Book Description

...to have resotred her to us so memorably is an impressive achievement, and an occasion for great gratitude.--Dorothy Parker, The Christian Science Monitor ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Irish history made flesh
Before I read this book, all I knew of Maud Gonne was what Yeats had seen fit to tell us.And that's just not very nice, is it?This well-balanced and evocative portrait is not afraid to honestly depict the great lady'sweaknesses, but it also gives us her strengths and the story of theincredibly valuable work she did for Ireland - not just for the abstractionofEire, but gritty, real work that was to the direct benefit of childrenand prisioners. ... Read more

Book Description

Edward, prince of Wales and Aquitaine, known as the Black Prince, is one of the legendary figures of English history, victor of three great battles and a model of chivalry and courtesy. Behind this image, which many of his contemporaries accepted and eagerly believed in, it is difficult to get at the realities of his character and of the life that he led. Most of his biographers have based their work on the splendid vision of chivalry conjured up by Froissart, but the present book deliberately shuns this approach, to see what can be found in official records, particularly from the prince's household and those who campaigned with the prince. Special attention has been paid not only to the confusing and confused accounts of the great battles, but also to the prince's early years, his close companions who contributed so greatly to his successes, and to his government of Aquitaine, an obscure but very important part of his career. A number of minor but persistent errors in early histories, deriving from Froissart, are corrected. A concluding chapter examines how the legend of the Black Prince (and his curious nickname) came into being. By separating the image and the reality, a clearer picture of the prince emerges. Dr RICHARD BARBER is the author of The Arthurian Legends, King Arthur: Hero and Legend, Tournaments, a biography of Henry II, The Penguin Guide to Medieval Europe, and the recently revised seminal study of The Knight and Chivalry. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Please write volume 3!
This is an excellent biography of Stalin, the middle book in a proposed trilogy. Tucker weaves events in the Soviet Union around the twisted, paranoid personality of Joseph Stalin, former seminary student. What I found to be the most intriguing was how every time Stalin changed his mind about something, everyone had to fall in line or risk being labeled a "wrecker" or "counter-revolutionary." Stalin was not particularly brilliant, and he was not Lenin's choice as a successor, but he had a genius for bureacratic maneuvering that put him in the powerful position that he held for years. For all his paranoia and all the damage he did to Russia, it is amazing that someone didn't actually knock him off. It is a chilling reflection on how obsequious even the best of us can be when motivated by fear.

The finest treatment of its subject
Neither Stalin, the collectivization crisis, nor the terror suffer from a dearth of good and serious studies. Yet despite the crowded field, Tucker's "Stalin in Power" is by far the best treatment of all three complex events. No other book sets out as credible, well-researched and well considered a theory of the workings of Stalin's mind. The great challenge presented by the Soviet thirties is the comprehension of the real logic behind what appears from the outside as mass irrationality. Most writers' personal models of depth and social psychology are inadequate to the task. Tucker succeeds, by a significant margin.

Comprehensive, accessible, and supremely coherent
Tucker's careful storytelling hews to historical facts and grippingly narrates Stalin's creeping domination of the Soviet idea. This book is complete. A must read for all interested in recent Russian history.

Excellent description and methods of a psychopathic creep
It is amazing a person this sick could obtain, hold , and increase his power. Tucker does a good job expaining how it came about. This is a true horror story. After reading this, you'll understand that Hitler was not unique ... Read more

Book Description

It is New Year's Eve in Dublin, 1959. On the rooftop of 44 Seville Place, ten-year-old Peter Sheridan clings to the steel rod of a television antenna. When his father urges him to turn the antenna toward England, the boy reaches up, and pictures from a foreign place beam into their living room. Life in the Sheridan family will never be the same again.

As the 1960s unfold, the Sheridans experience all the decade has to offer: sex, the Beatles, drugs, and The Troubles in Belfast. One of the best-known figures in Irish contemporary theater, Peter Sheridan recounts these hilarious, awkward, and heartbreaking years with exquisite timing and dramatic precision. Honest, sharp-witted, and compassionate, 44: Dublin Made Me draws us into this loving family as we explore the Dublin that shaped this young boy.

"Seldom has the blossoming of artistic passion been so effectively captured . . . it will get into your brain and your blood and stay there a long time."--San Francisco Chronicle

"Peter Sheridan writes at the crossroads where hilarity and heartbreak, tenderness and savagery meet. The people who live there are often cruel, often magnificent, and always, always human. He captures them perfectly."--Roddy Doyle, author of Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha and A Star Called Henry

"Sharp, jazzy, hilarious, and often painful . . . You'll rejoice in this wild song of a book."--Frank McCourt
44 was short-listed for The Irish Times Irish Literature Prize for Nonfiction ... Read more

Reviews (13)

An excellent look at sixties Dublin.
Peter Sheridan's Irish family is a cherished read. In descibing his fathers makeshift bathroom, Sheridan states that he used his own toilet paper made from a local telephone directory..."He's down to the r's...he's now wiping his arse with the Rileys"....Pure Irish dry humor at it's best! The loved and classic Beatles' "Sgt.Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band" album is brought to life once again for us all. This book is a great look at a loving Dublin family, through their good times and bad times, in the 1960's. Very worthwhile!

A Rewarding Read
In the opening chapter of his memoirs, Peter Sheridan pedals off on his bike to run an errand for his father. Even at the age of 8, there's no way he could get lost in his own city. He "loves the statues and monuments. If Dublin were a woman, he'd marry her."

*** "44 Dublin Made Me" will invariably be compared to Frank McCourt's "Angela's Ashes" on the sole count of being Irish. The Irish, however, are a diverse people, and life in Dublin is very different from life in Limmerick. McCourt's family faced scraping poverty, whereas Sheridan's family (by no means millionaires) have a steady home environment, food on the table, and the constant presence of both parents raising a large brood.

*** Peter Sheridan focuses on the decade of the 60s which begins with childhood innocence (getting a TV for the first time) and makes his way through adolescence and two defining events in the author's life -- a disturbing encounter on a train at age 13 and later the death of a family member.

*** Sheridan has a wonderful voice for storytelling. He stays true to his kid spirit and endears without being precious. And in fine Irish tradition, every laugh has a tragic edge and every sadness is survived by some beauty.

Irish yarn unravels into beautiful story
As if drawn by a gravitational pull, Irish yarns seem to center on the relationship of children with their mothers. In a break from this natural order, Peter Sheridan's memoir, 44 Dublin Made Me turns to the bond of a boy with his father for its compelling tale.

Sheridan writes about his childhood with grace and ease. Readers are catapulted into his large Irish family in 1959 from the first sentence onward.

Peter Sheridan is a good Irish boy who enjoys school and loves the hectic life Dublin offers. His best friend, Andy, hates school but loves traipsing around the city in search of fortune.

The two boys influence each other in both good and bad ways - Andy gets involved with the church after a stint in reform school, and Peter learns to stand up for himself. In the end though, Andy remains the rogue and Peter the goody-two-shoes.

A steady presence throughout the book is Peter's Da. The man has his own outhouse in the garage, preaches to his family like they are his disciples and relies on his wins at the horse races as a major means of income.

Peter is his Da's helper and is ordered to do just about every imaginable task - from climbing up an ariel on the roof to fix the TV's reception to digging holes in the garage to fix water pressure.

When Peter's brother, Frankie, falls ill, their Da finds himself unable to cope. Peter tries to fill in for his father and be someone for his mother to rely on. After his father regains his strength, he and Peter find their friendship stronger.

Peter also runs errands all over the city and helps out with the tenants his parents have taken in.

One of these boarders, Mossie, plays a crucial role in Peter's life. Mossie robs Peter of his innocence, terrifies and scars him so deeply that Peter withdraws inwardly. Unable to find comfort, Peter then seeks solace at the hands of the church.

Illness and deaths make Peter grow up quickly and 44 Dublin Made Me documents his maturation. Andy gets a girl "in trouble" and quickly marries to take responsibility for the situation. As his world changes, Peter adapts.

Sheridan's strength is that he writes his story, which could be sad, as hopeful and happy. Rather than just have stories from his childhood strung together as some memoirs do, 44 Dublin Made Me creates a touching story.

The Lines Are So Fine
When you read a McCourt memoir you read of bleak reality, a reality rarely tempered with happiness much less joy. There is humor, however of the sort that more often increases your respect for those who are able to find humor where few could even imagine it. At times the light moments are not so light, just bright in comparison to what you have read. At the other end there is Brendan O'Carroll and his trilogy of, "The Mammy", "The Chisellers", and "The Granny". This is fiction and it is outrageously funny, so much so that when there is a tragic event the pain you feel from laughing often tempers the darker moments. And then there is Peter Sheridan's work, "44 Dublin Made Me". And this work lies somewhere between the two others I have mentioned.

I enjoyed the book a great deal. At times it is almost a hybrid of the other three Authors I mention, for even though it is a memoir and does contain painful events, they are not as painfully presented as I think they need to be for readers. I am in no manner diminishing the pain of the Sheridan Family; I am expressing a writing issue, or perhaps a stylistic point.

There seem to be more of these Irish Memoirs as of late, and as they have been widely read, they by definition either create or reinforce notions people may have already brought to the book. The issue that I struggled with was the manner in which some material was presented, some was absolutely funny, and other issues were anything but humorous. I don't believe they ever can be humorous. And this is the part of the book that failed for me. The writing was a bit too neat and slick for want of a better word. The experiences of a young child read as an accomplished Author had written them rather than a talented writer bringing the thoughts of a young man across as a child may view them, but as an adult would read them.

The book is very good and it's one I would recommend. I felt it worth noting that the story of any country or the people that live there can become a commodity. I don't believe that to be the case with this book, but I feel the first steps on a slippery slope are waiting to be trod upon.

Laugh, Cry and read it again
As soon as I saw this book I knew I had to have it. I have had a childhood in the very same area and was plesantley surprised at the vivid and colourful language used to describe the landscapes and lifestyles I know so so well. I laughed out loud even though everybody on the train thought I was a bit of an idiot. I cryed many tears onto the pages which are now all tattered and dog eared from use. I sympathised and identified with the characters which came to life between the pages. I have pursuaded family and friends to read it and everyone has loved it. It's the best book I have read this year (I read a lot! ) I cant wait for the next one, hurry up Peter! Get that book to press.

But one piece of advice. Don't keep other Irish books such as Angela's Ashes in mind as they are each so brilliantley different. Experiance the writer's language of experiance and not your perception of an Irish childhood. Revel in the individuallity of this book and you will enjoy it all the more.

Buy it and enjoy it forever ... Read more

Book Description

Catherine McAuley (1778-1841) founded the Sisters of Mercy in Dublin in 1831. Her letters are essential primary sources for readers interested in the life and works of this remarkable Irish churchwoman and in women’s history and Irish church history more broadly. Whether McAuley is writing to family members, bishops, her solicitor, priests, lay coworkers, or Sisters of Mercy in Ireland and England, her letters reveal striking details about the church and society of her day as well as about her own spiritual convictions and unstinting personal service to poor, sick, homeless, or uneducated adults and children.

The Correspondence of Catherine McAuley, 1818-1841, is a new, fully documented edition of more than 320 surviving letters written by, to, or about McAuley during her lifetime. Drawn from archives worldwide and arranged chronologically, the letters are carefully transcribed and generously annotated, with brief narratives introducing each group. In her letters as well as in those of the other correspondents, one sees a delightfully human, affectionate woman; a compassionate, persistent servant of the poor and neglected; an astute businesswoman; and an unpretentious, humorous friend.

This edition of McAuley’s correspondence is readily accessible to general readers and demonstrates not only her important role in the founding and amazing spread of the Mercy congregation in her lifetime (now numbering more than 10,000 members globally), but also her personal contributions to the pastoral development of the church in Ireland and England. Scholars and other readers will gain fresh insights into many prominent ecclesial leaders in the years 1828-1841, including Daniel Murray, archbishop of Dublin, and Thomas Griffiths, vicar apostolic of the London District. They will also find in these engaging letters one woman’s grass-roots experience of certain social, economic, and ecclesiastical arrangements of her time and place. ... Read more

Book Description

The Stracheys were an exceptionally intelligent and unusual family. Prominent in imperial administration, science, and feminism in the nineteenth century, and in the suffrage movement, women's education, and the bringing of new approaches to sexuality in the twentieth century, they had a wide and significant influence. Examining Lytton Strachey, his parents and nine siblings, Barbara Caine provides a fascinating picture of a diverse and complex family in a period of change from Victorian England to the beat generation. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Forbidden Fruit
I felt this was an important story in the oncoming tital wave of scandals broken. This woman who rocked the cradle then rocked a nation. I don't think the story did justice to magnitude of the theme. In telling of the tale and her "voice" did not flow through this story. I feel her river would have flowed differently if she had been allowed to do that. I do respect her honesty in baring both the dark and light which propelled her forward and just as the Bishop did some dastardly deed so did she. I feel this story could have been shorten and thus stronger. It posssed the ingredients of abuse, love, regret, devilish humor, revenge,loss and hope. But it was told in primary colors-without shading one can be blinded but perhaps that was the main idea-just get it out there and the heck with the rest. But these are people we are talking about not just Bishops and pawns....

Painfully Honest & Heartfelt Book
I read this book during the 1990's while I was still a practicing Roman Catholic. At that time, I was having trouble with many of the church's teachings and practices. This book confirmed some of what I already knew and also opened my eyes to some bigger issues, too. This was an excellent book, but more than in just 1 way.

First, it's a wonderful autobiography. Annie Murphy bears her ver soul and lays her heart on the line for all to see. Some autobiographies do that, others don't. I must applaud Annie for being as brutally honest as she was about everything-the love affair w/Bishop Casey, the chold out of wedlock, the bishop's lengthy silence about the whole ordeal, and of the bishop's refusal to see his son.

This book also exposes the whole double life issue. Many priests around the world have struggled with lust. Any Catholic that knows or has investigated the church's history will tell you that. Due to the behind closed door struggles with lust, many priests live and lead a double life. What they do privately and publicly are often vastly different. This book would lend a lot of support to the argument of why priests should be able to get married. The Catholic Church in Ireland still have trouble acknowledging this story. When asked, the Catholic clergy in Ireland will tell you what they know of it. But they rarely ever talk about it voluntarily without being asked. It's a blackmark on their record to which I'm not sure they've ever recovered from.

In addition, this book is also good at examining the faults of the Catholic Church in general. Even though she was born and raised Catholic in the U.S., Annie also brings up many of the Catholic Church's problems. For example, why does the Catholic Church have certain teachings and doctrines but many Catholics live and believe something to the contrary and still remain Catholic? She cites many examples of this issue. I will say this for Annie. She didn't just disagree with the church and stay like so many others have and still do. She did actually leave rather than stay and complain.

If anyone out there is thinking about joining the Catholic Church, I'd suggest reading this book. It will open your eyes, set you straight, and reveal many things you probably weren't aware of.

One final note-Bishop Casey is no longer the bishop of Ireland. While he did admit publicly that he did have a child out of wedlock, he has never seen his son Peter that he fathered with Annie. My prayer is that Peter will forgive his father, Eammon Casey, if he hasn't already. In addition, my prayer is that Annie Murphy and Eammon Casey will also find a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, if they haven't done so already. He is there for any and all who earnestly seek him and will forgive them, no matter who they are and what they've done.

Sincerely,
Pastor Roger

There ARE really true love somewere
If some of you really read between the lines and get the knowledge of the pain and true love that goes through the whole book, you will feel the pain of all the 'forbidden' couples in the world have to go through and the environment's judgement on all that is 'forbidden';The true love! I'm sure that every one, man or woman can recognise the pain for both of them. Please open your hearts! Feel for them! Get the comfort for all your own unhappiness -By the environment judgements! I'm sure God DID wan't them to be happy, but the Catholic earth was so filled with historic traditions. Forgive them too! Read it! Feel it! I recognise their pain, but mine is more of unhappy ending! I wish that I could share it with you, Another time maybe..

Note to ATM, "Put It To Rest"
My guess is this post is Ms. (ATM) Murphy's most recent, final word regarding her tumultuous past.

Bravo!

Glad to see that she's alive and at peace with the past. Hope Peter is well and am wondering if he completed law school? I even hope the former bishop is okay too and at peace with his paternity as well as finding fulfillment in life outside the narrow view and confines of the church.

All three, in their respective fashions, have served as martyrs to necessary change and should be retired, with compassion.

May the peace of the Lord which surpasseth all understanding (and still eludes the church that claims to have the market on Christian salvation, cornered in their favor) be with you all.

By the way, Ms. Murphy, I am now going to A.A., as well, after being dumped by a Jesuit, two years ago. He engaged in the added pretense of saying he wanted to marry me and have a child, right before his superior ordered him into treatment at a sex offender clinic.

Maybe, I too, will write a book about that experience as well, one day. But in the meantime, all I can really manage is working on sobriety, one day at a time.

Put It to Rest
Alright it's been awhile so let them all rest....but really folks did not Ireland benefit from the restrictions of the Church being loosened and perhaps the Bishop and Annie (the pawn) were used well on this chess board of politics emeshed in religion. I lean towards givin them a break-- they served Ireland well. The Bishop is doing his work, Annie, foolish in her choices, has paid a dear price. Perhaps you might remember before ever going public, Annie took Peter to Ireland for 6 months just so the Bishop could be given the chance to approach his son which he obviously choose to ignore--- so ALL HELL BROKE LOOSE!!--- So all of you who point the finger soley at one or the other STOP. ATM and that doesn't stand for automated teller machine ... Read more

Book Description

An introduction to one of the most complex writers of the 20th century. B/W illustrations throughout. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

pretty good intro to joyce for the money
it won't pass you in a high level college course but it's got lots of info- a great intro and primer i'd have to say!

Should be read BEFORE reading any of Joyce's works...
This is an excellent introduction to the life and writings of James Joyce, the former being essential to understanding the later, on any level. Mr. Norris's text and Mr. Clint's illustrations (which are actually rather functional) bring a sense of insight to any who attempt to take on one of the most complex writers in Western literature. The outline of "Ulysses" is excellent, and Mr. Norris even takes on the daunting task of begining to explain what has to be one of the most utterly demanding books ever, "Finnegan's Wake," and illustrates, literally, that it is not just some great joke or jibberish as others who probably have tried and failed to interpet, claim it is. And the keen advice from Mr. Norris, although rather pedestrian, disproves the popular notion of Joyce being unreadable. I would strongly recommend this and any of the other editions in this excellent series (I have since purchased, "Introducing Kafka.")

Excellent insight and introduction into Joyce's work.
Introducing Joyce really gives the reader insight into Joyce's methods of writing, how much of his work was autobiographical, and helps one better grasp this great writer's unique style. I was also amused with the interesting illustrations throughout the book. These illustrations make it impossible for the reading to become at all monotonous. One learns many things that are incorporated into his work that you would never know without reading this book. Overall, an excellent way to prepare for the experience of Joyce's writing. ... Read more

Book Description

Saint Brendan and the Voyage Before Columbus is a an exciting picture book that introduces children and their parents to the story of Brendan's voyage to the land of Tir-na-n-Og, a voyage so fantastic that many people believed it was only a legend.

Born in Ireland in 484, Brendan was schooled in the ways of the sun and the seas and the sky. As a monk, Brendan learned about the land of Tir-na-n-Og, the Promised Land of the Saints, and one day he set out in a sailboat called a curragh to find it. On his journey he and his fellow voyagers encountered a whale, several islands, an iceberg, and a volcano, before finally reaching beautiful Tir-na-n-Og, where "painted saints" (Native Americans) greeted him in peace. Brendan returned home with the understanding that his adventures, good and bad, had brought him closer to God. In a postscript the author links Brendan with Columbus and with modern sailor Tim Severin, who in 1976 retraced Brendan's route in a replica curragh using Brendan's Navigatio as his guide.

This richly illustrated book captures Brendan's spirit and legacy and his incredible adventures as he journeyed to America in the sixth century. It will make wonderful reading for children, who will be excited to learn about this saint after whom so many are named. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (7)

Filling in the Gaps
Best's "Churchill" is somewhat bland, but it fills in many of the details left out of more dramatic biographies. The author shows how Winston Churchill's intelligence, energy and creativity transformed a wide variety of mundane assignments. Churchill built his reputation the hard way, by mastering the details, not by avoiding them.

Churchill: A Cogent Inspiration to Future Leaders
Geoffrey Best has realized an impressive tour de force in concisely narrating the life of Winston Churchill in less than 350 pages. Best excels at making a cogent analysis of Churchill's strengths and weaknesses. Churchill knew early on that he was called to great things and made his best to make it happen. Churchill's road to destiny was not straightforward in part because of his own personality. "Churchill: A Study in Greatness" is an invitation to know more about an exceptional man who stands out in world history while most of his critics and detractors have sunk into total oblivion.

True Greatness
Geoffrey Best undertakes an unenviable task with this book. He attempts to capture the life of one of England's greatest leaders in one book. Best is successful in his attempt.

While it is obviously impossible to list all of Churchill's great stories and accomplishments in just over 300 pages, Best is entertaining in his approach. While this chronological tale may be a bit dry to the average reader, those who enjoy history will embrace this book. Best documents Churchill's attitude that he was destined for greatness early in life, discusses many of his war strategies, and is thorough enough to look into Churchill's family and personal life. Many people are unaware of the tragic lives of his three children, all of which are alluded to in this book. There truly is more to this man than is demontrated in the common pictures history books record of him.

Churchill worked toward bettering England and world almost unitl his death. This man who was largely self taught played a large role in shaping contemporary Europe even when he was no longer the Prime Miister. Even when his idea of the United States of Europe failed, he continued to be an early proponent of arms control and ending communism. The chapters which discuss his later years are among the most fascinating parts of this book.

Books on the life of Churchill can go into much greater detail than this. This book is an excellent starter for learning about the life of Churchill.

Geoffrey Best on Winston Churchill
I bought G Best's book because of its apparently good review in John Lukacs book on WSC.

It probably appeals to readers who want a general read about WSC, but in the sense that it appears to be written from existing book sources, it does not seem to offer any new insights - at least it did not for me.

Not very informative
Churchill is one of the most amazing figures of the last century - yet with all of his background to pick from, this book doesn't present much of him.
This is basically the author sort of randomly meandering around through Churchill's life and then stating his opinion of certain decisions Churchill made. And it's done without providing much of a framework for the various events he discusses. I've read a lot about Churchill and yet I was lost at times trying to figure out where/what/when on some of the events.
There is a lot better out there (William Manchester's 2 volumes for example). ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Banana Republication
It's severly dated by today's standards, but what an excellent read, all the same. I look at it as the music industry version of Julia Phillips "You'll Never Eat Lunch In This Town Again". Biting with sardonic wit, lots of muck-raking (most of it spot-on), and just a wee bit 'o' honesty.

How much of it is true, we'll never know. But the essential bits (the inception of the Boomtown Rats, their immersion into the music scene, other bands, Live Aid, etc.) are required reading for anybody who gives a damn about the music industry. There's loads of comedy as well as pathos, as well as some of the greatest quotes I've ever read in an autobiography.

If you can still find a copy, it's well worth owning.

best autobiography i've ever read
Bob Geldof's book is a stunning odyssey into the mind of a rock star. he also happens to be a philanthropist who can teach a thing or two to the best of them. the man behind `live aid' not only collected hundreds of millions out of a telethon for africa's famine victims, but made sure they reached the right hands. his forthright language and no-holds-barred style are refreshing. if you must read an autobiography of a rock star, read this one.

Excellent and Inspiring
This book is one of those books that will renew your faith in the ability of normal people to change the world for the better. It is also hilarious and a great read!

great book
I don't usually read biographies books but this one is a very good one

An eye opening look at the world from Geldof's viewpoint...
This book is an inspiration to anyone who dares question the norm. Bob Geldof is a shining example of perseverance and determination. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (3)

Fenian's Rainbow
Golway tells the tale of John Devoy, greatest of the American Fenians, and a pivotal, if hitherto neglected, figure in the history of Irish nationalism. Devoy was an longlived agitator, fundraiser, journalist, convicted Irish revolutionary and American refugee who bankrolled Parnell, Patrick Pearse and Michael Collins, butted heads with the Ulster Presbyterian Woodrow Wilson and the egomaniacal Eamon de Valera, and sacrificed his personal happiness in the process. Golway's prose is sharp and terse, with a propulsive narrative drive. A fine work of history.

Valuable intro to Irish America's support for Irish rebels
I wanted to take the opportunity to write after finishing the book this past week; it's a good start for anybody curious about the roots of the support--in money, arms, rhetoric, and/or direct assistance--that IrishAmericans have long given for Irish freedom. Often, the zeal of the"exiled children in America", as we're referred to in the IrishProclamation of Independence from 1916, has surpassed that of those Irishwe've left behind back home.Golway's book gives you some of the reasonswhy this disparity may have emerged--the force of the Famine, deportationof many Fenians,the Civil War's effect in giving unwitting assistance tomany Americans who returned to agitate in Ireland and abroad, and theeconomic success gained by a few Irish emigrants and even more thesacrifices of a few dollars of many many more Irish who did the grunt-workwhich fueled the fortunes of those few, no doubt. Today, many of theseemigrants' descendants are criticized as "plastic Paddies" whoknow little about Ireland beyond a few ballads and sentimental slogans.Both their critics and their supporters among the Irish Americansthemselves should study this book, which uses Devoy's long career as abasis for a complicated study of how factionalism, quarrels, and a somewhatclumsy mixture of idealism and pragmatism all combined to effect changeback in Ireland. And it should also instruct those who still support theIrish struggle today--it shows the pettiness and begrudgery that has oftenplagued U.S. efforts at grassroots aid. Although at times in the latersections, I lost track of who was outwitting who in all of the internecinebackstabbing among the various claimants of The Cause, this is not todiscredit Golway's skill. He had an intricate story to narrate, and hekeeps it fresh and even witty, without pandering to his readers. His ownexperience as a journalist, a career shared by Devoy, undoubtably enrichesmuch of the ambiance behind this sometimes reticent figure, too. I oftenwonder how a biographer, faced with a subject who's written his or herautobiography already, can calculate a new angle from which to view theperson. Golway manages to integrate Devoy's own words sparingly, and byfilling in much of the context which Devoy would have kept mum about (ornot known of), the author presents a surprisingly relevant case study ofthe dangers and the seductions of trying to achieve an ideal in a messyworld of spies, politicians, revolutionaries, businessmen, and everydayfolks. In a time when many Irish and non-Irish alike are taking a renewedand justified pride in this island's heritage, this book introduces you tothe American contribution to the Irish situation. (I also was impressed bythe author's taking the time to comment on his work in response to asuperficial criticism posted; his graceful manner of answering his hastycritic shows real class.)

Accentuating the Negative
I hoped this book would confirm the above Synopsis and Kirkus and NY Timesreviews which I already knew to be accurate as to Devoy, the subject. It isnicely written and contains much valuable and interesting detail. But, forreasons known only to the author, he selected nearly exclusively negativequotes to characterize Devoy and his tens of thousands of supporters ofdemocracy for Ireland. It is on them, rather than on the genocidistsopposing them, that the author pours the vocabulary of abuse. Only apsychology textbook could contain more synonyms for mental disorder thanthis book. It is full of "bitter; hate; hateful; hatred; grievance,old resentments; vengeance; murder; folly; ratholes of conspiracy; an Irishfight; a race of treacherous murderers; band of murderers; half-breed Jew;self-pity; divisive; slander; invective; irrational; acrimony; libel;firebrand; obsession; imbecile; foul; gross; vulgar; a murder society;destructive; decadence; raving lunatic; agrarian crime; wild tumult;fanatic; potatoes - neither man nor pig wanted more; perverse; turbulent;terrorists; violent; illicit; drunkenness and dishonesty; assassination;wretched quarrel; miserable; perfidy; stupid anger; vitriolic; contentious;treacherous; raged;" etc. Perhaps worst of all, the author indicatesthat it wasn't a republic (and all the benefits that flow therefrom) thatDevoy et al struggled for, but for "a mystical, martyr-producingorganism that could trace its bloody and tragic ancestry to Theobald WolfeTone." This grotesque slur that may well be explained by the author'sexecrable choice of sources: Cruise O'Brien, Edwards, O Grada, McCaffrey,et al. They constitute much of the "Potato Famine" school ofIrish history which denies the existence and central role of the 75 Britishregiments that murdered 5.2 millions in the Irish Holocaust. Still; threestars is about right. It was worth the read if not the price. From it Ilearned that Devoy wrote an autobiography; "Recollections of an IrishRebel" that I really want. ... Read more

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Amazing
I have seen the movie and i think it's great but reading the book was totally different. In the book you get to see the two sides of the notorious Martin Cahill. Some people thought he was the modern robbinhood, and others a dangerous criminal. Paul Williams brilliantly gives you the inside story in it's true form, excellent book. ... Read more

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The Best !
What a refreshingly well-written, concise and historically well-researched book! Ridley is a master of the historic biography, and every book I have read so far (having started off with his account of Henry VIII) is a riveting read and impossible to put away.

May Royal Tunbridge Wells continue to serve as an inspiration to this gifted writer and connaisseur of the depth of the English language.

Outstanding research tool, extensive detail
Jasper Ridley's biography of Elizabeth is well-written and coherent, broken into chapters that examine pivotal events during the reign in foreign and domestic policy.Ridley's work differs from most Elizabethan biographies in its focus on political and military aspects rather than personal studies of the queen.While at times the text drags, for the most part it is crisp and solid reading, and paints a fascinating picture.What makes the book stand out, however, is the quality of its documentation and use of primary sources, and its tremendous value as a research tool.Mr. Ridley has made assiduous use of archived state papers and contemporary commentaries that depict events as they were actually experienced and grasped by the people in the 16th and early 17th centuries.A student partaking in research on this period or studying the European Renaissance in general would benefit tremendously from a consultation of the bibliography, since the author essentially gives an index of the calendars of state publications that detail various decisions and military planning of the late 1500s.Furthermore, Mr. Ridley is careful to delve deeply into foreign sources as well; he makes extensive use of the archives in Simancas, Spain, as well as archival resources in Italy, to furnish shades of detail often overlooked.The overall result is that Mr. Ridley's biography has an unparalleled "real-time" feel to it.And, the author covers territory that too often is neglected in Elizabethan biographies, especially in regard to military affairs that are difficult to research elsewhere.He examines the English defeat and expulsion from Le Havre in France that resulted in the permanent loss of Calais in 1563; the long Anglo-Spanish war of the 1590s that crippled the finances of both countries, and (with Spanish victories at sea) frustrated English attempts at colonization in the Western Hemisphere while preserving Spain's foothold; and also at the bitter Anglo-Irish guerrilla war of the century's last decade, which devastated the Irish countryside and drained England's resources to the limit.For a detailed biography, Jasper Ridley's biography (along with that of Anne Somerset) is top-notch, and as a research tool it is of inestimable help.

The Virtue of Shrewdness..!
Having just finished Anne Somersets more definitive bio on Elizabeth I have to agree with previous reviewers that the author seems to have it in for his subject. Does he even like her?. He portrays her more asvindictive, vascillating, procrastinating,vain and downright bloodthirsty.Most notably in her relations with the english puritans, the protestantrebels in the Netherlands and especially her close relatives. The latterbeing her treatment of Katherine Grey, sister of the beheaded Jane for whomthere was no love lost. He does not give her any credit for being a womanin a mans world and having the guts and wisdom to choose some very brightmen as ministers and councillors and not yes-men at that. Walshingham andWilliam Cecil openly disagreed with her on many issues but at no time didshe contemplate dismissing them. He also appears to be saying thatElizabeth's foreign policy was based on the divine right of princes to ruletheir own kingdoms, and that rebels against their rightful lords be theyprotestant or catholic deserve to be severely punished hence hersympathetic correspondence with Philip of Spain. Ridley also has a penchantfor drawing out in unnecessary detail execution and torture scenes. Whenthe assassin of William of Orange is submitted to all kinds of horrifictorture before his eventual execution, smiling the whole time the readerfinds himself squirming uncomfortably. Despite the authors elegant prose Iprefer the Sommerset or even Antonia Fraser biographies. They may not deifythe woman but at least they dont vilify her.

Losing the Woman in the Details
Ridley provides an excellent overview of Elizabeth's reign, but he spends precious little time with the Queen and her court.I recommend reading this book in tandem with Alison Weir's "The Life of Elizabeth I." Together they provide a fuller picture of the Queen and her times thaneither book does individually.

Exceptionally well researched and written.
This is postitively the best book that I have everread on the wonderfully shrewd and amazingly intelligent Elizabeth I.I have read literally hundreds of biographies on the legendary Queen but none haveechoed my own thoughts and opinions on the matter as well as this one. After spending two years researching this area of history and all of itscharacters, I actually learned hundreds of new facts from Ridley's book. The facet of this work that I enjoyed the most was Ridley's examinations oflesser characters.People know that Elizabeth allied herself with theDutch Protestants in their religious wars against Spain but Ridley actuallyresearches and presents to the reader the specifics; the personalities ofthe people involved, the events that shaped them and the Queen's ownpersonal opinions.Anyone who is passionately addicted to this fascinatingperiod should definitely read this book. ... Read more

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Fully updated and revised with over 100 new saints, the fifth edition of this well-respected and enjoyed dictionary features concise accounts of the lives, cults, and artistic associations of over 1,400 saints, from the famous to the obscure. This edition includes a new appendix on pilgrimage sights in Europe. ... Read more

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Oxford Dictionary of Saints
An excellent source for information on saints of the Roman Catholic Church and the Ortodox Church up through the Schism. It does not include saints of the Episcopal Church, but does include those popular saints such as Barbara and Christopher removed in the 1968-69 time frame. I use it in writing my monthly column for my parish newsletter.

More than Lives
An entertaining and informative dictionary of saints that not only gives the lives of the saints but also a history of their folklore, veneration and relics. Farmer includes "popular" saints like St. Werner (who was never formally canonized), desanctified saints like Barbara, and a few saints of the Orthodox traditions. Appendices list patron saints and symbols associated with the saints. You will not find every saint in this work, but the ones you do find are described in rich detail. I bought this book for a narrow purpose and soon found myself reading it from cover to cover in bed. The only bothersome thing, for me, is Farmer's Anglophilia: he gives space to many obscure English and Irish saints while ignoring some key figures from other parts of the world, like St. Diego of Alcala (for whom San Diego is named). Nonetheless, it is a useful book for either reference or entertainment.

Balanced and interesting
Balanced, informative, and interesting summary of available information on approximately 1300 saints, with useful system of indexing and cross-referencing.

In summarizing the lives of the saints, some sources seem to want to gloss over the more fantastic, fairy-tale aspects of some stories, while other sources will drift off into a Daily Meditation self-help format. This text takes an even-handed and academic approach, that allows the reader to draw his own conclusions.

As a Californian, it is a little frustrating to deal with the British bias on saints, and find nothing about saints who were chosen for California place names like San Dimas, San Luis Obispo, San Diego (Didacus?), and San Ysidro. But overall this is an excellent source for hagiographic trivia and history.

Scholarly, superbly researched and eminently readable
This book really is a superbly researched work by an author who has a real feel for the subject. It contains in-depth, well researched information which has been succintly put together. Where there is doubt about the authenticity of any source material, this is clearly stated in the text. This book is definitely the best place to start for anyone with an interest in the subject of saints. ... Read more

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To Keep the Ball Rolling
To earn the reputation of a literary giant within the generation of Waugh, Orwell, and Greene is no mean feat. To do so with the grace and genius that characterized Anthony Powell...is nothing short of spectacular. This book of Powell's memoirs is the first one-volume collection to be published in America. The reviews for this book are glowing. "Powell was indeed a literary giant, and eminently deserving of the praise that was lavished upon him."- The Wall Street Journal. "A Master of wit, paradox, and social delineation."- The New York Times. "[Powell was] more fun than Proust, and at least as true to human nature."- John Perry, Salon Magazine ... Read more