Overview

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. Published to mark the centenary of the Easter Rising, 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 centenary commemorations in both Ireland and the UK within the wider context of the 'Decade of Centenaries.'

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9780198732341

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[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 this impressive book remains the best to be had ... to read McGarry's book is to live the Rising through the eyes of the rebels from the safety of your armchair as the GPO becomes a Wagnerian inferno and the machines guns rake O'Connell Street. Joe Carroll, Irish Catholic 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

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

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 * this impressive book remains the best to be had ... to read McGarry's book is to live the Rising through the eyes of the rebels from the safety of your armchair as the GPO becomes a Wagnerian inferno and the machines guns rake O'Connell Street. * Joe Carroll, Irish Catholic * 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 * [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 * McGarry easily organises rich evidence, offers insightful analysis, and writes a compelling narrative. For this reader, he 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

Author Information

Fearghal McGarry is Senior Lecturer in History at Queen's University, Belfast. He is the author of a number of books on Irish history in the twentieth century, including Irish Politics and the Spanish Civil War (1999), and most recently Eoin O'Duffy: A Self-Made Hero (2005), which is also published by Oxford University Press. More recently, he has edited Rebels (2011), a collection of first-hand testimony by revolutionary veterans. He is currently working on a project exploring the links between Dublin's Abbey Theatre and the Easter Rising.

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