Mary Oppedahl

Great book. The history of the Irish “troubles” from the 1940s and 50s forward is most interesting, especially to a non-Irish person who, while alive then, was not as knowledgeable about these events as others going on at home or in the rest of the world. The book is extremely well written, intertwining events and the personal stories of those involved in a compelling way. It is also beautifully written with quite lyrical language for an historical account. As the author noted in words to this effect: the Irish may not have always won politically but they did win when it came to the English language. The audio version is also beautifully read. The sure sign of a great history book: never bored for a minute even though you know how it ends. Or has it ended? Just back from Belfast. The walls, cemeteries, murals, bullet holes and gates walling off the Catholic section that still close every night and open every morning more than 20 years after peace.