Irish Rebel: John Devoy and America's Fight for Ireland's Freedom

by Terry Golway

In 1871, John Devoy, a young Irishman fighting for Irish independence, came to the United States in exile. Yet even while across the ocean, this Fenian greatly influenced Irish affairs. Terry Golway's assiduously researched biography of Devoy chronicles a lifetime of activism in which he garnered tremendous financial and moral support for the cause in Ireland. Devoy was instrumental in both the Easter Rising in 1916 and the creation of the Irish Free State.
Intimate details of Devoy's life and his work are artfully interwoven as Terry Golway captures John Devoy's valiant role in Ireland's struggle for freedom.

Genres: History, Ireland, Biography, Irish Literature, Politics

384 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1988

About the author

Terry Golway is a senior editor at POLITICO, supervising coverage of New York State politics. He is a former member of the New York Times editorial board and former city editor and columnist at the New York Observer. He has a Ph.D. in U.S. history and has taught at the New School, New York University, and Kean University.

Reviews

[Amy]

Am using this book for my research that I'd doing about my Great-Great Granduncle Jerome J. Collins who was the founder of the Clan na Gael in America. John Devoy later went on to lead the Clan na Gael while Jerome was still sought after for his advice on Clan activities and so forth.

[Ray · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF, kind of an anticlimactic snoozer.

[Bryan Whitehead · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anyone who has a strong interest in the history of the internecine feuds between the various factions of the Irish revolutionary movement in America in the late 19th and early 20th centuries should find this biography of long-time Fenian John Devoy a fascinating read. Even those less devoted to Irish history will still appreciate the portrait of the role of Irish Americans in U.S. politics, not to mention odd little historical tidbits like the Fenian schemes to invade Canada and ransom it for the liberation of Ireland or Irish rebel financing of John Holland’s early submarine experiments. Though not exactly living up to the jacket blurbs’ assertion that the book reads like a novel, the writing is clear, concise and engaging, providing a real feel for Devoy as a person as well as a key player in Irish-American efforts to free their native soil.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

To my surprise I'd not heard of this Irish rebel, yet he spent all his long life enlisting America on Ireland's behalf. Golway portrays his life with admiration but also reality.

[Barbara Warny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not what I'm used to reading, but great detailed history and characters.

[Angie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must-read for anyone interested in turn-of-the-century Ireland and its war for independence. Good writing, and Devoy himself was a real character and a political operator.