, the leadership of the Fenian Brotherhood, a precursor to future Irish organizations seeking independence, sees an opportunity to once again strike a blow against Great Britain by seizing Canadian territory and simultaneously sparking an uprising on their native soil of Ireland.
The term Fenian is derived from the Fenian Cycle in Irish Literature, which centers on the deeds of the legendary Finn MacCumhaill and his volunteer corps of warriors known as Fianna Eireann. A person of the Fenian Brotherhood was a member of an Irish nationalist society active in the United States and Ireland. Fenian leadership in the US fell to John O’Mahony, and in Ireland to James Stephens.
In the book’s prologue, Klein introduces 32 year-old Colonel John O’Neill as he stands with his men on the banks of the Niagara River in May of 1866. After a six-mile march through Buffalo, O’Neill and his men, dressed in tattered uniforms with green ribbons tied to their hats and buttonholes, make ready to cross and strike the first blow against the British in a fight for Irish independence.
It is O’Neill who Klein uses to effectively sum up the pent up feelings and attitudes, of over 700 years of English rule over the Irish. The once Civil War officer who took a Confederate bullet in defense of the Union, O’Neill was now fulfilling a childhood dream.
“The governing passion of my life apart from my duty to God is to be at the head of an Irish Army battling against England for Ireland’s rights. For this I live, and for this if necessary I am willing to die.”
What O’Neill’s passionate cry embodies, and what Klein so adeptly communicates throughout the pages of this book, is the essence of a grand story— “to capture the British colony on America’s northern border, hold it hostage, and ransom it for Ireland’s independence.”
Touching on topics of immigration, famine (Great Hunger), political, economic and racial injustices, Klein’s work exposes a myriad of degradations which serve to only fuel Irish contempt for Great Britain, and ignite numerous attempts to establish their own country under their own rule.
To do this, leaders of the Irish resistance decide to promote their cause, strike from both Ireland and the U.S. and as recruitment begins, plans are developed to establish Ireland as a free and independent country. Irish Americans begin an arduous journey back across the Atlantic to add to the already growing numbers of men in Ireland. Likewise, here in the US, men in the Irish neighborhoods of cities across the Northeast join the ranks of the brotherhood, and make ready for whatever is to come.
John O’Mahony, a Gaelic scholar born in County Cork, Ireland, emigrates from Ireland to the US in 1853 to form the Fenian Brotherhood operating in New York City. James Stephens, born in Kilkenny, Ireland, who was political out of the gate, forms the Irish Republican Brotherhood. These two men then organize and recruit members for a two-prong assault in the US and Ireland against Great Britain.
Soon after, a splinter faction forms when O’Mahony becomes complacent. William Roberts heads that group, and begins siphoning members and money with plans to invade Canada. But, seeing his leadership threatened, O’Mahony reluctantly approves a new strategy proposed by Bernard Doran Killian, to seize Campobello Island and use it as a base of operations for a much larger invasion.
The base of operations for this invasion is Eastport. Klein devotes an entire chapter on this mission, giving a good glimpse into the inner-workings of the developing resistance and to the mood of Eastport residents. The occupation in preparation to take and hold Campobello was one of five raids to be made from the US into Canada between 1866 and 1871. The series of incursions involved New Brunswick, Ontario, Quebec (twice) and Manitoba.
Klein’s detail on the events, major players, the historical underpinnings from both the US and British governments provides a wealth of information, allowing this period in history to surface as if reading a novel. The book’s flow and descriptive narrative with its unvarnished views of an Irish American trail by land and sea from a decimated homeland to the grimy streets of New York City is quite good.
This story has it all—Civil War veterans and a one-armed war hero, spy games, counter-intelligence, a radical’s faked funeral, tongue-in-cheek US support, stockpiling of weapons, planned assassinations; culminating in what is today regarded as a sometimes comical insurrection of one against another. Yet the deeper message Klein leaves with the reader, is that this is an important piece of history, and that the struggle of some fiercely patriotic Irish Americans was just one chapter of a much longer story about independence and a fight against impossible odds.
January 26, 2020
Wait, what? Why???
Well, why not? If you were Irish or an Irish-American immigrant, you'd have a bone to pick with the British oppressors. And if you can't hit 'em at home, might as well hit 'em next door. This meticulously researched study of a little-known chunk of American history (there were actually multiple invasions, each one increasingly more ridiculous) is both fascinating and hilarious in its unfortunate futility.
Not that it seemed futile at the time. Shortly after the Civil War an ugly streak of anti-Catholic sentiment reared its ugly head, thanks to the rising number of Irish immigrants. Not that they WANTED to flee their homeland starving, mind you. But America wasn't much better for the Irish, at first, until they got their act together and started organizing politically, with the help of exiles from the motherland eager to stir up shit in the new world.
Invading Canada seemed like a good idea simply because it was RIGHT THERE. What better way to send a statement to the Crown than to invade its territory next door? A more conservative wing of the Fenian Brotherhood urged prudence, and the road to invading Canada was both long and twisted. Klein does a great job elucidating the political machinations both within and without the Brotherhood that led to the first invasion of Canada.
Notice that I said "first." In increasingly more ridiculous attempts, the Irish-Americans and their Irish supporters repeatedly tried to invade Canada. Officially the American government had to disapprove, citing neutrality laws. Realistically, however, they would've jumped at the chance to take Canada for themselves, so they decided to see how it played out. Though each attempt started with high hopes, something -- British spies, lack of arms and food, or smaller than expected numbers shot the Irish in the foot every time, sometimes with unintentionally comic results.
By the fifth or sixth time someone tries to "invade" Canada, you will find yourself laughing and saying, "Really, guys?" Honestly, they shot themselves in the foot right in the first attempt: a number of Black Civil War veterans approached the Fenians and asked to join in the fight. The Irish? Said no. Because racism. Sigh.
This book is a mixture of military tactics and political intrigue, all told in a spirited style that keeps the plot perking along even when the infighting gets ridiculous. You know how it ends -- obviously Canada is not now an Irish province -- but getting there is the fun part, even if you don't normally like military history. Recommended for libraries where micro-histories and/or political non-fiction is popular.
Well, why not? If you were Irish or an Irish-American immigrant, you'd have a bone to pick with the British oppressors. And if you can't hit 'em at home, might as well hit 'em next door. This meticulously researched study of a little-known chunk of American history (there were actually multiple invasions, each one increasingly more ridiculous) is both fascinating and hilarious in its unfortunate futility.
Not that it seemed futile at the time. Shortly after the Civil War an ugly streak of anti-Catholic sentiment reared its ugly head, thanks to the rising number of Irish immigrants. Not that they WANTED to flee their homeland starving, mind you. But America wasn't much better for the Irish, at first, until they got their act together and started organizing politically, with the help of exiles from the motherland eager to stir up shit in the new world.
Invading Canada seemed like a good idea simply because it was RIGHT THERE. What better way to send a statement to the Crown than to invade its territory next door? A more conservative wing of the Fenian Brotherhood urged prudence, and the road to invading Canada was both long and twisted. Klein does a great job elucidating the political machinations both within and without the Brotherhood that led to the first invasion of Canada.
Notice that I said "first." In increasingly more ridiculous attempts, the Irish-Americans and their Irish supporters repeatedly tried to invade Canada. Officially the American government had to disapprove, citing neutrality laws. Realistically, however, they would've jumped at the chance to take Canada for themselves, so they decided to see how it played out. Though each attempt started with high hopes, something -- British spies, lack of arms and food, or smaller than expected numbers shot the Irish in the foot every time, sometimes with unintentionally comic results.
By the fifth or sixth time someone tries to "invade" Canada, you will find yourself laughing and saying, "Really, guys?" Honestly, they shot themselves in the foot right in the first attempt: a number of Black Civil War veterans approached the Fenians and asked to join in the fight. The Irish? Said no. Because racism. Sigh.
This book is a mixture of military tactics and political intrigue, all told in a spirited style that keeps the plot perking along even when the infighting gets ridiculous. You know how it ends -- obviously Canada is not now an Irish province -- but getting there is the fun part, even if you don't normally like military history. Recommended for libraries where micro-histories and/or political non-fiction is popular.
January 11, 2023
An interesting tale and a piece of history that is rarely told.
April 10, 2019
I won this book on Goodreads in exchange for an honest review.
I feel like a poor amateur historian as I has no idea that Irish soldiers attempted to invade Canada in order to help gain Irish independence. This was a very informative book with lots of detail. Well written and easy to read/follow.
I feel like a poor amateur historian as I has no idea that Irish soldiers attempted to invade Canada in order to help gain Irish independence. This was a very informative book with lots of detail. Well written and easy to read/follow.
March 8, 2019
Rarely covered topic and glad I read it!
July 15, 2019
Seems to be well-researched, but it was a slog to get through for me.
June 25, 2023
The book that I bought came in a large print version which I didn't need, but for some reason that was the only version available of this book at the time of purchase. The result is that this book was about 451 pages long which is longer than the total number of pages that Goodreads has listed for it. It has extensive footnotes and bibliography which while I appreciated the attention to detail- I was not thrilled with the set-up of the footnotes inside this historical account. The artwork on the front cover and the back, along with the binding, is first rate and beautiful and reading this account in late February through St. Patrick's Day and March, really had me in the mood of the season. The aesthetic beauty of the outside of the book is not matched by the manuscript itself, as I found the work uneven and disappointing after a promising and rousing beginning. Here is why-
The work really has momentum from the beginning until around page 162, as it is often very funny, strange, full of adventure and rich characters that really involve you and leaves you thinking this is one of the finest historical novels that I have ever read about a little-known event from American and world history that many don't really know much about, but my curiosity and interest was really elevated as I moved along into it. The problem is that the climax of the book comes with the Fenian victory in Canada at the Battle of Ridgeway around page 163, and from there the work seems to immediately run out of steam, lose narrative push, and meander all over the place much like the Fenian Brotherhood did in its fight for Ireland's Independence from Britian. There are many reasons for this-
The author has a great deal of passion for the subject, but that passion needs to be translated to the readers that know very little about the subject and may not share that same passion. This is seen by the fact that he really does not have enough story to fill 300 or 400 pages depending on what book that you purchase. I often felt that I was reading filler, that he was stretching the book out as long as he could, as we often go back into Irish history, and while he has many chapters, that are extremely interesting tales- they don't fit into the narrative as a whole, and after page 162, I often felt I could hear the air escaping from the balloon.
The most surprising twist of the entire tome comes well towards the end of the work when a high ranking Fenian official is revealed to be a British spy informing on the Irish-Americans frequent plans to invade Canada more than once with tragic consequences for the fighters of Ireland's Independence in the USA, but by the time of the big reveal, the reader is approaching the end of the book, eager to finish, and it would have made more of a dramatic impact earlier in the story if the reader had been informed at that time. When the spy is revealed, the Fenian movement had gone through one disappointment, failure, and misadventure after another- with constant infighting among the movement- and by that time that the reader is just rolling their eyes and saying "well what else could go wrong for them" instead of being bowled over by who the spy is.
The main things to take away from this tale is that when invasions of sovereign countries are undertaken without being rightfully thought through- the often-unintended results change history and for the invading army it is often not the result they had wanted to occur. "When the Irish Invaded Canada" did not result in Ireland gaining its Independence from Britian over in Europe- instead it resulted in uniting most of the population of Canada into being very upset and disturbed by the attacks on its own soil. That population that had been very wishy-washy about Canadian Independence from the United States- when the USA had many which wanted to incorporate Canada into our country-became determined to become its own nation and modern-day Canada as the world knows it was born- all because of the Irish American invasion. It remains to be said that the folly of the Fenian invasion of Canada was not learned from as George W. Bush's invasion of Iraq in 2003 did not end with the intended result that he had wanted or hoped for as the Middle East has never been the same, and the current war between Russia and Ukraine has unleashed a crisis on the world whose unintended consequences are still playing out in front of us as we speak. The Russians foolish invasion of Ukraine has jeopardized peace in the world and should never have happened if the USA had a stronger leader (gee, I wonder who that would be) and like Bush learned in 2003, and the Fenians did in 1866, once war is unleashed it often cannot be controlled and you have to live with whatever the consequences are. That is why peace should always be the goal for the modern world, and war should be the last resort, because the one thing that is assured from any military conflict is that the world will be changed when the war is over, and no one can be completely confident of how it will come out, or that the outcome will be a good one.
There are some major American military and political leaders that play a role in the story from US Grant, Sherman, Meade, and President Johnson, and the author lays out how the Fenian raids were stymied by the United States Government's enforcement of the borders between it and Canada, after giving private backing before the first invasion- to the adventure. The civil war veterans who had fought under the American Flag during the war never held this betrayal against their new home, as the majority of their hatred was against the British Government which had denied Ireland its independence and their freedom in their own minds.
For lovers of Irish history, and for those who had never known that much about a little mentioned piece of American history this is a good, interesting read where you will learn things that you never knew, but it's not a great book, the author is not an extremely skilled tale spinner, although he is capable, so it was just okay in my book, but a page turner it is not. That was a disappointment for me, but others have and may well disagree. Take a look and see what you think.
The work really has momentum from the beginning until around page 162, as it is often very funny, strange, full of adventure and rich characters that really involve you and leaves you thinking this is one of the finest historical novels that I have ever read about a little-known event from American and world history that many don't really know much about, but my curiosity and interest was really elevated as I moved along into it. The problem is that the climax of the book comes with the Fenian victory in Canada at the Battle of Ridgeway around page 163, and from there the work seems to immediately run out of steam, lose narrative push, and meander all over the place much like the Fenian Brotherhood did in its fight for Ireland's Independence from Britian. There are many reasons for this-
The author has a great deal of passion for the subject, but that passion needs to be translated to the readers that know very little about the subject and may not share that same passion. This is seen by the fact that he really does not have enough story to fill 300 or 400 pages depending on what book that you purchase. I often felt that I was reading filler, that he was stretching the book out as long as he could, as we often go back into Irish history, and while he has many chapters, that are extremely interesting tales- they don't fit into the narrative as a whole, and after page 162, I often felt I could hear the air escaping from the balloon.
The most surprising twist of the entire tome comes well towards the end of the work when a high ranking Fenian official is revealed to be a British spy informing on the Irish-Americans frequent plans to invade Canada more than once with tragic consequences for the fighters of Ireland's Independence in the USA, but by the time of the big reveal, the reader is approaching the end of the book, eager to finish, and it would have made more of a dramatic impact earlier in the story if the reader had been informed at that time. When the spy is revealed, the Fenian movement had gone through one disappointment, failure, and misadventure after another- with constant infighting among the movement- and by that time that the reader is just rolling their eyes and saying "well what else could go wrong for them" instead of being bowled over by who the spy is.
The main things to take away from this tale is that when invasions of sovereign countries are undertaken without being rightfully thought through- the often-unintended results change history and for the invading army it is often not the result they had wanted to occur. "When the Irish Invaded Canada" did not result in Ireland gaining its Independence from Britian over in Europe- instead it resulted in uniting most of the population of Canada into being very upset and disturbed by the attacks on its own soil. That population that had been very wishy-washy about Canadian Independence from the United States- when the USA had many which wanted to incorporate Canada into our country-became determined to become its own nation and modern-day Canada as the world knows it was born- all because of the Irish American invasion. It remains to be said that the folly of the Fenian invasion of Canada was not learned from as George W. Bush's invasion of Iraq in 2003 did not end with the intended result that he had wanted or hoped for as the Middle East has never been the same, and the current war between Russia and Ukraine has unleashed a crisis on the world whose unintended consequences are still playing out in front of us as we speak. The Russians foolish invasion of Ukraine has jeopardized peace in the world and should never have happened if the USA had a stronger leader (gee, I wonder who that would be) and like Bush learned in 2003, and the Fenians did in 1866, once war is unleashed it often cannot be controlled and you have to live with whatever the consequences are. That is why peace should always be the goal for the modern world, and war should be the last resort, because the one thing that is assured from any military conflict is that the world will be changed when the war is over, and no one can be completely confident of how it will come out, or that the outcome will be a good one.
There are some major American military and political leaders that play a role in the story from US Grant, Sherman, Meade, and President Johnson, and the author lays out how the Fenian raids were stymied by the United States Government's enforcement of the borders between it and Canada, after giving private backing before the first invasion- to the adventure. The civil war veterans who had fought under the American Flag during the war never held this betrayal against their new home, as the majority of their hatred was against the British Government which had denied Ireland its independence and their freedom in their own minds.
For lovers of Irish history, and for those who had never known that much about a little mentioned piece of American history this is a good, interesting read where you will learn things that you never knew, but it's not a great book, the author is not an extremely skilled tale spinner, although he is capable, so it was just okay in my book, but a page turner it is not. That was a disappointment for me, but others have and may well disagree. Take a look and see what you think.
February 10, 2022
I was excited to read this book because it was discussing the same topic I wrote my master's thesis on. The Fenian Brotherhood and the Irish Republican Brotherhood were a two-pronged, transatlantic Irish nationalistic movement during the 1850s-1870s.
The Fenians, the American prong, focused on fundraising and saw participation in the Union Army as training for an eventful rebellion in Ireland. After the war, however, the leadership split on where to strike for Irish independence - in Ireland of to invade Canada and hold it for ransom. After a failed rebellion in Ireland, and six failed invasions of Canada the brotherhood fell apart.
This book focuses on the confused infighting politics of the Fenians and at the military history of the Fenian raids. It is well researched (I saw a number of the same primary sources that I used) and does a great job untangling the story.
The Fenians, the American prong, focused on fundraising and saw participation in the Union Army as training for an eventful rebellion in Ireland. After the war, however, the leadership split on where to strike for Irish independence - in Ireland of to invade Canada and hold it for ransom. After a failed rebellion in Ireland, and six failed invasions of Canada the brotherhood fell apart.
This book focuses on the confused infighting politics of the Fenians and at the military history of the Fenian raids. It is well researched (I saw a number of the same primary sources that I used) and does a great job untangling the story.
January 3, 2021
If you have an ounce of Irish blood in you and you’re a American Civil War enthusiast, you have to read the history of the Fenians, The IRA and their attempt to take back Ireland from the British via Canada. Detailed and long but factual and interesting.
January 11, 2023
A fascinating and at times farsical tale of struggle and tragedy. A bit of Irish and American history I was completely unware of until I dug into this book. It is a story well-told, and worth telling.
July 17, 2025
This was a great history book. The way Klein writes makes the story so intriguing and fast paced. I learned a lot! Klein set up the story of the Fenians with the perfect amount of context and then dives deep into the Canadian raids. I had no idea how complex the Fenian Brotherhood of the U.S. was with its Congress and Presidents! Great read and recommend to anyone that likes American, Irish, or Canadian history! I hope he writes another book soon because that was awesome.
December 13, 2021
Fascinating insight into a part of my own Canadian history that I knew almost nothing about. Well written, personal, and almost never dry. Well recommended.
March 8, 2019
This is a Goodreads win review. History is my favorite thing to read about. This book is about an event in history that was not well known and I have never heard about it. After the Civil War was over soldiers from both sides decided to go to Canada and get them away from the British control and force England to make Ireland a Republic. These became known as the Fenian raids. These Irish fighters were still upset over the Potato famine that caused them to leave Ireland in the first place. The plan did not work out due top many factors but the story is excellent. My grandpa came from Ireland to Canada where he played hockey before leaving for California.
April 29, 2019
While this book tells a fascinating story, I found it dragging in spots. The author was attempting to show the interconnection between the rebellious folks in Ireland who wanted to free their nation and the exiles and emigrants who ended up in North America. The problem was that the telling of the story made the Irish Americans seem like bickering idiots for several decades. Now, maybe they were, at least in part, but it seems like the real failure of the Fenian movement in North America was to present these folks with a viable plan. Apparently, for many of the men who had seen combat, the idea of invading Canada and holding it hostage for the eventual freedom of Ireland didn't sound like a good idea. Of the thousands of men to whom the idea needed to appeal, in order for even a small invasion to work, only hundreds showed to actually do the invading, and they weren't really too keen on the idea.
Because the focus of most of the book was on the leaders of these failed attempts, there was only a limited amount of time spent on the actual struggles in Ireland, and some odd diversions into the settlement of Nebraska.
Thus, a book about three very brief failed invasions of Canada [one of which appears to have misjudged the actual location of the Canadian border]is over 360 pages, including notes, bibliography and index. That made the pacing of the book a tad slow.
On the other hand, the historical context and some of the quotations were wonderful, and overall the book was worth reading. Just don't expect a quick page-turner of a book, filled with excitement. No, it's more about the context in which that excitement should have happened.
Because the focus of most of the book was on the leaders of these failed attempts, there was only a limited amount of time spent on the actual struggles in Ireland, and some odd diversions into the settlement of Nebraska.
Thus, a book about three very brief failed invasions of Canada [one of which appears to have misjudged the actual location of the Canadian border]is over 360 pages, including notes, bibliography and index. That made the pacing of the book a tad slow.
On the other hand, the historical context and some of the quotations were wonderful, and overall the book was worth reading. Just don't expect a quick page-turner of a book, filled with excitement. No, it's more about the context in which that excitement should have happened.
August 2, 2021
Christopher Klein did some excellent research on assembling this book. I wasn’t familiar with this portion of Irish American history. I found the book fascinating and informative. I really wanted to score it with 3.5 stars. It was better than average, yet not excellent. There were places where the reader gets a little bogged down with details that, while add depth and perspective, are not all that interesting in relation to the story of invading Canada. The author provides a good follow up book to Timothy Egan’s The Immortal Irishman (although Egan’s book is a five star). I found myself rooting for the Fenian troops in their effort to capture Canada. (Probably the McHenry in my bloodline.) The author does a marvelous job withholding the identity of the trader/spy, which when it was revealed I was actually upset and angry. I marveled at the determination of the Irish and I also felt their pain of English oppression. A good solid book, worth a read if your a history buff.
April 6, 2021
An absolutely true event that has generally been lost to history. The book details the several attempts by Irish nationalist Civil War veterans to seize British Canada and hold it for ransom to get Irish independence. The author does a nice job of providing the background of the various Irish nationalist leaders, detailing the infighting among factions, and describing the action that took place during each of the raids. Unfortunately for the Fenians and the book, they became less significant - and interesting - after the initial insurgency. Overall, an interesting look at some watershed moments in early US-Canada relations.
March 22, 2021
The long Irish struggle for freedom has spawned many interesting books. “When The Irish Invaded Canada” chronicles little known blows organized and struck in North America. In the wake of the American Civil War Irishmen turned in their Blue and Grey uniforms to join Fenian patriots in the movement for Irish independence. From 1865 to the early 1870s a series of invasions of Canadian territory were launched in quixotic attempts to free Ireland.
Author Christopher Klein has skillfully woven Irish history into the American-Fenian saga. The tale is more complex than might be expected. At the end of the Civil War American policy was ambivalent toward Canada. Still lusting after Canadian territory and smarting from British outfitting of Confederate sea raiders, the American government was not above permitting the Fenians to upset the status quo in ways that may have evolved to America’s advantage. The United States interfered with, but did not totally obstruct, Fenian preparations and invasions, and sold them arms, so long as it was not done too obviously. Canada was in a time of transition. The British were pulling out, Canadians were assuming responsibility for their own affairs, including defense and British North American the colonies were considering, and achieved unity, partly in response to the Fenian threat. As we know the United States did not absorb Canada but it did negotiate a settlement of the Alabama claims against Britain arising out of damage to American shipping caused by the Confederate Navy vessel of that name.
This tome answers the obvious question of “How did Irish-American Fenians expect to obtain Irish independence by invading Canada?” Their goals were diverse. The invasions may have drawn British troops to Canada, thereby diminishing the numbers available to suppress insurrections in Ireland. They hoped to gain a foothold in Canada in which they would establish their own country that could issue letters of marque and could be traded for Irish independence. But how did they expect a few hundred or, even optimistically thousands, to achieve victory? There were lots of Irish and Catholic French Canadians in Canada who, the Fenians expected, would rise up at the news of an invasion. But why pick Canada as the target rather than Ireland itself? The United States permitted a greater degree of freedom in which to plan the invasions than Ireland and, for many, Canada was the only British territory within reach.
I am interested in Irish and Irish-American history so I was predisposed to like the subject of this work. I could not have anticipated how well Klein would weave his account into the centuries of Irish resistance to English rule. This story is typical of the Irish freedom fighters. They fought among themselves, were infiltrated by informers, had missed communications, unrealistic expectations, failures in organization, and yet raised money and established a government in exile that seem incredible. This story fits right into the continuum of insurrections including the 1798 “Year of the French”, the Young Irelanders of 1848, the 1916 Easter uprising and the Civil War that followed. I recommend “When The Irish Invaded Canada” to anyone with an interest in the history of Ireland, Canadian-American relations or just in search of a great story.
Author Christopher Klein has skillfully woven Irish history into the American-Fenian saga. The tale is more complex than might be expected. At the end of the Civil War American policy was ambivalent toward Canada. Still lusting after Canadian territory and smarting from British outfitting of Confederate sea raiders, the American government was not above permitting the Fenians to upset the status quo in ways that may have evolved to America’s advantage. The United States interfered with, but did not totally obstruct, Fenian preparations and invasions, and sold them arms, so long as it was not done too obviously. Canada was in a time of transition. The British were pulling out, Canadians were assuming responsibility for their own affairs, including defense and British North American the colonies were considering, and achieved unity, partly in response to the Fenian threat. As we know the United States did not absorb Canada but it did negotiate a settlement of the Alabama claims against Britain arising out of damage to American shipping caused by the Confederate Navy vessel of that name.
This tome answers the obvious question of “How did Irish-American Fenians expect to obtain Irish independence by invading Canada?” Their goals were diverse. The invasions may have drawn British troops to Canada, thereby diminishing the numbers available to suppress insurrections in Ireland. They hoped to gain a foothold in Canada in which they would establish their own country that could issue letters of marque and could be traded for Irish independence. But how did they expect a few hundred or, even optimistically thousands, to achieve victory? There were lots of Irish and Catholic French Canadians in Canada who, the Fenians expected, would rise up at the news of an invasion. But why pick Canada as the target rather than Ireland itself? The United States permitted a greater degree of freedom in which to plan the invasions than Ireland and, for many, Canada was the only British territory within reach.
I am interested in Irish and Irish-American history so I was predisposed to like the subject of this work. I could not have anticipated how well Klein would weave his account into the centuries of Irish resistance to English rule. This story is typical of the Irish freedom fighters. They fought among themselves, were infiltrated by informers, had missed communications, unrealistic expectations, failures in organization, and yet raised money and established a government in exile that seem incredible. This story fits right into the continuum of insurrections including the 1798 “Year of the French”, the Young Irelanders of 1848, the 1916 Easter uprising and the Civil War that followed. I recommend “When The Irish Invaded Canada” to anyone with an interest in the history of Ireland, Canadian-American relations or just in search of a great story.
February 15, 2025
As a History PhD, I’m concerned about how this book was written. The author implies that “No Irish Need Apply” signs were common in the US, when they were actually rare (they loom larger in the collective imagination as an example of the prejudice Irish Catholic immigrants faced). More disturbingly, he mentions the New York Draft Riots of 1863 in one sentence, failing to mention that Irish people massacred unarmed black civilians, including burning down an orphanage for black children. You don’t get much more egregious than attacking literal orphan children. I was also surprised that for a book about a people who were angry that their Irish homeland had been taken over by outside English rulers, he had only sentence about Irish settlers moving to Nebraska onto indigenous land, claiming that they got along well with the Pawnee.
I had this book on my To Read list for years, and I am a bit disappointed. I thought the Irish veterans of the Civil War would use their battle experience to fight for their homeland, but instead the book chronicles decades of incompetence. The author may have been too close or sympathetic to his subjects to see the history he wrote about objectively. From my standpoint, the history in this book covers charlatans and cowards. I’d call it a comedy of errors except that most of the people who died were innocent bystanders, and there’s nothing comedic about that. For example: the Irish decide to break out of jail one of their own who is in an English prison. All well and good, except that to break down the wall to the prison exercise yard they use five hundred pounds of gunpowder, immediately leveling a handful of four-story tenements across the street, killing at least a dozen and wounding more than 100 people whose only crime was being home that day.
An example of a main character who from an objective standpoint is a charlatan: a man who raises money campaigning that “next year we will fight in Ireland to expel the English!” Then the next year comes and he declares that “this year is the year!” Finally, just a couple months before the end of the year that he has promised a blue streak he will lead the fright in Ireland, he publicly states he is setting sail. But he ditches the boat and hides out in a room in New York until the year is over. Seriously. Yet the author doesn’t call him out on his either long con or gross cowardice.
You know how you’ve heard that one definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over yet expecting to get a different result? The Irish in the U.S. kept throwing hapless unorganized expeditions to invade Canada without reconnaissance, prior intelligence, or proper material and backup… somehow insanely expecting that this time they will hold Canada hostage and force the English to give Ireland independence. As the author has someone point out, this makes as much sense as the Polish invading Alaska to try to get the Russians to grant Polish independence. These expeditions never lasted more than a day or two and never accomplished anything except robbing local farmers and killing those least responsible (such as a deaf old woman fetching water and a university student who had never held a gun before).
I haven’t ever watched “South Park” but I kept having the refrain “Invade Canada! Invade Canada” in my head while listening to this book, based on the famous South Park refrain of “blame Canada.”
I had this book on my To Read list for years, and I am a bit disappointed. I thought the Irish veterans of the Civil War would use their battle experience to fight for their homeland, but instead the book chronicles decades of incompetence. The author may have been too close or sympathetic to his subjects to see the history he wrote about objectively. From my standpoint, the history in this book covers charlatans and cowards. I’d call it a comedy of errors except that most of the people who died were innocent bystanders, and there’s nothing comedic about that. For example: the Irish decide to break out of jail one of their own who is in an English prison. All well and good, except that to break down the wall to the prison exercise yard they use five hundred pounds of gunpowder, immediately leveling a handful of four-story tenements across the street, killing at least a dozen and wounding more than 100 people whose only crime was being home that day.
An example of a main character who from an objective standpoint is a charlatan: a man who raises money campaigning that “next year we will fight in Ireland to expel the English!” Then the next year comes and he declares that “this year is the year!” Finally, just a couple months before the end of the year that he has promised a blue streak he will lead the fright in Ireland, he publicly states he is setting sail. But he ditches the boat and hides out in a room in New York until the year is over. Seriously. Yet the author doesn’t call him out on his either long con or gross cowardice.
You know how you’ve heard that one definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over yet expecting to get a different result? The Irish in the U.S. kept throwing hapless unorganized expeditions to invade Canada without reconnaissance, prior intelligence, or proper material and backup… somehow insanely expecting that this time they will hold Canada hostage and force the English to give Ireland independence. As the author has someone point out, this makes as much sense as the Polish invading Alaska to try to get the Russians to grant Polish independence. These expeditions never lasted more than a day or two and never accomplished anything except robbing local farmers and killing those least responsible (such as a deaf old woman fetching water and a university student who had never held a gun before).
I haven’t ever watched “South Park” but I kept having the refrain “Invade Canada! Invade Canada” in my head while listening to this book, based on the famous South Park refrain of “blame Canada.”
May 1, 2019
I won this book through Goodreads Giveaways (my first win!) and my wee little Irish American heart was so pleased to get the opportunity to read about the Irish right around St. Patrick's Day! I had never heard of the Irish invasions of Canada, so the title alone intrigued me. I'm also not much of a history buff, but because of my Irish heritage, I was excited to learn more.
I'll start with the negatives and why I didn't give this 5 stars. Like I said, history is not my favorite, especially war history and battle stories. So, the book moved a little slow for me while detailing all of the different splits between the groups, but at least the battle scenes went pretty fast. Although, that was probably due to the constant failing of the Fenians to successfully invade Canada and use it as leverage to free Ireland. It was a bit disappointing that the Fenians did not seem to make much progress, although the author credits them with inspiring the next generation of Irish republicans to finally free Ireland from British rule.
My favorite part about this book was the way the author describes each person's background, because it gives insight into why they were so passionate about freeing Ireland. Of course I had heard of the potato famine and knew that millions of Irish died or left the country, but reading about the millions of people who fled to America gave me a new perspective. It also gave me a new fun fact to pull out on St. Patrick's Day: before the Great Hunger, the average Irish working class man ate FOURTEEN POUNDS OF POTATOES A DAY! And the average working class woman ate eleven pounds per day! It made a lot more sense why the famine destroyed Ireland, and why so many blamed the British.
Several times during this book, I imagined the figures as characters in a movie, sometimes comedically failing to assert themselves as heroes of Ireland, other times as inspirational figures who overcame hardship and fought for what they believed in. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys learning about history, or anyone who wants to connect to their Irish heritage. Or anyone who likes potatoes!
I'll start with the negatives and why I didn't give this 5 stars. Like I said, history is not my favorite, especially war history and battle stories. So, the book moved a little slow for me while detailing all of the different splits between the groups, but at least the battle scenes went pretty fast. Although, that was probably due to the constant failing of the Fenians to successfully invade Canada and use it as leverage to free Ireland. It was a bit disappointing that the Fenians did not seem to make much progress, although the author credits them with inspiring the next generation of Irish republicans to finally free Ireland from British rule.
My favorite part about this book was the way the author describes each person's background, because it gives insight into why they were so passionate about freeing Ireland. Of course I had heard of the potato famine and knew that millions of Irish died or left the country, but reading about the millions of people who fled to America gave me a new perspective. It also gave me a new fun fact to pull out on St. Patrick's Day: before the Great Hunger, the average Irish working class man ate FOURTEEN POUNDS OF POTATOES A DAY! And the average working class woman ate eleven pounds per day! It made a lot more sense why the famine destroyed Ireland, and why so many blamed the British.
Several times during this book, I imagined the figures as characters in a movie, sometimes comedically failing to assert themselves as heroes of Ireland, other times as inspirational figures who overcame hardship and fought for what they believed in. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys learning about history, or anyone who wants to connect to their Irish heritage. Or anyone who likes potatoes!
October 8, 2020
When the Irish Invaded Canada: The Incredible True Story of the Civil War Veterans Who Fought for Ireland's Freedom by Christopher Klein is a history of a little-known war. Klein is a writer specializing in history, travel, and sports. He is a frequent contributor to the Boston Globe and History.com, the website for the History Channel and the author of three other books.
To many people, Ireland is a country whose struggle has been limited to British rule. The Irish, as a people, were involved in many western hemisphere conflicts. Bernardo O'Higgins led the effort for Chilean independence. John Riley and the St. Patrick Brigade fought with the Mexican army in the Mexican-American War while other Irish earlier fought to defend the Alamo. The Irish have a history of fighting for causes they believe in. One cause has always been freedom from British rule.
After the Civil War, Irish men on both sides of the lines joined in a plan to gain Independence from England by seizing Canada. The soldiers' connection to Ireland was much stronger than the color of the uniform they previously fought in. The circumstances of the times allowed this invasion plan to progress. Many believed that the potato famine was a result of a British plot which added to their determination. Americans were leary of England because of their support of the South in the Civil War. Americans also remembered the British came through Canada and burned Washington DC. Furthermore, the great influx of Irish to America created a powerful voting block influencing politics.
The attack obviously was not successful in freeing Ireland or overtaking Canada, but it did allow for a seemingly impossible event to occur and create new heroes in the Irish Independence movement. Klein writes a smooth flowing and well-documented history of the events leading to the invasion, the invasion, and its aftermath. Klein's writing style and the obscurity of the event almost seems like alternative history. It was an almost perfect storm of events and circumstances that created this chapter in history.
To many people, Ireland is a country whose struggle has been limited to British rule. The Irish, as a people, were involved in many western hemisphere conflicts. Bernardo O'Higgins led the effort for Chilean independence. John Riley and the St. Patrick Brigade fought with the Mexican army in the Mexican-American War while other Irish earlier fought to defend the Alamo. The Irish have a history of fighting for causes they believe in. One cause has always been freedom from British rule.
After the Civil War, Irish men on both sides of the lines joined in a plan to gain Independence from England by seizing Canada. The soldiers' connection to Ireland was much stronger than the color of the uniform they previously fought in. The circumstances of the times allowed this invasion plan to progress. Many believed that the potato famine was a result of a British plot which added to their determination. Americans were leary of England because of their support of the South in the Civil War. Americans also remembered the British came through Canada and burned Washington DC. Furthermore, the great influx of Irish to America created a powerful voting block influencing politics.
The attack obviously was not successful in freeing Ireland or overtaking Canada, but it did allow for a seemingly impossible event to occur and create new heroes in the Irish Independence movement. Klein writes a smooth flowing and well-documented history of the events leading to the invasion, the invasion, and its aftermath. Klein's writing style and the obscurity of the event almost seems like alternative history. It was an almost perfect storm of events and circumstances that created this chapter in history.
March 21, 2019
An interesting, well-researched book, Klein tells the little known story of Irishmen fighting for Ireland's freedom in America. Plenty of context is provided to understand Irish and English feelings (both politically and personally), culminating in the Great Hunger when millions of Irish died and millions travelled to America to avoid the potato famine. Irishmen fought on both sides of the American Civil War, but many saw this battle as a training ground for a larger, more important, war- the war for Irish freedom from England.
As with any story of a large group of people, political and idealogical differences divided those planning to free Ireland. The focus here, as the title suggests, is the decision by Irish nationalists to hurt England by invading Canada. Three main invasion plans over a few years led to battles, the breaking of neutrality laws, political fighting, and eventually the largest unintended consequence of all: Canada as a separate nation. The political maneuverings were fascinating, with America working secretly (or not) to claim Canada for itself, Irish nationalists trying to hold land hostage to negotiate for Ireland's independence, and individuals searching for glory.
Klein does an excellent job showing the reader how the seemingly ridiculous plan to take Canada by a group of overly optimistic individuals directly influenced the twentieth century Irish rebellions and led to the country we know today. Fascinating and fast-paced, "When the Irish Invaded Canada" is a must read for anyone interested in nineteenth century America and Canada, let alone the evolution of the Irish national movement towards independence.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
As with any story of a large group of people, political and idealogical differences divided those planning to free Ireland. The focus here, as the title suggests, is the decision by Irish nationalists to hurt England by invading Canada. Three main invasion plans over a few years led to battles, the breaking of neutrality laws, political fighting, and eventually the largest unintended consequence of all: Canada as a separate nation. The political maneuverings were fascinating, with America working secretly (or not) to claim Canada for itself, Irish nationalists trying to hold land hostage to negotiate for Ireland's independence, and individuals searching for glory.
Klein does an excellent job showing the reader how the seemingly ridiculous plan to take Canada by a group of overly optimistic individuals directly influenced the twentieth century Irish rebellions and led to the country we know today. Fascinating and fast-paced, "When the Irish Invaded Canada" is a must read for anyone interested in nineteenth century America and Canada, let alone the evolution of the Irish national movement towards independence.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
April 28, 2020
After reading much about Thomas Francis Meagher and the Irish during the Civil War, this book provides a glimpse into the events that would take place soon after. The rebel group known as the Fenians hatched a brilliant plan to invade British owned Canada, then known as British North America, and relinquish the land only in exchange for Irish independence from the 700 year rule of the British. Though things begin with a handful of triumphant surprising victories, disorganization and dwindling interest among the Irish Americans soon lead to a series of follies each more ridiculous than the last. The venture reaches its near comical breaking point when Fenian leader, John O’Neil leads his men to an attempted capture of a British outpost, only to not just be handily defeated, but to also learn that their coordinates were off, and the base they had attempted to siege was an American one...they hadn’t even yet reached Canada. Though the second half of the book plays out like a comedy of errors, we are left to sadly admire the desperation of a people who want nothing more than freedom from their oppressors. I recommend reading this along with the Immortal Irishman in order to get the entire picture of the time period. Thomas Meagher was the perfect highly intelligent, inspiring hero in comparison to O’Neil’s naïveté and foolishness. Even so, through his defeats and humiliating later days, you have to admire his fighting spirit.
January 15, 2023
After a bloody civil war a nation becomes a staging ground for terrorists to attack neighboring countries. As with all good history the parallels and differences to today’s world are fascinating. Some of these battles are so fool hardy. Irish freedom fighters seemed more interested in becoming martyrs then actual success. But “if we ever hope to see Ireland free, we must honor the attempt as well as the triumph.” You have to encourage the struggle, you have to allow for false starts, or else you could miss the best opportunity. Lots of great details, I wish the book was longer.
What I learned: Britain built the confederacy’s war ships. The majority catholic Irish had to pay tithes to the Irish Protestant church. English law forced the catholic Irish to leave small plots to all male heirs; making their land less efficient. Drought and high winds were present when Chicago burned down; on the same day America’s deadliest forest fire killed 2500 people near Peshtigo Wisconsin. The Tiffany trophy for the Belmont stakes, is topped by a champion horse named “Fenian.” In the war of 1812 Americans burned down the provincial parliament building of Toronto; we still have their parliamentary mace as a war trophy. Finn McCool!
What I learned: Britain built the confederacy’s war ships. The majority catholic Irish had to pay tithes to the Irish Protestant church. English law forced the catholic Irish to leave small plots to all male heirs; making their land less efficient. Drought and high winds were present when Chicago burned down; on the same day America’s deadliest forest fire killed 2500 people near Peshtigo Wisconsin. The Tiffany trophy for the Belmont stakes, is topped by a champion horse named “Fenian.” In the war of 1812 Americans burned down the provincial parliament building of Toronto; we still have their parliamentary mace as a war trophy. Finn McCool!
June 4, 2024
When The Irish Invaded Canada is wildly entertaining, often madcap scamper through a little known chapter of US and Irish history. It is also a well written, well researched telling.
The main narrative focuses on misguided failures (1866-1870) by a band of sundry Irish Americans to use military action in Canada as a means of promoting an Irish Republic. An ocean away. The instigators- with military experience on both sides of the Civil War- are committed and well meaning, not gifted strategists. Or map readers. Or consistently agreeable.
But the book offers much, much more.
The basis of their commitment and the context of their actions are well described.
The impact of centuries of British domination of Ireland, The Great Famine, immigration patterns, and the experience of immigrants to the US serve as a foundation.
The post Civil War adjustments in the US, Canadian efforts toward greater autonomy, and soured US-British relations (I.e., British role in Confederate naval actions), and the US political climate shape the context.
And how do these wildly flawed invasions impact Irish history? Check out the Epilogue.
The main narrative focuses on misguided failures (1866-1870) by a band of sundry Irish Americans to use military action in Canada as a means of promoting an Irish Republic. An ocean away. The instigators- with military experience on both sides of the Civil War- are committed and well meaning, not gifted strategists. Or map readers. Or consistently agreeable.
But the book offers much, much more.
The basis of their commitment and the context of their actions are well described.
The impact of centuries of British domination of Ireland, The Great Famine, immigration patterns, and the experience of immigrants to the US serve as a foundation.
The post Civil War adjustments in the US, Canadian efforts toward greater autonomy, and soured US-British relations (I.e., British role in Confederate naval actions), and the US political climate shape the context.
And how do these wildly flawed invasions impact Irish history? Check out the Epilogue.
March 6, 2019
This book is well written and researched. It covers the numerous attempts of a group of Irish immigrants who try and invade Canada in order to take it over and force England to negoiate turning Ireland into a republic. This all takes place shortly after the civil war when groups of Irishmen who fought on both sides of the war join the cause. They were not successful due to the fact that their leadership was overly optomistic and poorly organized. At the start the United States took a passive/supportive interest under President Andrew Johnson, but was more realistic under President Grant. Instead of breaking Canada away from England, they caused the provinces to unite more closely.
I recommend this book to anyone who had an interest in Irish history or an interest in a piece of hidden United States history.
I received a free Kindle copy of this book courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher with the understanding that I would post a review on Net Galley, Goodreads, Amazon and my fiction book review blog. I also posted it to my Facebook and Twitter pages.
I recommend this book to anyone who had an interest in Irish history or an interest in a piece of hidden United States history.
I received a free Kindle copy of this book courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher with the understanding that I would post a review on Net Galley, Goodreads, Amazon and my fiction book review blog. I also posted it to my Facebook and Twitter pages.
May 19, 2019
Finished When The Irish Invaded Canada: The Incredible True Story of the Civil War Veterans Who Fought for Ireland’s Freedom by Christopher Klein. My Canadian and Irish ancestry attracted me to this story. The so-called Fenian raids, Irish Civil War Veterans attacking Canada actually did happen including two sieges originating in St Albans, VT. The raids had a far-reaching impact but not in the manner the Irish leaders intended nor on their timetable. The Irish incursions took place in the post Civil War period when the Union was highly upset with Britain and Canada for their support of the Confederate cause. The ultimate ambition to use Canada as ransom with the British to achieve Irish Home Rule was not attained in that time but set the stage for its ultimate success in the twentieth century. This book weaves the Famine, Canadian Confederation, many colorful Irish characters, the US political climate under Andrew Johnson and Ulysses S Grant into a wonderful picture of that time; great book!
March 14, 2019
Received an advanced copy in exchange for a fair review.
When the Irish Invaded Canada (an amazing title) is about exactly what it says: the time the Irish made a series of attempts to battle the British on British soil as part of a longshot attempt to gain freedom for their homeland.
Klein does an excellent job of providing quick but effective context about Ireland's history and politics (could actually stand to give a bit more, actually) and what was going on around the world. I had no idea the fight for Ireland's independence had such extreme and lasting geo-political implications and learned SO MUCH.
My one complaint is the "characters" felt underdeveloped. In laying out such a thorough history, Klein doesn't spend as much time as I would like on the people during key moments. This keeps the plot moving but I would have liked more.
Overall, what a cool little microhistory on what was a big damn deal in the 1860s and 1870s but is now forgotten.
When the Irish Invaded Canada (an amazing title) is about exactly what it says: the time the Irish made a series of attempts to battle the British on British soil as part of a longshot attempt to gain freedom for their homeland.
Klein does an excellent job of providing quick but effective context about Ireland's history and politics (could actually stand to give a bit more, actually) and what was going on around the world. I had no idea the fight for Ireland's independence had such extreme and lasting geo-political implications and learned SO MUCH.
My one complaint is the "characters" felt underdeveloped. In laying out such a thorough history, Klein doesn't spend as much time as I would like on the people during key moments. This keeps the plot moving but I would have liked more.
Overall, what a cool little microhistory on what was a big damn deal in the 1860s and 1870s but is now forgotten.
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