The Irish War of Independence - Softcover

Michael Hopkinson

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0717137414 ISBN 13: 9780717137411

Publisher: Gill Books, 2004

Synopsis

What is remarkable about Michael Hopkinson's Irish War of Independence is the way he shows how random and circumstantial the revolutionary strategy became. Volunteers in rural areas improvised military campaigns often sanctioned retrospectively by their leaders in Dublin." Maurice Walsh, New Statesman"An objective and well-researched account of the events that led to the establishment of our state." Garret FitzGerald, Irish Times"Masterly... [it] has filled a major gap historical writing by placing the final stages of the revolution of January 1919 to July 1921 in the wider context of the Ulster Crisis of 1912-14 and the First World War." John Cooney, Irish Independent

About this title

About the Author

Dr Michael Hopkinson was a reader in History at Stirling University in Scotland. One of the world's leading authorities on the Irish revolutionary period, he is also the author of Green Against Green: The Irish in the Civil War.

From Publishers Weekly

Historian Hopkinson (Green Against Green) has written an all-encompassing account of the Irish War of Independence (1919-1921), covering military, diplomatic and political issues. As Hopkinson points out, the war was largely one of tit-for-tat reprisal killings between the IRA and local police until the British brought in the Black and Tans, and the violence escalated to bloody guerrilla warfare. Hopkinson devotes a large part of the book to a localized, county-by-county recounting of the war: Dublin and Cork witnessed loads of violence, for instance, while Galway saw almost none. Hopkinson also describes at length how Michael Collins defeated the British through the use of informers and spies. As the author makes clear, the war could have ended in 1920, but a crucial diplomatic opportunity was lost. Hopkinson really knows his sources, using diaries and government documents to show how the British moved from a policy of coercion to one of negotiation. Indeed, the book's strongest point is its exploration of the behind-the-scenes shifts in British policy. Hopkinson's breadth is also impressive, as can be seen from his exploration of the American aspect of the war (the U.S. was a source of funds and weapons for the Irish. Indeed, Sinn Fein leader Eamon de Valera spent most of the war in the U.S. raising money and seeking American recognition). All in all, this is an exhaustive, if sometimes dry, account that should appeal to those interested in modern Irish history.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Edition details

• Publisher: Gill Books
• Publication date: 2004
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0717137414
• ISBN 13: 9780717137411
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 304