Reviews (1)

Scholarly, exhaustive, & painstakingly researched
Roy Martin Haines is a life member Clare Hall, Cambridge University, a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries, and the author of numerous scholarly works concerning British history. In King Edward II: His Life, His Reign, And Its Aftermath, 1284-1330, Haines presents a scholarly, exhaustive, painstakingly researched, in-depth, and authoritative account of the days and rule of Edward of Caernarfon (1284-1327). King Edward II inherited a war with Scotland, yet his lack of skill in the art of war would eventually precipitate Scotland's independence. Ultimately, Edward would also become the first anointed king of England to be dethroned since Ethelred in 1013. King Edward II is an informed, informative, and very highly recommended contribution to personal and academic British History & Biography reference collections. ... Read more

Book Description

Churchill was the only British politician of the twentieth century to become an enduring national hero. His unique image, complete with V-sign, giant cigar, and outlandish costumes, was as universally famous as Charlie Chaplin's tramp. Now, in Churchill, The Unexpected Hero, Paul Addison offers a major reassessment of this highly charismatic figure, focusing largely on the life-long battle over Churchill's reputation."Churchill's career," notes Addison, "was one of snakes and ladders." The longest of the "snakes" was Gallipoli, the ill-starred military campaign that all but destroyed his career in 1915. After Gallipoli, Churchill's reputation plummeted, and he was attacked as a shameless egotist, an opportunist without principles or convictions, an unreliable colleague, an erratic policy-maker who lacked judgement, and a reckless amateur strategist with a dangerous passion for war and bloodshed. Indeed, throughout his career, at one time or another, Churchill offended every party and faction in the land. Yet all but the most hostile also conceded that he possessed great abilities, remarkable eloquence, and a streak of genius, and with the coming of World War II, the man long excluded from high office--on the grounds that he was a danger to King and Country--became the savior of that country, a truly great war leader. As Churchill's reputation skyrocketed, Addison shows how his heroic self-image was communicated to the world through a stupendous public relations campaign in which oratory, journalism, and history were all pressed into service.Churchill won two great victories in World War II. The first was a victory over Nazi Germany. The second, a victory over the legion of skeptics who derided his judgement and denied his claims to greatness. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

The Expected Hero
Paul Addison has written a competent introduction to a lifemore interesting, in the sense of history, than any other of the twentieth century. His book is enlivened by many vivid quotes from a broad assortment of people who had reason to know Winston Churchill.However, I think the author, in an excessive attempt at balance, bends too far over backward in making use of certain highly negative assessments-- such as one offered by Evelyn Waugh at the time of Churchill's death.

While he may have had feet of clay, his name remains remembered in Westminister Abby--and elsewhere over the globe.

Good Addition To Sir Winston's Understanding


I've waited the past two months to receive a copy of this short biography on Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill. Reading this book does not disappoint.

This short work, though fair and favorable to Sir Winston, also discusses the controversies of his career. Not everyone in Britain was a fan of Churchill, with some disliking him, with others fearing he would ever have any part of the government. In spite of his monumental contributions to the World War II years, some never lost their mistrust nor dislike of the man.

As an American, I see him as the beacon of hope for war-torn Britain. The best possible man to lead the country during those years, an uncrowned king giving the British people the hope and stamina needed to go on, day by day, overcoming all the suffering World War II brought them. Should he not have been the best, surely there existed no one better. When one thinks today of World War II Britain, one must think of Winston Churchill. They have become intertwined and inseparable.

Even from his earliest years, Churchill always felt he was a person of destiny; so was able to equally accept and act in that role. One must wonder what England would have been without him. Prior to the war he was seen as too strident and hawkish, once the war began however his views and demeanor coincided exactly to the needs of the time. Once the war was over, most of the country turned their backs to him at the polls, feeling he was not up to running a tamer, peacetime government.

Being neither British, nor ignoring his earlier government service prior to World War II (he was 65 in 1940 at time of his becoming Prime Minister with many years of government service behind him), I cannot agree with their post war thinking. And as discussed in this slim volume, I agree with the author that the mistrust and distrust of earlier Liberal versus Tory episode was ever overcome. Too many felt they just could not count on, nor place their full trust in this man.

Winston Churchill is my 'cup of tea'. One of the few 20th Century men of both character and leadership.True, he had both great flaws and great abilities as well; and this book fairly shows both.

Recommended reading.

Excellent introduction to Churchill's life and career
Though Winston Churchill has never wanted for biographers, over the past few years the publication of brief studies of his life have come into vogue.Written by some of the leading historians of the period - John Keegan, Geoffrey Best, Stuart Ball - they offer an accessible (if condensed) examination of one of the dominant figures of the twentieth century.Paul Addison's book is the latest addition to their ranks, and one that deserves to be ranked as among the best of these efforts.

Addison argues that the heroic status that Churchill enjoys today belies much of his career.Considered an irresponsible genius by his contemporaries, he was a polarizing figure who was never completely trusted by any side of the political divide.Yet as prime minister during the Second World War he went on to become "the embodiment of national unity," a symbol of Britain's determination to defeat Nazi Germany.Addison provides a more nuanced view of Churchill's career, noting his ideological consistency in a politically turbulent age.When war came, the man and the moment were ideally matched; indeed, many of the traits that his opponents deplored - his enthusiasm for war, his advocacy of impossible ideas, even the fact that he was half American - became assets in the conflict and were keys to his successful leadership.

Developed from his entry on Churchill for the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Addison succeeds in providing an insightful introduction to the life of one of the dominant figures of the twentieth century. Though hardly a hagiographical account - he freely acknowledges such faults as Churchill's massive egotism - his portrait is a sympathetic one, depicting the prime minister as "a hero with feet of clay."The result is a good read and a great starting point for anyone seeking to learn more about this fascinating figure. ... Read more

Amazon.com

All due respect to the Gambinos and the Genoveses, but the Italian mob families aren’t the only gangsters to make for compelling memoirs. In terms of relentless ruthlessness and its obsession with the almighty dollar, the Irish mob of Boston’s James "Whitey" Bulger could match its New York counterparts hit for bloody hit. For decades, Edward J. MacKenzie, Jr. (a.k.a. Eddie Mac) was a drug dealer, enforcer, and key associate of Bulger (on the lam as this book was published). Mac's first-person account of those years is rife with more gory details per page than the entire last season of The Sopranos.

By the brutal code of honor and loyalty in the streets, the candid dishing of such dirt marks MacKenzie as a world-class rat, second only to Salvatore "Sammy the Bull" Gravano, the man who put John Gotti away. But Eddie Mac has some justification in spilling the beans; in exchange for his tips, the Feds turned a blind eye toward his crimes. (It's also worth nothing that Bulger himself was an informant for the FBI.) The author certainly doesn’t portray himself as any sort of hero or "gangster with a heart of gold." Witness his charming account of one of many attempts to "enlighten" a wayward associate: "Probation notwithstanding, I had to open Steve’s eyes a little. I headed over to Dunkin’ Donuts and bought a cup of coffee for $1.24. Medium, black, scalding hot. . . .Steve was still in his car, sleeping like a baby. The window was down and he had his head against the door, hands under his cheeks. I poured the hot coffee down the side of his face, making sure to get some on his eyeballs. . . I swear if I’d had enough money to buy the gasoline that day that’s what I would have done. . .but I’d only had $1.30, so the coffee had to do."

Although MacKenzie has not one but two ghost writers (Karas is a contributor to People magazine and the author of The Onassis Women, while Muscato is a self-described "strategic communications consultant"), the prose never rises above the level of the sleaziest pulp fiction. But that of course is exactly its appeal, and fans of the true-crime genre will find Street Soldier a supreme pleasure, guilty or not. --Jim DeRogatis ... Read more

Reviews (20)

INSIDER'S VIEW OF SOUTH BOSTON MOBSTER, WHITEY BULGER
Not asking for sympathy or forgiveness, Edward Mackenzie, a self acclaimed scumbag, tells everyone what it was like to work for Whitey Bulger. He uses graphic, bone crushing detail to portray the days when Whitey and his gang terrorized the streets of Boston. This book moves along quickly and offers a view unlike any I've read on the subject. It is not a researched, outsider's view - it's the real deal!

True or not, still a great read
I'm not "in the know" so I can't comment on the veracity of the work. It certainly reads real. I found it to be a great follow up to "Black Mass." There is a wonderful chapter or two about Whitey's character that are not touched upon in Black Mass. IOW, it gives some of the characters talked about in that book more of a personal touch, rather than an outside journalistic approach. For that reason, I found the book very interesting. Also, because the book is very current, it includes many updates to the cast of characters (Flemmi, Connoly Bulger, etc.)

As for Eddie's trials and tribulations; he is definitely blunt. There is no attempt to spin his stories. Much of the carnage he does is simply for the fact of doing it. You don't have that sense of Italian mafiosi creed of "we only mess with the people who mess with us." Eddie details racially-driven and gay bashing missions. There are some great character development stories in the beginning and towards the end. If the author has accomplished anything it has been to define himself and what he stands for.

If you're looking for a true street soldier piece, I think many others have been done better. Simply because many of the people chronicled ended up having a higher role in the organization later on and could provide the tales from both view points. "Wise Guy" is the all time classic (the movie Goodfellas is based on this book) and "Last Mafioso" chronicles Jimmy Fratiano's life. These are both superb in the trenches with a mobster type reading.

I'd strongly recommend reading "Black Mass." If that interests you, then "Street Soldier" provides a nice fill in the blank type piece. If I would have read "Street Soldier" without reading "Black Mass" first, I don't think I would have enjoyed it as much (maybe 3 or 3.5 stars).

In the very least, it demonstrates that we all come from different walks of life.

Street Soldier
I thought this book tells the truth about Southie and James "whitey" Bulger. Mackenzie isnt afraid to be honest about himself which makes it easier for the reader to connect with him. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes to read about true crime.

waste of time
i thought that the worst book i've ever read on the mob was a book by paul dimaio's son; this one takes the cake or i should say the bull!!! eddie mackenzie is the perenial want-a-be wise guy who makes up storise as he goes along;i.e. big bunch of bull. i can't believe that a publishing company put this in print. every stool-pigon who gets cought these days trys to make a buck on lie's & as far a lies go he won a five star rating! the book is more of a seinfeld episode, about nothing, than the mob. i think he is mad that he was never more than a coffee boy for whitey.

A Heartbreaking, Fascinating and Riveting Account...
This is a heartbreaking and riveting account of one man's life in the close-knit neighborhood of South Boston, and the 20th century underworld associated with it that few glimpse or know of. The temptations, codes, illegality, loyalties, betrayals, customs and excesses of New England Organized Crime under the mystique and terror of the still-missing desperate fugitive and elusive James J. "Whitey" Bulger are revealed here in very frightening terms. And yet this is also a story of a man who fought the demons of abandonment and abuse at an early age, who made his own rules, took enormous risks on both sides of the law, survived the toughest codes of Southie, and finally went straight in his middle age, in part because the FBI finally caught up with him and forced his hand, and also because of the profound love he has for his children and his community. Fascinating forward by Attorney Al Nugent, the author's lawyer and life-long friend. The author's comments on the ongoing appeal of Federal FBI Agent John J. Connelly, Jr. should be taken with a pound of salt. Be that as it may, I highly recommend this book. ... Read more

Book Description

Brendan Behan was an Irish playwright and novelist, as well as a youthful revolutionary. In 1939, at age 16, he was arrested in Liverpool with a suitcase full of high explosives.

BORSTAL BOY is the autobiographical record of Behan's experiences from that day through his imprisonment, trial, remand to reform school and final release. Schools for delinquents in England are called Borstal Institutions, and Behan's account of his years as a "Borstal Boy" is told in vigorous, dramatic prose. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

breath-takingly funny
I was epecting something a little more politically polemic or bleak, but this account is hysterically funny and inspired. Behan's writing is always vital, his grasp of dialogue perfect, but this novel enjoys a pacing brilliance I dared not hope from a playwright. Most dramatists have trouble with narrative prose because the rhythms are different, but not so with this account of his jail time as an adolescent in England.

Brilliant one-of-a-kind memoir
I'm an avid reader and can't believe I overlooked this book for so long. Perhaps I dismissed Behan as a professional Irishman, known more for his carousing than for his writing. What a mistake! This memoir is profound, profane, funny and, ultimately, humane. Read this book now; you're in for a treat.

tragicomedy about a young ira boy and his experiences
Borstal Boy makes me laugh out loud and also reminds me of my time in the British Royal Navy. One of the young Brendan Behan's fellow prisoners in the English young peoples' prison is a sailor named Charlie. The book shows some of the horrors of prison life but also a lot of the camaraderie that goes on whenever boys get together. Brendan Behan is very humorous, especially when writing about his court appearances, and when he's singing in prison. His descriptive language is brilliant, this from the first page, "A young one, with a blonde, Herrenvolk head and a B.B.C. accent shouted, 'I say, greb him, the bestud.' I have read this book at least four times, and will continue to be entertained by the wit and skill of the author. GREAT READ!!!

This book is BRILLIANT!
This book is an oustanding account of Behan's personal experience inside an English juvenile detention facility. For readers of Irish literature, this is a perfect and brilliantly written book!

A superb piece of storytelling as only the Dublin Irish can
Borstal boy is a harrowing account of life in a British Borstal institution in the 1940's. What is remarkable about this book is the absence of bitterness and the lessons which can be learned about people and life in a sheltered institution such as a borstal prison. Behan's prose style, always engaging, flows seamlessly from tenderness to savagery. However, no matter how brutal the experiences of the young Behan, his basic humanity shines through. Highly recommended! ... Read more

Book Description

Includes several never-before-seen private photos from the Kennedy Family Collection that are being published for the first time. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

The Kennedys: America's Emerald Kings
Just when you thought there was no way to write about theennedys from a new angle, Maier comes up with one. His take is to view the family through the green prism of Ireland and, by extension, to examine their relationship to the Roman Catholic Church. This makes for surprisingly fresh reading. Although many of the stories related here are familiar--Joeennedy's attempts to break into Brahmin society, the impact on the family of daughterathleen's penchant for Protestant men--Maier deepens the account by also bringing up less discussed incidents, such as Congressmanohnennedy's trip to Ireland (andackie's, four years after the assassination) and how both the Catholic faith andFK's Irish heritage played integral parts at the president's funeral. Nor does the story end with the Camelot days.eanennedy Smith, the eighth child in the family, served as ambassador to Ireland, and Bobbyennedy's daughter, Courtney, married Paul Hill, wrongly imprisoned by the police for terrorism. This extremely readable biography not only examines one particular immigrant family but also sheds light on the larger story of Irish Americans from the early twentieth century onward.

Another Side of This Family
Professor Maier has documented a side of the Kennedys that many readers are quite unfamiliar with: their ongoing commitment to their religious heritage. As Maier writes, Americans are more comfortable with Kennedy's as power operators and libertines. The essential Catholic nature of these men and women, however, either bores us or makes us uncomfortable. Some liberals don't appreciate the Kennedys as Catholics because they dislike Catholicism itself. Many conservatives deny that the Kennedy's are Catholic because, for such critics, morality means sexual prudery. Maier is able to strike the proper balance in portraying Joseph, Sr., John F. Kennedy and Edward as committed, believing albeit flawed Catholics. Robert is correctly drawn as the most conventionally devout of the Kennedy males. This should not be a revelation to readers, but in a sense, it is. And the author makes one more very important and routinely ignored point: It is very significant that Americans have been unwilling to nominate (let alone elect) a Roman Catholic to the Presidency since John F. Kennedy, over 40 years ago. This work ranks as one of the best, most carefully-documented and readable of the hundreds of books published about this family.

Entertaining, Informative and Not a Rehash
While this is an excellent history of the Kennedy family, tracing its roots like few histories have done, this book is far more. The author neither shows a bias to adore this large, well-known clan nor does he show a disdain for them. He simply tells the story as it is and leaves the reader to his own conclusions.

The main thrust of the book is the family's dealings with the Catholic church. We learn what many have suspected, that the Kennedy family paid off the churches leaders, providing them with much personal and institutional wealth, for the benefit of various Kennedy family members --- for special treatment and services.

The book covers just about all family members who were helped by the Catholic hierarchy but, of course, it spends more time on JFK who benefited from payments made by his father on his behalf. But it goes on to the more recent affairs including marriage annulments of lesser family members.

While this clan is of much less importance than it once was --- indeed it is of little importance --- this history and the new revelations add a good deal of knowledge for the student of politics and religion and leaves us with a distaste and distrust of both.

Susanna K. Hutcheson
Owner & Executive Copy Director
Powerwriting.com LLC

very interesting!
this new kennedy's book is very great.
there are a lot of picture and the texts are very complete.
you can learn a lot about the kennedys.
it's never boring.
So read it! ... Read more

Book Description

Ireland's patron saint has long been shrouded in legend, but the true story of St. Patrick is far more inspiring than the myths. In St. Patrick of Ireland, Philip Freeman brings the historic Patrick and his world vividly to life. Patrick speaks in his own voice in two remarkable letters he wrote about himself and his beliefs, new translations of which are included here and which are still astonishing for their passion and eloquence.

Born late in the fourth century to an aristocratic British family, Patrick's life was changed forever when he was abducted and taken to Ireland just before his sixteenth birthday. He spent six grueling years there as a slave, but the ordeal turned him from an atheist into a true believer. After a vision in which God told him he would go home, Patrick escaped captivity and, following a perilous journey, returned safely to Britain to the amazement of his family. But even more amazing to them was his announcement that he intended to go back to Ireland to spend the rest of his life ministering to the people who had once enslaved him.

Set against the turbulent backdrop of the British Isles during the last years of the Roman Empire, St. Patrick of Ireland brilliantly brings to life the real Patrick, shorn of legend, a man whose deep spiritual conviction and devotion helped to transform a country. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

A Magical and Poetic Work of Art!!
I was shocked at how beautiful this biography turned out to be! I expected a lot of non-essential information, but there was a wealth of information on the real man who was St. Patrick.The author is a 'wielder of words' and really drew me into the life and times of St. Patrick.A lovely, highly-readable, and now very treasured book in my library!

The Truth about St. Patrick
In regard to the life of St. Patrick, there are a lot of misconceptions.It is a myth that St. Patrick drove the snakes out of Ireland.Even if this were true, it would not necessarily qualify him as a saint.Myths such as this were written only to further St. Patrick's legacy.St. Patrick is recognized as having brought Christianity to Ireland with dedication that could only have come from God.In his book, Philip Freeman, tells what we know to be the truth about the saint's life based on his personal letters.

Few people remember that Patrick was actually a British nobleman.At sixteen years of age, he was kidnapped from his homeland to be taken to Ireland in slavery.He spent six years in slavery before the voice of God told him how to escape.Escaping as worker on a cargo ship despite insurmountable odds, St. Patrick is able to return to his homeland.When he returns home, God informs him in a dream that he must return to Ireland to spread the Good News of the Lord.This was a job that few Christians wanted as Ireland was run by savage pagans.St. Patrick followed God's call and studied to become a deacon, then priest, before becoming the bishop of Ireland.His work is phenomenal because he reached so many people, most by preaching to individuals.While his education was more limited than many clergymen of his time, the simple truths he taught built a great nation of Christianity.

In the book, Freeman gives the best possible account of St. Patrick's life as the sparse records of the past will allow.Unlike other biographers, he does not embellish the life of this saint.Freeman's voice seems very removed from the subject as he writes giving the book a very impersonal feeling.I also object to the redundancy in Freeman's writing as he often repeats himself and goes for pages only writing about Patrick's era not St. Patrick himself.While I do not fault him for the limited amount of imformation on the saint's life, straying from the subject of St. Patrick's life for long periods of the book is inexcusable.That being said, the book is accurate and a easy read.

More than your money's worth
Philip Freeman's biography on St. Patrick is an excellent read.The reader receives a very enriching view on the Patrick of history, rather than the Patrick of legend, which is precisely what I was looking for.Freeman's prose is academic and very thought provoking, without being so academic that it prones one to narcolepsy or repetitive trips to the thesaurus.It easily holds one's interest, but leaves the reader desiring more information.This desire is not a result of any fault of the author's, rather than the limited available information on St. Patrick.Should one seek further knowledge on the saint, Freeman helps the reader's search by providing a detailed Suggested Reading section for each chapter and aspect of Patrick's life and ministry.
There is a pleasant surprise contained in this book, which I appreciated most.That surprise is the treasure-trove of additional information on Celtic society and history within and without Ireland, Roman civilization throughout the Empire, early church structure, theology, and politics, and numerous other jewels.Freeman doesn't just settle on simply telling the story of a great man.He paints the world that Patrick lived in and struggled against to rise as a great historical figure.The author doesn't paint the picture of Patrick's greatness.The reader arrives at this conclusion on his or her own, by reading this great book.

Excellent Biography of the Man, St. Patrick.
Although the holiday bearing his name has become associated with legend and myth, St. Patrick, the man, lived such a life that warrants admiration and commendation from Christians everywhere.The man behind the myths exemplifies the Christian life of sacrifice, reliance on God, love and passion for souls, and unfoundering hope in eternal life through Jesus Christ.

Philip Freeman's book St. Patrick of Ireland presents the life and times of St. Patrick.Patrick's story is inspiring and astonishing.It reads like an addition to the Book of Acts in the Bible.

Patrick was born in Britain in the late fourth century to an aristocratic family.Irish marauders kidnapped him from his home when he was 15 years old and took him as a slave to Ireland.He labored endlessly for six years before escaping and returning to Britain and his family.

Patrick had atheistic beliefs when kidnapped, but during the course of his slavery he was transformed into a devout Christian, burning with love for Christ.After several years of religious study, Patrick willingly journeyed back to Ireland on a mission to share the message of salvation with a godless people known for their barbarianism and paganism which he had experienced first hand.

Freeman tells the story of Patrick's life from information garnered from the two writings left by Patrick.These are two letters Patrick wrote from Ireland to Britain that relate significant events of his ministry and life in simple, honest language.Freeman also references other historical texts and archeological discoveries to explain the culture of Patrick's world.

Freeman displays his expertise in Irish history by offering the reader a comprehensive picture of the cultures in which Patrick lived.Freeman is a professor of Classics at Washington University in St. Louis and earned his Ph. D. in Classical Philology and Celtic Studies from Harvard University.His expertise in Irish history is apparent by his writing.He adroitly fills in many of the blanks concerning Patrick's life.

This biography illustrates the ordeals and sufferings of Patrick while a slave and while a missionary in Ireland, as well as highlighting his amazing accomplishments.At every turn Patrick faced opposition from Satan and from men.Freeman's writing reveals Patrick's closeness to God by emphasizing portions of Patrick's two letters that Freeman interpreted and included in full in this book.

Through Patrick's own words, we see his enthusiasm and love for the Irish.His words are reminiscent of Paul's writings to the Thessalonians and Philippians.They are the words of a shepherd about and to his sheep.

In his letter of confession, Patrick writes of his compulsion to preach to the Irish, "I must proclaim my good news, I must pay God back in some way for all that he has done for me here on earth and what he will do in eternity-blessings no one can even imagine...The love of Christ carried me here to be a help to these people for the rest of my life."

Freeman's biography of Patrick tells a story of transformation-the transformation of a selfish boy to a Christian man and the transformation of a pagan people to a people brimming with love for Christ.This story will change your perspective of the Christian life and will give you a reason to celebrate St. Patrick's Day as a day of devotion to God.

The Man--Not the Legend
It is nearly impossible to separate fact from legend when dealing with a figure like St. Patrick.And yet, if we are to find meaning in the lives of the saints so they can help us in our own striving, isn't it important to at least try to find the reality behind the stories?If it is, then Mr. Freeman has produced something very nice here.

If the truth be told, finding the facts about anyone living 1600 years ago is next to an impossible task.But, surprisingly, we do have a certain number of facts about Patrick: he was born to a relatively well-off family in Britain, was captured and sold as a slave in Ireland where he stayed for six years tending sheep until he escaped back to Britain where he was reunited with his family.Clearly his captivity opened Patrick's religious spirit and, after spending a number of years training with the Church, he returned to Ireland where he was bishop for the rest of his life doing his utmost to convert the natives.

Of course, this brief story is not enough to satisfy the human need for the extraordinary in their heroes--particularly religious ones--so stories quickly built up around Patrick: miracles & snakes & druids.But Mr. Freeman puts these aside very quickly and focuses only on what we can be relatively certain about with Patrick.Instead of legend he gives us historical background, quotes from contemporaries, and minimal speculation.I also enjoyed reading Patrick's two letters in the epilogue which Mr. Freeman quotes extensively in his text.I hadn't realized Patrick had produced any writings that survived.

All in all, this book is an excellent experience.Brief, certainly, (only 150 pages of original text) but deeply satisfying.Personally, I am more inspired by a human story than a miraculous one and this is the story that we get here. ... Read more

Book Description

Drawing on long-lost or overlooked material, this is a major new biography of Wilde's emotional and sexual life-praised by the Manchester Evening News as "Extraordinary, intensely passionate and quite beautiful"

Oscar Wilde said of himself, "I put all my genius into my life; I put only my talent into my work." Now, for the first time, Neil McKenna focuses on the tormented genius of Wilde's personal life, reproducing remarkable love letters and detailing Wilde's until-now unknown relationships with other men.

McKenna has spent years researching Wilde's life, drawing on extensive new material, including never-before published poems as well as recently discovered trial statements made by male prostitutes and blackmailers about Wilde. McKenna provides explosive evidence of the political machinations behind Wilde's trials for sodomy, as well as his central role in the burgeoning gay world of Victorian London. Dazzlingly written and meticulously researched, The Secret Life of Oscar Wilde fully charts Wilde's astonishing odyssey through London's sexual underworld and paints a frank and vivid psychological portrait of a troubled genius. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A Different Wilde
For many years Richard Ellmann's biography of Oscar Wilde was considered the definitive work on Wilde. Having recently finished Ellmann's book and just now having read McKenna's book, McKenna offers many new insights. He is not afraid to delve into many of Wilde's "uranian" <read "gay"> views. Ellmann has a sense of the straight outsider trying to understand a gay man's motives. McKenna offers a sympathetic view of Wilde's passion for "rent boys" and his loves for Bosie Douglas and Robbie Ross. McKenna is often sympathetic toward Bosie, but suspect toward Ross. By the end of McKenna's book Wilde is seen as a greatly flawed genius whose passions led to his destruction. "When the gods want to punish you, they give you what you want."

Fascinating book--like reading a novel
I've never been particularly interested in Oscar Wilde but a friend lent me the book and I was riveted. This is extensively researched and at the same time extremely readable.You get immersed in the world and drama of Oscar Wilde's life. He was a fascinating person; the biography conveys his many sides vividly--his genius, his warmth, his wit, his arrogance, his lust, his compulsions, his exploitiveness, his foolishness, and, in the end, his love. I couldn't put it down and it's made me want to go back and read (or reread) things he wrote with the new insights from this book. McKenna brought Oscar Wilde vividly to life, offered a look into the times and struggles of the "Uranians" (men loving men/men loving boys) and had the drama of Wilde's trial as a center piece.I'm sad to see the book is out of print already--and especially in light of the 11 states that just passed constitutional bans on gay marriage. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (7)

If you read the column, buy the compilation
I only recently picked up on David Feherty and his writing. Being on the far side of the Pacific from where he plies his trade sets me back as to the happenings off the green in the golf world by, well, years. I found this one book helpful not only with catching up on golf in general, but also in getting aquainted with Mr. Feherty and his pen.

Most I think will go after this book because they want to see "the lighter side of golf". As anyone who has read this book or regularly looks at the column itself can tell you, this is off-color humor that is best taken in small amounts over a vast period of time. Not that there are any boring segments (some are less interesting than others, but none outright boring), but rather the parade of gradeschool humor that is presented in just about every other chapter can be wearing.

What will likely keep a reader coming back (perhaps once a week at most) is that he is a fairly good writer. Containing selections from his column over the past five years and more does carry the trap of repition in phrases and cliche, but this isn't tiring in the least. He is very capable of retelling stories better than most in the sports world. His "letters" do tend to wear on one's patience at times, however.

If you are a David Feherty fan, you will want to have this to glance through to get you through a gloomy day.

Good, old-fashioned clubhouse humor
To many people, golf is a tradition-rich sport, governed by stuffy, upper-class men with little or no sense of humor. For people who play golf, there is another side of the game: the funny, raunchy, and sometimes obscene area where most weekend duffers spend their golfing lives and many professionals spend much of their off-camera time. David Feherty is a member of the latter group, and has collected a group of his Golf Digest articles to make this book.

Feherty is a former professional golfer who now works as a commentator for CBS Sports, and has spent various portions of his career in various locales, both mainstream and remote. His tales of life on the Safari Tour and on the European Tour are priceless stories of anonymous toil in golf backwaters told as only Feherty can tell them. He skewers many in his stories, from the golf establishment to frequent partner Gary McCord, mercilessly, while reserving the most embarassing stories for himself. This self-deprecating humor is certainly endearing and makes for some of the best reading in the book.

Also included are great articles which display the emotional side of golf from an insider's perspective, from the patriotic fervor of Davis Cup competitors to the grief felt by the whole tour at the loss of Payne Stewart.

As some reviewers have mentioned, the humor in this book tends to focus on bodily functions. If gas jokes offend you, then this is not the book for you. If they don't, then get ready for some great golf writing and absolute hilarity, Feherty-style.

Broad Ranged
Sure, 'Somewhere in Ireland' contains a good deal of potty humor- I'm amazed at how many times Feherty has soiled himself on a course. But this book is hillarious while also being inspiring. It contains some practical (but not technical) tips, and is full of life lessons. I've laughed out loud plenty of times while reading this book, and have come close to tears at some of the sentiment. If you don't enjoy this book, you have no sense of humor and no soul.

Just not funny
This book has only one theme, bodily functions, and it repeats the theme over and again. It is painful to read.

Loved it
This is one of the nuttiest, funniest books I've read in some time. Feherty takes a boring game and makes it seem interesting. What a character! For more laughs I also recommend WHO'S YOUR CADDY, STUPID WHITE MEN and NO ONE'S EVEN BLEEDING. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Excellent pictorial and text history
the Early Days is an excellent history of the band from their formation in 1976 up to their record deal with Island in 1979. The pictures are extremely rare and the text provided by the guy who's been there since the beginning. A must have for die-hards. ... Read more

Book Description

The events which led to the execution of Anne Boleyn, Henry VIII's second queen, in 1536 have traditionally been explained by historians in terms of a factional conspiracy masterminded by Henry's minister Thomas Cromwell. Retha Warnicke's fascinating and controversial reinterpretation focuses instead on the sexual intrigues and family politics pervading the court, offering a new explanation of Anne's fall. The picture which emerges - placing Anne's life in the context of social and religious values, and superstitions about witches and the birth of deformed children - changes our perception of her role within the court, and suggests that her execution (occurring only four months after a miscarriage) was the tragic consequence of Henry's profound concern about the continuation of the Tudor dynasty. ... Read more

Reviews (14)

Highly speculative!
The early chapters of this book are interesting in that they examine Anne Boleyn's childhood and early career in the context of her family and society. Warnicke's choice to give little credence to the reports of Chapuys and others who had reason to portray Anne in the worst light is valid and creates a more balanced characterization of this queen than is usually seen.

The major thrust of this book, however, is Warnicke's theory that Anne's fall was the result of having miscarried a deformed fetus in January of 1536. While it is an intriguing possibility, Warnicke fails to provide the slightest shred of evidence to prove her theory. Her sole argument is that while most royal miscarriages were kept secret, Henry took great pains to make Anne's miscarriage of 1536 public knowledge. She then makes the wild leap in reasoning that Henry was driven to do so by a need to prove that he was not the father of a deformed fetus - which at that time was viewed as a sign of God's wrath. It is an interesting theory, but she fails to back it up with any substantial argument.

She then goes on to reason that the five men who were convicted of adultery with Anne, while not guilty of that particular crime must have been guilty of something, or they wouldn't have been condemned to die. (She seems unable to accept the possiblility that they were railroaded just as Anne herself was). This leads to another wild round of speculation - again with very little to back it up.

While these arguments might have made for a powerful piece of fiction, they are hardly the basis of an academic reevaluation of Anne's story.

Great new insights on Anne Boleyn!
I loved this book and I've read everything out there on Henry VIII and his matrimonial adventures. This book pays close attention to the court intrigues surrounding Anne Boleyn and makes a plausible case for Anne's fall as the result of political infighting as opposed to the more popular view of Henry tiring of Anne and of Anne's failure to bear a son. A must-read for any Tudor fan.

A bit dry but isn't that the English way?
Rise and Fall is a bit dry. It's a workmanlike text book but I enjoyed it. If you're coming to this book expecting romance, high drama and emotion go find another book. The author treats Anne like a politician or a warrior. She shows what steps Anne took and offers a theory as to why she took them and finally, the author shows why Anne fell. You'll probably enjoy Lady in the Tower or The Concubine better but if you collect Anne Boleyn books this is a worthy one for your collection.

Rather Dry...
This book is extremely well researched and accurate,yet it is rather a dry read and would not capture the imagination (or frankly attention) of someone unfamiliar with Anne's life.

Text book-like treatise
Fantastic research, however, the book was rather academic. ... Read more

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Why, readers may ask, yet another book about Oscar Wilde?"Because his life is a continual allegory," the author tells us in her introduction, "and his social, political, and artistic views, which went right to the heart of Victorian society, are no less threatening today." In contrast to earlier biographers like Hesketh Pearson and Richard Ellmann, Belford emphasizes the cultural context in which Wilde (1854-1900) operated as both shrewd self-publicist and provocateur. Researching previous biographies of Violet Hunt and Bram Stoker, Belford immersed herself in the florid atmosphere of London during the 1890s, the decade of Wilde's greatest fame and infamy, and she uses this knowledge to deepen our understanding of the writer's relationship with his times. In particular, the West End theater district comes to life as the scene of Wilde's greatest triumphs as a playwright (from Lady Windermere's Fan to The Importance of Being Earnest) as well as of his introduction to "a homosocial world that had existed since Elizabethan times." Victorian society could not tolerate Wilde's relatively open homosexuality, however, and two 1895 trials ended with his conviction on charges of "gross indecency." He served two years in prison and died three years after his release, exiled, poor, and alone. Yet Belford stresses not Wilde's tragedy but his triumph. To the end, he was a gaily subversive writer whose works "demonstrate the value of graciousness, charm, and wit" even as they assert "the right of art and language to shock, to undermine, and to unsettle." --Wendy Smith ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Middle of the Road Approach to Flamboyant Playright's Life
Ms. Bedford made no pretention to focusing upon a particular aspect of Oscar Wilde's life. Rather, she intended to offer a truly unbiased volume of carefully researched biographical information regarding Wilde and his societal surroundings. Many other readers have criticized the work for its seeming lack of spirit and depth. Ms. Bedford did not wish to offer such things, however. It is the duty of the reader to take the work and make one's own opinions regarding Wilde's life. Such a practice is rarely performed in modern times since the reading public are so very used to being told what to like - an attitude Wilde fought so much against. The volume meets the standard set by the author in the introduction, as well as the standards of biographies of its kind. It is, on the whole, a very good work.

No Spirit, Not Even a Breath!
I reached for this volume for a refreshing change of pace from this dreary, political and social state of things. Alas, there was no such lift to be had in this volume. The story was all there, the good times and the bad but the tone was too dark. I'll wager that most people who reach for his biography are less intrigued by the history as they are by the precision bite of his words. Indeed, this seems more of a latter life work. We are given a front row seat to the repressive consequences for his flaunting conservative standards about sexuality. The details were complete and appropriately credited. But the theatrics were missing. That novel charge so often haughty and sharp lost that rippling propulsion that has succeeded over time. As a unashamed Victorian homosexual, Wilde was well ahead of his time. The question is, was he ahead of our time as well? there can be no doubt that Wilde's tongue can wag and delight contemporary readers and theater goers. However that voice and pen, used with sizzling, frenetic arrogance is sadly, not at home in this bio.

Not Wilde About It
Barbara Belford's biography is well-illustrated and quotes its subject profusely, yet I came away with the feeling it tried to hard to prove a theory of Wilde rather than to explore him. The author discusses her reservations about Ellmann's biography of Wilde, and complains in her foreword that recent biographies have "take[n] specialist views: ... the Irish Wilde, the gay Wilde..." Yet she does exactly that, and seems to want to make up for Ellman's "reticence" in discussing Wilde's sexuality by placing it at instead the center of this work. As if Ellmann's Wilde was perhaps not gay enough for some, Belford's is overwhelmingly so; this has the (unintended?) effect of minimizing the importance of Wilde's wife Constance and his children. Wilde's homosexual passions are cast as the sole source of his inspiration, and it is suggested that he wanted to assert his right to live as he chose. In fact, the opposite appears true. By prosecuting Queensberry, Wilde was in essence asserting his right to stay legally and publicly in the closet. Once he had been forced in court to accept that Queensberry was "entitled to call him a posing sodomite", Wilde hardly seems to have accepted the title with enthusiasm or pride, as he himself makes clear in the opening of De Profundis.

Overall I'd say it was a pleasant enough read for those already familiar with its subject, but I would hesitate to recommend it to Wilde novices: the man was more complex than he is ultimately portrayed here, and one almost gets the impression the writer dislikes her subject. It leaves the taste of an exposé.

Painstakingly researched, but....
Although it is apparant that Barbara Belford researched Oscar Wilde's life thoroughly, she is never able to capture her subject in such a way that the reader feels s/he knows Wilde well. Often her sentences are run-on and so confusing that frequently I had to re-read a line in order to grasp its meaning.

I have recently read Jonathan Fryer's biography of Robbie Ross who was Wilde's great friend and literary executor. If Ross had not been associated so closely with Wilde, his life would not merit a biography. Even so, I feel that I know Ross better from Fryer's book than I understand Wilde from Belford's. The same holds true concerning Douglas Murray's book, Bosie: A Biography of Lord Alfred Douglas. Bosie's relationship with Wilde brought about Wilde's conviction for gross indecency, his imprisonment, his exile and contributed to his early death in 1900. Aside from those facts, Bosie Douglas's life would not call for a biography. Yet again I understand Bosie from Murray's book than I understand Wilde from Belford's. In fact, both Fryer and Murray offer more insight into Wilde in their biographies of his close associates than Belford offers in her biography of Wilde.

Another look at Wilde's complex personality
Since Ellmann's definitive biography of Oscar Wilde, no book on Wilde has been as meticuously researched and evenly reported as Barbara Belford's new work. From the moment I read her author's query in the New York Times Book Review a few years ago, I anticipated its publication, and was not disappointed.

I learned some new, anecdotal information from this book, even after my twenty-eight years of studying and collecting all that is Wilde. Those discoveries brought this reader much joy.

The only criticisms I have of this book are minor. Someone with a keener eye should have proofread the manuscript for awkward grammatical phrasings. Also there was a passion for Wilde missing in the author's voice that I, as a Wilde fanatic, wanted to hear. But it is to Belford's credit and background as a biographer that her tone is unbiased. I believe her work on Bram Stoker informed this biography and afforded the opportunity for unearthed details which give this book its verve and value. ... Read more

Book Description

In an irresistible tale of a life lived fully, if not always wisely, Liam Clancy, of the legendary Irish group the Clancy Brothers, describes his eventful journey from a small town in Ireland in the 1930s into the heart of the New York music scene in the 1950s and ’60s.
Following in the grand tradition of such Irish memoirs as Angela’s Ashes andAre You Somebody?, Liam Clancy relates his life’s story in a raucously funny and star-studded account of moving from provincial Ireland to the bars and clubs of New York City, to the cusp of fame as a member of Tommy Makem and the Clancy Brothers.Born in 1935, the eleventh out of as many children, young Liam was a naive and innocent lad of the Old Country.His memories of childhood include bounding over hills, streams, and the occasional mountain, getting lost, and eventually found, and making mischief in the way of a typical Irish boy.

As an aimless nineteen-year-old, Clancy met a strange and wonderfully energetic lover of music, Ms. Diane Guggenheim, an American heiress.She and a colleague from America had set out to record regional Irish folk music, and their undertaking led them to Carrick-on-Suir in the shadow of Slievenamon, "The Mountain of the Women," where Mammie Clancy had been known to carry a tune or two in her kitchen.Guggenheim fell for young Liam and swept him along on her travels through the British Isles, the American Appalachians, and finally Greenwich Village, the undisputed Mecca for aspiring artists of every ilk in the late 1950s.

Clancy was in New York to become an actor.But on the side, he played and sang with his brothers, Paddy and Tom, and fellow countryman Tommy Makem, in pubs like the legendary White Horse Tavern.In the heady atmosphere of the Village, Clancy’s life was a party filled with music, sex, and McSorley’s.His friendships with then-unknown artists such as Bob Dylan, Maya Angelou, Robert Redford, Lenny Bruce, Pete Seeger and Barbra Streisand form the backdrop of the charming adventures of a small-town boy making it big in the biggest of cities.

In music circles, the Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem are known as the Beatles of Irish music.The band’s music continues to play on jukeboxes in pubs and bars, in living rooms of folk music fans, and in Irish American homes throughout the country.Liam Clancy’s lively memoir captures their wild adventures on the road to fame and fortune, and brings to life a man who never lets himself off the hook for his sins, and happily views his success as a blessing. ... Read more

Reviews (16)

A Gift in Words From A Living Legend
If you are a fan of the Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem, then this book is something you probably can't wait to read. If you are a poor soul who has never sat down and listened to "Live at Carnegie Hall"...well you'd better get busy. You have a lot of reading and listening to do, and I envy you for it. This book is simply beautiful to read. Mr. Clancy has the Irish way with words in the truest sense, and its a wonder he waited so long to begin a literary career (I always enjoyed his liner notes!) The story of his life and career is well worth reading to fans of his music and to fans of good memoir writing as well. Read this book and you will feel as though Mr. Clancy is speaking only to you. He evokes memories of family, home, and childhood with amazing grace and ease. In addition, be sure to get the reissue of his solo album "Liam Clancy" which is availble from this site. God bless the Clancy Brothers!

A Wonderful Book!
This book is the perfect example of True Celtic spirit; laugh at yourself, and never let anyone or anything keep you down. I would recommend this book to anyone. It's warm, insightful, humorous, and thought-provoking. Liam Clancy takes his readers gently by the hand and leads them through the highs and lows of his life. He shares everything from his early childhood memories to the beginning of his incredible musical career. Taking the advice of Shakespeare, he is indeed to his own self true. He's not afraid to face the good times or the bad. Like the man, his music, and his singing, this book is truly a treasure.

Insightful Biography
The Clancy Brothers albums opened by ears to traditional celtic music in the 60s, so it was a treat for me to read Liam Clancy's account of how the group evolved. The family background and his personal development as an student, actor and musician were very enjoyable reading.
If you liked Angela's Ashes, this will certainly appeal.

Publishers Weekly Award
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY AWARD

Audio: Listen Up Awards 2002Audio: Listen Up Awards 2002
By Lynn Andriani and Shannon Maughan -- 1/6/2003

NONFICTION

THE MOUNTAIN OF THE WOMEN: Memoirs of an Irish Troubadour by Liam Clancy, read by the author (Random House Audio). Irish folk musician Clancy masterfully recounts more than "40 years of acting, singing and great foolishness" with a powerful, melodic voice and guileless magnetism.

A Long Way from Tipperary
Liam Clancy portrays a poignant, honest, and sometimes irreverent portrait of the life of a young man growing up in the Ireland of the 40s and 50s. His prose is as lyrical as his music, sprinkled with laughter and pathos.

I read, and understood his struggle living in a country of which he said had one foot in the twentieth century and the other in the Middle Ages. From provincial Ireland to the fast pace of New York's Greenwich Village in an era of coffee houses, folk singers, booze and (Playboy) bunnies, the multi-talented Liam Clancy comes out a survivor, unapologetic and charming.

My only problem with this book is that it ended too soon.

Will we be treated to a sequel, Mr. Clancy? ... Read more

Amazon.com

Slapped with a libel suit after an appearance on a talk show,Malachy McCourt crows, "If they could only see me now in the slums of Limerick, a big shot, sued for a million. Bejesus, isn't America a great and wonderful country?" His older brother Frank's Pulitzer Prize-winning memoir, Angela's Ashes, took its somber tone from the bleak atmosphere of those slums, while Malachy's boisterous recollections are fueled by his zestful appreciation for the opportunities and oddities of his native land. He and Frank were born in Brooklyn, moved with their parents to Ireland as children, then returned to the States as adults. This book covers the decade 1952-63, when Malachy roistered across the U.S., Europe, and Asia, but spent most of his time in New York City. There his ready wit and quick tongue won him an acting job with the Irish Players, a semiregular stint on the Tonight show hosted by Jack Paar, and friendships with some well-heeled, well-born types who shared his fondness for saloon life and bankrolled him in an East Side saloon that may have been the first singles bar. He chronicles those events--and many others--with back-slapping bonhomie. Although McCourt acknowledges the personal demons that pursued him from his poverty-stricken childhood and destroyed his first marriage, this is on the whole an exuberant autobiography that pays tribute to the joys of a freewheeling life. ... Read more

Reviews (194)

The demons of the McCourts
The most telling page of Monks Swimming was the last page. There we are informed that Malachy McCourt is a happily married man with a loving family. Obviously something has happened since the gold smuggling, booze drinking, bed hopping and hot winding days of the 60's. What may have kept this review from being a five star is it took so long for McCourt to deal with his father and the constant hope that he held for him. It appears that McCourt had deep scars of the proverty and desertion that were masked through the care free attitude he displayed in America. Maybe once he faced this issue is when he became the happy person that the last page refers to. Notwithstanding the reasons for his behaviour the book is quite amusting in parts. His descriptions of the confessions to non-English priests and the gold laden vests are worth the price of the book..

No Monk Ever Swam So Well Before!
This is an absolutely delightful book. No, I don't approve of many of the things Malachy McCourt did, but then, neither does he. But he is honest enough to tell it the way it happened, and he has the wit to make it, for the most part, very enjoyable. Yes, there were times when I wanted to say to him "Oh, Malachy, MUST you repeat your father's mistakes?" But of course he can't go back and change what he has already done.

It seems to me that a lot of reviewers have called this a bad book because they don't approve of the author. That is a silly thing to do. Richard Wagner, so I'm told, was a really rotten sort of person, even to the end of his days, but much of his music is very beautiful. I enjoy Wagner's beautiful music and I enjoy Malachy McCourt's beautiful prose, and I would feel free to do so even if Malachy had not gotten his act together (but I'm glad he finally did, as I learned from the sequel, "Singing My Him Song.")

Malachy McCourt - waste of space?
This book does not tell the story of a man's life as an adult, but merely documents the destruction of that life. His travels leave a trail of exploitation. I am only reading this story for traces of Frank McCourt. There are occasions where Malachy mentions his despair, but through the countless episodes in which he takes advantage of others, there is no witness, observation or analysis of the situations that he placed himself into. I was disappointed by the numerous mentions of encounters with the famous, unfortunately who have no impact on the story. I do not take pleasure in humour at the tragic expense of others.

An exciting story..to laugh and to cry.
Malachy's got a very different writing compared to Frank, his brother. Malachy is this bloke, kind of rude...he's the MAN who lived "les 400 coups" all over the world. What a rich existence you had Mr McCourt. Your writing is so funny and so sad.
It's also so exciting and so unique.
Sometimes reality is more surreal than fiction and your life is the perfect example. A great book without a doubt. U, Irish, rule! I'll never drink Whiskey with the H, without thinking about this book.

An entertaining tale
This is the memoirs of the larger than life, hard-drinking Malachy McCourt. Born in America, rasied in Ireland and then back to New York as an teen. He made a name for himself in New York city as the first celebrity bartender. He was a social mixer, a writer, an actor of stage and screen. His gift for blarney made him a regular on the Tonight Show.

This book is darkly funny. And a bit raw in places, so be warned. But he does tell his story with passion, wit, irreverence and charm. This was a fun read. ... Read more

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In time long past, little corners of Ireland were ruled by chiefs, kings, earls, and other nobles whose ancient dominion came to an end with the Tudor conquests of the 1500s. But, writes author Peter Ellis, the royal bloodlines continued to flow in faraway lands, the forgotten victims of "the ruthless colonial policy of an unsympathetic alien power."

With the Flight of the Wild Geese, when many nobles abandoned the island, the hereditary aristocracy of Ireland lost power and, with time, was forgotten at home. Today, emerging from exile in places like Austria and Asturias, claimants to long-abandoned titles are now popping up everywhere, and the Irish government has been obliging some of them with "courtesy recognition"--an anachronism, many Irish object, in a democratic era. Surveying the surviving nobility, Ellis examines their claims and, in the process, addresses what he rightly calls "a much-neglected area of Irish history": the blue-blood past of the MacGillycuddys, Maguires, O'Brien's, and other storied families. Heraldry buffs, royalty watchers, and claimants to long-lost thrones will find much of interest in Ellis's wanderings through the island's unhappy history. --Gregory McNamee ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Terrific new treatment of a very old aristocracy
It may come as a shock to some that Ireland still has nineteen documented native "royal" families, probably because the island's ruling dynasties were suppressed nearly five centuries ago by the imperialist Tudors. The conquest of Ireland was followed by the Flight of the Wild Geese, in which much of the Irish aristocracy fled to other Catholic countries (notably France and Spain) and was largely forgotten at home. The government of today's Ireland, however, has been granting courtesy titles to claimants who can prove their descents. Ellis is a noted scholar and popular writer in the area of Celtic studies and history and this enabled him to be "invited in" by the heads of the families to examine their claims. Each of these is "the chief of the name" -- though some also hold other Gaelic titles, such as Conor O'Brien, "The O'Brien," who also is hereditary Prince of Thomond (as well as being a baronet and Baron Inchiquin in the Peerage of Ireland under the UK). They generally have more money (based on land ownership) and education than average, and their influence in Irish culture can be considerable. The author does a very creditable job of outlining the lineage and political history of each of these families, each in its own chapter, as well as the modern-day activities of the chiefs in regaining their social positions. Following the publication of the first edition, a scandal erupted around Terence McCarthy, recognized as The McCarthy Mor, who turned out to be a complete fraud, and that episode, which badly damaged the credibility of the chiefs of Ireland, is also recounted in detail in this edition. An articulate, informative, and very well written book.

The sagas of numerous Gaelic noble families
Erin's Blood Royal: The Gaelic Noble Dynasties Of Ireland by Celtic scholar Peter Berresford Ellis is a stately and informative study of the Irish aristocracies that ruled Ireland until Henry VIII forced them to obey the English crown. Individual chapters relate the sagas of numerous Gaelic noble families, including O'Carroll, O'Connor, McCarthy, Maguire, O'Grady and many more. A highly recommended contribution to Irish Studies supplemental reading lists and reference collections, Erin's Blood Royal is an articulate and impressive account of the family branches whose descendants live in Ireland, Great Britain, America, and many other nations throughout the world today. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (19)

Coogan takes on "The Big Fella"
Tim Pat Coogan's book "The IRA" is on the bookshelf of practically everyone with an interest in modern Irish politics. His biography of Michael Collins seems destined to join it. It is not an easy read, and contains a mass of detail of Collins' life from childhood to the ambush in which he died. The detail can be overwhelmingly dense at times, and often harrowing, and sometimes Coogan makes too many assumptions about the level of background knowledge of the reader. But if you've seen Neil Jordan's recent film, this biography will fill in the political and personal background of the man who made modern Ireland. Coogan's biography left me a lot wiser about the history of modern Ireland - and also served as a sad reminder of the importance of the gun in Irish politics

A difficult but engrossing history
The book is difficult but not tedious. It's a pity that Tim Coogan didn't supply a little background on Irish History, just to put the events he describes in context. Without that, it becomes a little difficult if you have no idea who or what he is referring to. When he gets into the main subject of this history, one tends to get lost in a maze of characters, and their various alliegences. Nevertheless it offers a very complete treatment of the Anglo-Irish War, the negotiation of the Treaty, and the subsequent Irish Civil War. The ugliness and brutality of the war with the British is upsetting, and may well leave you feeling very angry. Finally let me say that Michael Collins emerges from this story as an extrordinary young man of enormous ability in so many ways, who with a little help from his friends did manage to get the British out of Ireland, or at least out of the twenty-six counties. The absurdity of it all, is that he was killed by his own people when he was little more than thirty years old.

The Big Fellow,indeed!
One cannot understand modern Ireland with no knowledge of Michael Collins. Known as the "Big Fellow" Collins was the brains and driving force behind Ireland's triumphal revolution of 1916-1921. That struggle led directly to the formation of the Irish Free State and eventually the Irish Republic of today. One has to be careful how he phrases that statement, for Ireland has a long list of her heroes and martyrs. Collins is but one of them but Collins was different! So many others died in vain and became legends in song and story. The Big Fellow was icily prevailing. There are 4 main elements to MC: The first was Collins stunning use of intelligence to thwart the British at their own game. He was always a step ahead of the Brits. He was the most wanted man in Ireland but continually slipped through the hands of his foe. He literally hid in plain sight. The British had no picture of him and didn't know what he looked like! The second was his fearless use of selected assassination. In one night in 1920, his men (the aptly named 12 Apostles) took out 19 British agents! The demised were known as "the Cairo Gang'. The third is his uncomfortable role in the thorny peace negotiations with Lloyd George and Winston Churchill. The fourth is the most tragic: The Big Fellow, a "Free Stater", wanted to accept England's peace offer of a partitioned Ireland as a stepping stone to full independence. The so- called "Republicans"; led by the devious Eamon de Valera wanted immediate full independence. A Civil War ensued and the Big Fellow was assassinated. One could argue that author Coogan has a pro-Collins bias. Has Ireland been the same since? MC is a long story, rich in detail. This review has NOT done it justice. This is only a thumb