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wyattparks19's review against another edition
4.0
This is a very well-researched and detailed history of the political aspect of the IRA and Irish Republicanism in general. Unless you are already steeped in the history, this is something you kind of have to just read and take at face value, because it will be impossible to keep up with all the names and political parties. But, with that said, it is a wealth of information, so definitely something you can return to over and over if you are interested in the subject.
adambecket's review against another edition
5.0
Excellent history of the politics of the IRA/Sinn Fein, and by extension, the peace process
nerdy_reader_9571's review against another edition
dark
informative
fast-paced
4.25
I picked up this book from a local library in the hopes of learning more about Irish history that didn’t focus on the famine. This book provided a lot of knowledge of the political history of Northern Irish political and sectarian organizations from 1916 onwards and—unlike so many nonfiction books I’ve read lately—was able to remain focused on its topic without getting lost in tangents. Because I didn’t grow up when the Troubles were happening and have very little understanding of Irish politics, I felt that I needed a primer on those topics before reading this book. There are a lot of organization, political parties, political bodies, and individuals covered in this book, and I often had difficulty keeping all of them straight and understanding where on the political spectrum they all sat.
Content Warnings
Minor: Murder, Police brutality, Religious bigotry, Violence, Confinement, Mass/school shootings, Gun violence, and Torture
rodions_hatchet's review
informative
slow-paced
4.0
This book is exactly what the title says it is, it's well researched and full of relevant information but the writing style is very matter-of-fact and pretty dry. Overall it's worth reading for anyone interested in developing a deeper understanding of The Troubles but if you're looking for a compelling narrative you're better off finding another book.
alisonburnis's review against another edition
challenging
informative
tense
slow-paced
3.0
A good history of the IRA, looking at the political machinations of the Irish Republican movement, from partition for context, to the present day and the post-Good Friday Agreement era. Finn pulls apart the different threads and philosophies, as well as the sectarian versus class lenses. It’s decently readable, though it is what it says in the title: a political history, so for a more well-rounded look, I wouldn’t pick this one. If you don’t have familiarity with Northern Ireland, this isn’t the best start. But for those more versed: a nice addition.
padraic_'s review
4.0
A clear, well written history of the IRA. The first time that I have read a book which focused so little on the military aspect, but that's in the title and I guess is the point of this book.
The clarity of the writing makes for quick reading and I can't say it's plodding or boring but it could have done with a bit more narrative, fleshing out, or possibly going down a few rabbit holes.
If you are new to the subject then a companion volume, or Wikipedia on your phone might be useful - events and people are introduced quickly and succinctly and the reader must then keep up.
I found it insightful, expect to reread and refer to it in the future and would certainly recommend it.
The clarity of the writing makes for quick reading and I can't say it's plodding or boring but it could have done with a bit more narrative, fleshing out, or possibly going down a few rabbit holes.
If you are new to the subject then a companion volume, or Wikipedia on your phone might be useful - events and people are introduced quickly and succinctly and the reader must then keep up.
I found it insightful, expect to reread and refer to it in the future and would certainly recommend it.