The Insurrection in Dublin by James Stephens, James Murphy (Introduction)

From Barnes & Noble

On the Easter Monday holiday in Dublin, 1916, an army of 1,600 men drawn from the ranks of the Irish Volunteers, the Irish Republican Brotherhood, and the Irish Citizen Army seized the General Post Office and other strategic sites, touching off a week-long battle with British forces that left the city in ruins and 1,400 people killed or wounded. This is the day-by-day chronicle of the city under siege as witnessed by James Stephens. Published in October 1916, the written record provides both a detailed and anecdotal account of the deadly gunfire, the astonished citizens, and the swirling rumors that spread throughout Dublin. He also offers insight into the enduring legacy of the rebellion and its ill-fated leaders. Introduction by John A. Murphy, Professor of Irish History at University College, Cork.

From the Publisher

James Stephens was an early 20th century Irish poet and writer. His humor and lyric writing style are a wonderful addition to the retelling of Irish fairytales. His novels A Crock of Gold and Etched in Moonlight are also based on Irish fairytales. The Insurrection in Dublin tells the effects of the 1916 Easter Rising on the average person in Dublin. The author recounts walking to a corner one morning and seeing the crowd of people looking in one direction. They tell him that the Sinn Fein had taken over parts of the city. The book is not political. It is the observations of one man during the uprising. He notes the first reaction is one of shock and anger. As the days pass people begin to smile with pride at the work of their countrymen. Irish nationalism is a strong emotion. The viewpoint of the author gives this historic book a unique vantage point.

Product Details