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Michael Collins: A Biography by: Tim Pat Coogan

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Rating: - The most complete, authoritative work about Michael Collins

A splendid biography about one of the most important leaders in the process of Ireland's independence.

As the other books of T.P.Coogan, it reflects a lot of research of a professional writer who is specialised in the history of Ireland in the 20th century. The account reads fluently, also for foreigners, sometimes bearing the character of a thrilling non-fiction novel.

Readers, who have watched the movie of Neil Jordan first, will find that the motion-picture scenario is almost completely based on this title with some small differences, obviously inserted or altered for reasons of screen effect.

One point surprising me is the covering of the Civil War after the signing of the Treaty: there is no chapter in this title dedicated especially to the Civil War, rather are the elements of this conflict spread evenly over the last chapters. It looks like T.P.Coogan replaced this with the chapter about Northern Ireland, just before "mouth of flowers", wherein the policy of Michael Collins and the Free State government towards the northern Six Counties is emphasized. I have the impression this was done deliberately and that the Northern Ireland issue and it's Troubles is the pet subject of T.P.Coogan (see e.g. other titles of the same author, as "the Troubles" or "the IRA"...). Personally, I would have expected an elaborate account on this sensitive subject (in contradistinction to the absence of a detailed account on the Civil War, an extensive description and discussion of the (Guerilla) War against the British and the British Campaign in Ireland appears in the former part of the book, which is indeed a very chilling experience). This might be a possible new title of the author in the future.
At the end a short discussion is given on the circumstances of Michael Collins death and the alleged assassin(s). A short touch is made on one of the famous cover-up stories. Coogan penetrates here without too many details, because this kind of investigations rather belongs in the world of (sensational) "who-done-it" documentaries.
Very interesting is the speculation the author makes in the last chapter "honouring the dead" about what would have happened if Michael Collins would not have been assassinated but would have lived during the following years. It is Coogan's opinion that Ireland would have prospered more quickly, and that on top of that, most probably, it would have been an united country now without the separation of the North.

This title is also a jumping board to other titles of the same author. Several subjects which are treated briefly in this book are the title of other works of T.P.Coogan. People who want to have a good insight in the background of the struggle of Ireland for it's independence can rely on this writer.

A must for concerned readers.

Rating: - Coogans book highlights the complexity of Irish history

Tim Pat Coogan worte in an essay on Collins, "Tragiclly we will never know how Collins may have developed....for as Heine once remarked the Irish always pull down a noble stag."

Coogans book is a brilliant account of the historic figure that is Michael Collins. He was both a pragmatic politican and a mastermind of guerilla warfare, calculating and ruthless with a knid and gentle side to his complex personality. This is beautfully portrayed in Coogans book.

A invaluable text, not only to the reader but also to the student. One need only read Coogans work to understand the difficult circumstances of Irish history.

Rating: - Excellent biography of Ireland's most courageous leader

Since his death at the age of just 31, Michael Collins has cast a long shadow in Irish history. Of course, this is partly because of what he did not live to achieve. I remember my own father (who brought me up with tales of Collins and his bicycle, and whose uncle fought with the IRA) asking on his death-bed - "why did we kill the best of our own"?

But as the years pass, it becomes clearer that Collins is remembered - and still loved - for what he did achieve in his short time on earth.

He was the ruthless as the head of military intelligence that undermined British rule in Ireland. Collins felt the sentiment of nationalism as strongly as anyone, but he knew, especially after Easter 1916, that it was not enough for victory.

And this is the essence of Tim Pat Coogan's well-researched and moving book. Collins' greatest achievement was not that he knew how to make war, but that he knew how to make peace. His greatest strength was not his courage in making war (which was great enough), but his courage in making peace. And in that sense, he has left his mark on Irish history and his spirit among the Irish.

Rating: - poor writing hampers important message

The writer is to be commended in that he tackles a difficult understudied area, the life of michael collins. Nevertheless two aspects of this book really got my back up. The first is the obvious partisan nature of the work, if you are hoping for the type of objective open-minded approach to history which might bring peace in troubled areas of our country then you can forget it. Tim Pat Coogan is deeply biased, this is hagiography, Michael Collins walks on water from West Cork onwards. The second problem is the writers style, this is at the very least difficult. Paragraphs hang uncomfortably together, dealing with unconnected issues in pointless detail- worrying for the former editor of the Irish Press. Difficult and not worth the effort. On the other hand, in this under-studied area he has a captive audience.

Rating: - The outstanding book on the Irish Revolution

Michael Collins could lay reasonable claim to be both the father of modern guerrilla warfare and one of the principle founders of Irish democracy. The fact that he achieved so much before his tragic death at the age of 31 makes his story all the more remarkable.

Tim Pat Coogan draws both on a wealth of published sources and interviews with participants in the War of Independence and Civil War. In doing so he produces not only an outstanding biography that catches both the personal humanity and historic achievements of Collins, but he also illuminates key aspects of the course of the Irish Revolution.

The story itself is gripping. It tells how Collins, with a small group of committed revolutionists and patriots, initiates a guerrilla war, breaks the power of British secret service in Dublin and then, at enormous personal cost, turns the military victory into the political achievement of a democratic Irish state.

One of the best historical biographies available about one of the centuries outstanding figures.

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