Rating: 
Summary: The Whole Story of the Irish Revolutionary
Review: Tim Pat Coogan is among the most respected historians in Ireland today,
with good reason. His family background (his father worked
for Collins) and years of experience as a reporter combine to give
him a unique passion for modern Irish politics. This, in itself,
is not unique. Rather, it is this passion combined with a slavish
dedication to details that truly makes Coogan's Michaeil Collins
the authorative life history of the man. Coogan draws not just from
scholarly secondary sources, but also from the personal papers of
Collins and his associates and interviews with those associates still surviving - even when it means securing permission to visit
a cloistered convent. Coogan's Collins is not the tragic hero
of the recent movie - or of the spate of less voluminous biographies.
Coogan's life of Collins includes details Collins himself had no
way of knowing. The book is over all quite engrossing for those
interested in modern Irish history, but is likely to seem dryly academic to those who see Collins as an obscure historical figure.
Rating:
Summary: The Whole Story of the Irish Revolutionary
Review: Tim Pat Coogan is among the most respected historians in Ireland today,with good reason. His family background (his father workedfor Collins) and years of experience as a reporter combine to give him a unique passion for modern Irish politics. This, in itself, is not unique. Rather, it is this passion combined with a slavish dedication to details that truly makes Coogan's Michaeil Collins the authorative life history of the man. Coogan draws not just from scholarly secondary sources, but also from the personal papers of Collins and his associates and interviews with those associates still surviving - even when it means securing permission to visit a cloistered convent. Coogan's Collins is not the tragic hero of the recent movie - or of the spate of less voluminous biographies. Coogan's life of Collins includes details Collins himself had no way of knowing. The book is over all quite engrossing for those interested in modern Irish history, but is likely to seem dryly academic to those who see Collins as an obscure historical figure.
Rating: 
Summary: Coogan takes on "The Big Fella"
Review: 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
Rating:
Summary: Coogan takes on "The Big Fella"
Review: 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
Rating:
Summary: Excellent History of an Elusive Man
Review: Tim Pat Coogan's Michael Collins is an excellent biography of the man who ran the day to day war for Irish independence. Collins orchestrated the "direct force" strategy against British rule, that, after several years of bloodshed, led to a settlement that rendered most of Ireland free. For his efforts in achieving more than any Irishman had achieved in 500 years, including legendary figures such as O'Connell and Parnell, Collins was assassinated by his allies, who felt that the peace treaty with Britain and freedom for the south were just not good enough. Coogan does an excellent job detailing the man as well as his accomplishments; he has a host of anecdotes about Collins's youth and the years he lived under constant risk of death while carrying out the guerilla war. The book, despite its rather grim subject matter, is also not without its moments of humor -- the stories of many of Collins's narrow escapes from his British pursuers and his incredible luck also lighten the story. Coogan does an excellent job outlining the divisions that formed within the IRA, the IRB, Sinn Fein, and the Catholic church throughout the struggle, and explains clearly the politics behind Collins's assassination. He makes clear what other historians with a lesser grasp of the subject only manage to make a muddle of. Highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent History of an Elusive Man
Review: Tim Pat Coogan's Michael Collins is an excellent biography of the man who ran the day to day war for Irish independence. Collins orchestrated the "direct force" strategy against British rule, that, after several years of bloodshed, led to a settlement that rendered most of Ireland free. For his efforts in achieving more than any Irishman had achieved in 500 years, including legendary figures such as O'Connell and Parnell, Collins was assassinated by his allies, who felt that the peace treaty with Britain and freedom for the south were just not good enough. Coogan does an excellent job detailing the man as well as his accomplishments; he has a host of anecdotes about Collins's youth and the years he lived under constant risk of death while carrying out the guerilla war. The book, despite its rather grim subject matter, is also not without its moments of humor -- the stories of many of Collins's narrow escapes from his British pursuers and his incredible luck also lighten the story. Coogan does an excellent job outlining the divisions that formed within the IRA, the IRB, Sinn Fein, and the Catholic church throughout the struggle, and explains clearly the politics behind Collins's assassination. He makes clear what other historians with a lesser grasp of the subject only manage to make a muddle of. Highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: The Man who showed the world tyranny can be defeated
Review: When Tim Pat Coogan says Michael Collins is 'the man who made Ireland' he is not exaggerating. It was his energetic leadership which made independence from English tyranny possible for Ireland. He was the first , indeed the originator of, the urban guerrila. His 'Twelve Apostles' made possible the wrecking of the intelligence system of the occupying forces in Ireland. Tim Pat Coogan is quite right to point out the character assasination which started after Michael Collins's death in 1922. A slow process by which people tried to blacken his name. But thankfully, that can never happen, and his name will live forever amongst those who fought against countries who tried to occupy and rule others by force and despotism.
Michael Collins not only freed his motherland from English ocupation but also set a shinning example to others under English occupation elsewhere that it was possible to defy and defeat the English. Napoleon wasn't invinsible, neither were the English. Tim Pat Coogan notes at the end of his book that De Valera said 'In the fullness of time history will record the true greatness of Michael Collins and it will be at my expense.' One gets the feeling this prophecy might start fulfilling itself one day.
There were others who fought equally hard and passionately for Ireland, Tom Barry, Liam Tobin,Tom Cullen, General Sean MacEoin to name but a few. But Michael Collins stood out amongst them as their leader. Which brings us back to Tim Pat Coogan's original words "Michael Collins: the man who made Ireland"
This is indeed the definitive biography of Michael Collins. He died before the question of Northern Ireland could be resolved. His support of the Northern IRA indicates that he believed in eventual reunification of the Republic. In many ways he was ahead of his time. Definitely a book worth reading and keeping , not only for those interested in Irish history but also for those interested in historical figures whose work and integerity of principles serve as an inspiration to all.
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