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Rating:  Summary: Small But Informative Review: This book does a great job explaining the politics before and after the Easter Rising of 1916. When I first saw the book, I though it was going to be a book about the events of those days in 1916. But only the first chapter really talks about the actual Easter Rising. So, if you are looking for a book that only does the chronology of Easter 1916, you will be disappointed. But Ward does a great job explaining the difference between Constitutional Nationalist and the militant republican movement. He also does a great job in explaining the cultural differences, and how the Irish republicans used these cultural tools to their advantage. Finally, he ends the book by talking about the increase in Sinn Fein's political participation, due to the events of 1916. Again, if you are looking for a book purely on Easter 1916, this isn't it (I wish the book did go more in depth into Easter 1916, Pearse, Connolly, and others, that is why I only gave it four stars). But if you are looking for a book that tells the cause and effect of Easter 1916, this is a great book.
Rating:  Summary: More than just the Title Review: This book is much more than just the Easter Rising. The first chapter explains the Rising rather simply, making it easy to follow along. The following chapters explain everything from the causes of the Rising (Unionists, Republicans, Consititutionalists, Home Rulers, Romantics). It goes back more than a hundred year, giving a quick overview of Irish Colonialism by the English and focusing on the 19th century after the Act of Union in 1800. It includes political, popular, literary, and even sporting movements. Then it explains the imediate events of the Risings and goes on to explain the after effects, including Sinn Finn, etc. This book is really a short history of Anglo-Irish relations. It's written in a manner that anyone can pick it up and set it back down with a well rounded knowledge of the events. It even includes a chapter that explains the effects of Americans on Irish relations. This is a wonderful secondary source sutable for anyone wanted to gain some basic knowledge of the problems in Ireland or wanting to just get a solid background before going on to do any more reading.
Rating:  Summary: More than just the Title Review: This book is much more than just the Easter Rising. The first chapter explains the Rising rather simply, making it easy to follow along. The following chapters explain everything from the causes of the Rising (Unionists, Republicans, Consititutionalists, Home Rulers, Romantics). It goes back more than a hundred year, giving a quick overview of Irish Colonialism by the English and focusing on the 19th century after the Act of Union in 1800. It includes political, popular, literary, and even sporting movements. Then it explains the imediate events of the Risings and goes on to explain the after effects, including Sinn Finn, etc. This book is really a short history of Anglo-Irish relations. It's written in a manner that anyone can pick it up and set it back down with a well rounded knowledge of the events. It even includes a chapter that explains the effects of Americans on Irish relations. This is a wonderful secondary source sutable for anyone wanted to gain some basic knowledge of the problems in Ireland or wanting to just get a solid background before going on to do any more reading.
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