1916: The Easter Rising

I bought the book in hopes of learning more about modern Irish history, but I learned relatively little and gave up about a quarter of the way through. The primary problem with the book is it does not tell the story in a way the casual reader can comprehend. Detail upon detail is thrust upon the reader to the point where it all becomes incomprehensible. To use a common figure of speech—the forest is lost among the trees. Perhaps the work could serve as a PhD dissertation in Irish history, but it is not for the casual reader of history. If you don’t already know a great deal about the 1916 Easter Rising, a substantial amount that will allow you to digest enormous details, then stay away from this book.

For its short length, this book provides a remarkably powerful view into the facts that led up to and the courageous, foredoomed Rising in 1916. Coogan doesn't conceal his own enthusiasm for the Catholic Irish nationalists who seized control of the GPO in Dublin in April of 1916, yet he does not consign the Orange Movement Protestants who, in large part, provoked the Rising in the first place. The book could have used a map of Dublin for the reader to follow the action leading up to and during the Rising, but the author has provided his readers with a clear and passionate narrative of this courageous, yet tragic uprising, which led on to the successful fight by Ireland for national independence five years later.

Having a mind that wanders I have a difficult time reading non fiction if the narrative is dry no matter how interested I am in the subject. This book could be a wee bit dry at times and I would put it down for a few days. My goal was to have an understanding of the Easter Rising and this book accomplished that. I remember my Irish grandmother and father talking about Michael Collins and they did not say "the British" without disdain. My memories piqued my interest and I decided to learn more about Irish history. This book was a great start.

I did find the book educational, but not so enjoyable. It's written more for a historian or someone with a deep interest than a casual reader looking for a narrative about the Rising. The book could have been much more interesting if it included a map of Dublin with the location of the rebel strongholds across the city - that would have made the Rising more tangible. And a glossary of the "actors", the leaders on both sides of the battle, that would have been welcomed by a reader who prior to this book knew no one by name besides Michael Collins and Éamon de Valera. At the same time, I learned a great deal about the international politics of the day:1) the prospect of Home Rule was delaying tactic by conservatives and the English, meant to placate the Irish.2) the false promise of Home Rule aggravated and emboldened the Nationalists in the south.3) Germany was involved in attempts to arm the Protestants in the north and the Catholics in the south, all as a means to occupy and distract the British on the eve of World War I.4) 35,000 rifles were shipped from Germany to Belfast in the north, against English law, and entry and distribution by the Protestants was allowed by the British authorities. A similar attempt to smuggle guns into the Catholic south was intercepted by the English navy. This is the root of the arguments between the Catholics and Protestants over "disarmament" in the last the last fifteen years in the context of the Good Friday Agreement.All in all, an OK book and an educational read - though pedantic in its presentation.

Tim pat Coogan has written a narrative history of 1916 that takes in the crucial political events that led up to the armed rebellion. He puts the Easter Rising completely within context of the time : the refusal of the Unionists to go along with the - passed by Westminster Parliament - Home Rule Bill. The Larne gun running which armed Ulster against the Parliament of Westminster's Home Rule Bill and the direct interference of the British Conservative Party in Irish affairs. Coogan details the rebellion in personal descriptions of the leaders and what they set out to do - and what they accomplished in terms of shaping modern Ireland. He quotes from many sources but one of the most poignant is from the Glasgow Observer of the week of the Easter Rising:"No Irish Nationalist should grovel to his British neighbour over what happened in Dublin on Monday. It was simply the consequences of what happened earlier at Larne when the associates and followers of Sir Edward Carson flouted and defied the law of the land, held up it legal guardians and engaged in military operations".I recommend this book for anyone who wants to get familiar with all the events - political and military - surrounding the Irish rebellion.

Ireland's history of those willing to sacrifice their lives, for the future of Ireland, is an amazing story of those that were an integral part of the independence they so desired. I love history, and what if means for so many, is why I loved this read.

This book is detailed and interesting, but the expositive style is somewhat rambling and makes it harder to follow than it might be. I also got the impression that the author assumes a level of familiarity with the subject matter on the part of the reader that I did not have. Don't get me wrong, this book is excellent (hence the 5 stars), but it does require focused attention. Not for the faint hearted.

As others have mentioned, this book is better for those with a previous knowledge of the events of 1916. I do not, and therefore reading this book felt as if I'd walked into a conversation and didn't understand what was being discussed. I'm a college graduate and found this quite difficult to get into.

For years I stayed away from reading material like this because having been brought up in Dublin I was exposed to the legend of 1916 on an almost daily basis. Decades of objective distance made reading this book, the 1st for me by Pat Coogan, a real experience. Like Joyce in France I can envisage every single street,alleyway and place checknamed. I was always especially fond of Countess Markievicz (nee Gore Booth) and she comes out of this a real heroine. You can feel the tension build as the idealists,bathed in poetry and Irish myth, set forth on what was to be one of the most hopelessly heroic events in Irish and British history. What comes across is that this band of
poets,school teachers,lawyers,writers and English aristocrats were not
military people at all. But a band of people stuffed full of idealism and
pride that Easter 1916 in Dublin was the appropriate time for the 1st and
only Revolution on British soil of the 20th Century. No thuggery,
alcoholism, exploitation or foolishness was tolerated. The Constutution
signed by Pearse,Connolly et al called for equality in everything a small
free Ireland could offer. The rebels were easily cut to pieces by the
British army and navy. The subsequent summary executions (both de Valera and
Constance Markievicz escaped death by the skin of their teeth) was the very
wrong thing for Asquith to allow for it turned not just the Irish people
against his Liberal government but a large chunk of the world especially in
America. Pat Coogan guides us through all the differing levels of that
momentous week. Even hardened high-ranking British officers were impressed
at how the rebels handled themselves, not only with dealing with injured
Tommies, shipped in at short notice from the mainland,but in the degree of
dignity in the manner of their surrender. All went to their deaths either
reciting poetry or singing Irish songs. The photos are an eye-opener too. I
deducted one star for the inappropriate Aftermath section at the end.
Instead of a thorough chapter on what happened in Dublin after the Rising
and sketching out the subsequent careers of the survivors especially
Constance Markievicz and Eamonn de Valera, Pat Coogan leaps to the 21st
Century bringing in the Good Friday Agreement and the so-called Real IRA,
who to my mind after Omagh have no business being mentioned in the same
breath as Pearse and Company! Mark Prendergast

Tim has written a very good account of the 1916- Easter Rising.The book starts with a look back at the events in the years prior to the Rising, the politics of Irelands quest for Independence, and the British Governments attitude to their opposition of Ireland becoming independent of Great Britain.It then covers the the actual events of the Rising and the aftermath, the executions of the main ringleaders, and rebels being imprisoned.The Rising was badly planned and carried out from the start, and most of the people of Dublin did not support their cause anyway.The book is a cracking read for anyone interested in 20th Century British & Irish history.

I ordered this book to find out what the uprising was all about as part of my family history.Enjoyed this authors style of writing as it kept my interested throughout

I enjoyed this book and learned some new things about this important event in irish history.

Excellent book & value. I'd recommend purchase of same.