The Rising (New Edition)

Ireland: Easter 1916

Fearghal McGarry author

Format:Paperback

Publisher:Oxford University Press

Published:14th Sep '17

Should be back in stock very soon

This paperback is available in another edition too:

The Rising (New Edition) cover

The Easter Rising of 1916 not only destroyed much of the centre of Dublin -- it changed the course of Irish history. But why did it happen? What was the role of ordinary people in this extraordinary event? What motivated them and what were their aims? These basic questions continue to divide historians of modern Ireland. The Rising is the story of Easter 1916 from the perspective of those who made it, focusing on the experiences of rank and file revolutionaries. Fearghal McGarry makes use of a unique source that has only recently seen the light of day -- a collection of over 1,700 eye-witness statements detailing the political activities of members of Sinn Féin and militant groups such as the Irish Republican Brotherhood. This collection represents one of the richest and most comprehensive oral history archives devoted to any modern revolution, providing new insights on almost every aspect of this seminal period. The Rising shows how people from ordinary backgrounds became politicized and involved in the struggle for Irish independence. McGarry illuminates their motives, concerns, and aspirations, highlighting the importance of the Great War as a catalyst for the uprising. He concludes by exploring the Rising's revolutionary aftermath, which in time saw the creation of the independent state we see today. This edition includes a new preface which reflects on the continuing importance of the Easter Rising as a symbol of Irish nationhood, and which looks at the 2016 centenary commemorations in both Ireland and the UK within the wider context of the 'Decade of Centenaries.'

McGarry easily organises rich evidence, offers insightful analysis, and writes a compelling narrative. For this reader, The Rising has joined Charles Townshend's Easter 1916 and Clair Will's Dublin 1916 as essential to anyone interested in the Easter Rising. * Mr John Borgonovo, Reviews in History *
Review from previous edition Review from previous edition McGarry brings us close to the terrifying and exhilarating experience that was 1916. He seamlessly weaves together these richly evocative witnesses with current historiography and narrative. * America Magazine *
Beautifully produced. * Mary E. Daly, The Irish Times *
The Rising not only provides a lucid explanation of what happened in 1916, it also gives us the best account yet of what it was like to be there: with Pearse and Connolly in the GPO, under de Valera's command defending Mount Street Bridge, or just suffering through it all as a helpless civilian. Fearghal McGarry has a keen biographer's eye for human detail and uses it here to weave together the myriad stories of the Easter rebellion. * Peter Hart, author of The I.R.A. at War *
A vivid and compelling narrative that explores the thoughts, fears, and motivations of the revolutionaries in this seminal event. * The Boston Globe *
'The Rising' offers invaluable insights into the insurrection from ground level. * The Boston Globe *
McGarry offers a poignant mosaic of idealism, bravery, and humanity. * The Boston Globe *
'The Rising' is rich with tales of the acts of ordinary Dubliners. * The Boston Globe *
The novelty of the book lies in its perspective. * America *
A very readable, yet historically important book that will appeal to general readers and to experts. * Mary E. Daly, The Irish Times *
judicious and compelling * Alvin Jackson, The Journal of Modern History *
[An] excellent and judicious account of the Easter Rising ... [McGarry's] purpose in he Rising: Ireland: Easter 1916 - first published in 2010 and now reissued in a handsome centenary edition - is to tell the story of the rebellion "from within and below", to convey "what it actually felt like" to participate ... the account he constructs is rich and nuanced. * Vincent Boland, Financial Times *
possibly the most balanced account of the Rising that has yet been attempted ... his is an excellent introduction for anyone who seeks to understand the beginning of the modern Irish Republic and its enduring legacy. * History of War *
Riveting ... in this illuminating study, McGarry allows those who took part in the Rising, and those who witnessed it, to speak for themselves. * Andy Ffrench, Oxford Times *

ISBN: 9780198732358

Dimensions: 215mm x 135mm x 31mm

Weight: 450g

400 pages