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Michael Collins: A Biography by: Tim Pat Coogan

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Rating: - A difficult but engrossing history

The book is difficult but not tedious. It's a pity that Tim Coogan didn't supply a little background on Irish History, just to put the events he describes in context. Without that, it becomes a little difficult if you have no idea who or what he is referring to. When he gets into the main subject of this history, one tends to get lost in a maze of characters, and their various alliegences. Nevertheless it offers a very complete treatment of the Anglo-Irish War, the negotiation of the Treaty, and the subsequent Irish Civil War. The ugliness and brutality of the war with the British is upsetting, and may well leave you feeling very angry. Finally let me say that Michael Collins emerges from this story as an extrordinary young man of enormous ability in so many ways, who with a little help from his friends did manage to get the British out of Ireland, or at least out of the twenty-six counties. The absurdity of it all, is that he was killed by his own people when he was little more than thirty years old.

Rating: - Slow Moving Writing Plagues Michael Collins Again!

Anyone who knows the story of Michael Collins and who has seen the movie or read this book knows that people have a hard time showing what is truely a fascinating story. A slow-paced storyline and the tendency to over-examined inconsequential facts while under-examing crucial events(like his meeting with Churchill and his cronies) leaves the reading saying, "So What". Too bad becuase it is one hell of a story. PS- The movie was dreadfully boring.

Rating: - A good character portrait

The movie never made it to theaters in my small northern Wisconsin city. But, thankfully, the book - and one copy of the video - finally made its way up here. I read the book, I rented the video and I began to understand Michael Collins. Thank you, Tim Pat Coogan. Thank you, Neil Jordan and Liam Neeson (no one else could have done it so well). I now understand the fight for Ireland so much better . . .

Rating: - The Man who showed the world tyranny can be defeated

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.

Review Pages: 1 2 3