Thomas Ryle Dwyer was reared in Tralee, County Kerry, Ireland, from an early age. After going to primary and secondary school in Tralee, he returned to the United States to attend St. Ambrose College, Davenport, Iowa, and North Texas State University (now the University of North Texas), where he received B.A., M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in Modern History.
Loved it. Got to learn about one of the founders of modern Ireland in a book that told a story as well as some history. Been getting more and more into biographies and history books lately and this is one of the easiest to read that I've read so far.
p.5 'While at university college...De Valera was frankly committed to one proposition - that a constitutional monarchy was preferably to republicanism. He argued "that constant elections disturb a nation and are thus not conducive to the prosperity of the people".'
p.8 'Thereafter De Valera was looked upon as a unifier of the Volunteers...he actually encouraged debate; yet in the end he would insist on having his own way'.
p.15 'During the Mansion House deliberations de Valera stood out. "His transparent sincerity, his gentleness and equability captured the hearts of us all," recalled O'Brien, ... "de Valera would say: 'You will bear with me won't you? You know I am an old schoolmaster'."'
p.17 [President Wilson said] 'Self determination is not a mere phrase...it is an imperative principle of action which statesmen will henceforth ignore at their peril'.
p.19 'Many a heavy fish is caught even with a fine line if the angler is patient'.
Useful, brief, accessible sympathetic biography of a great man. More a book for beginners, but it helped me considerably in understanding Catholic Ireland, where I now live and which I blog about here: