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Title: Michael Collins and the Making of the Irish State by Gabriel Doherty, Dermot Keogh ISBN: 1-85635-211-0 Publisher: Mercier Press Pub. Date: 01 October, 1998 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $15.95

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Average Customer Rating: 4.67 (3 reviews)

Rating: 5
Summary: Excellent Anthology
Comment: Though I had some difficulty tracking this title down, finding it was well worth my effort. This book contains articles by the editors, Mary Banotti (grandniece of Collins' and MEP), Joe Lee, Margot Gearty, Gearóid O'Sullivan, Dr. Andrew McCarthy, Eunan O'Halpin, Peter Young, Éamon Phoenix, John Regan, Deirdre McMahon, Diarmuid Ã" Giolláin, Tom Garvin, Martin Mansergh, and Ronan Fanning. To someone already familiar with Irish history, many of these names are recognizable and to the Irish history newcomer, expect to learn a lot. As one review noted, these articles do presume at the very least a rudimentary knowledge of Irish history. If you are looking to read your first book on the subject, I would suggest starting out with something less difficult. For the history buff with a die-hard interest in Michael Collins, this book provides intriguing, absorbing information. It includes Collins' experiences in Granard with the Kiernan family, Collins' relationships both romantic and platonic, Collins' role as Minister for Finance and Director of Intelligence, Collins' military skills, Collins' place in the Northern Question, the possibility that Collins died intestate, Collins' biographers, Collins and propaganda funerals, Collins and de Valera, etc., etc. The book also includes several b/w photos, two of which I hadn't seen before. For anyone conducting academic research on Collins or for anyone simply reading about his life for personal enrichment, I would highly recommend this book as an unbeatable addition to your library.

Rating: 5
Summary: Engrossing Essays on the Many Sides of Michael Collins
Comment: This compilation of articles on Ireland's legendary revolutionary hero is particularly interesting in that it offers assessments of him on many levels--the comrade, the suitor, the financial brain, the intelligence chief, the practical idealist, the hard man, the soft man, the visionary. All the aspects are fascinating and the individual essays are well written as well as very balanced, for the most part. The collection appears to be an attempt--generally successful--to put into perspective a man and a life that have been alternately obscured by deliberate attempts to keep his accomplishments in the shadows, over-idealized by admirers attempting to rectify the former, or simply distorted by being too closely linked to the wrenching times in which he lived. This is a book which helps the interested reader understand the real man and his critical importance to the creation of the Free State of Ireland, now the Republic.

Rating: 4
Summary: Varied viewpoints of a complicated man.
Comment: Michael Collins and the Making of the Irish State had its genesis in the Peace and Reconciliation conference held at University College Cork in 1997. Later, the essays were collected and edited into this volume.

The essays look at the various aspects of Michael Collins as historical figure, romantic figure, military leader, political leader and terrorist. For the most part, they are even handed attempts to place the man against the backdrop of turbulent times and strong personalities.

The essays do assume that the reader has some knowledge of Irish history and politics; that aside, they are still interesting to someone new to the field and valuable for the scholar of Irish history.