Deirdre McMahon

This is an excellent book. McMahon conducts a rigorous analysis of Anglo-Irish relations throughout the 1930s. Pen portraits of the main protagonists are provided with useful reference material provided by diplomats of the time. The positions of the Irish and British sides, and how they shifted are analysed in detail. I would consider it the most in-depth piece of research to date on the subject which has been well referenced by others. The author writes well also and I wish she had done more. One thing that struck me, reading the book in 2011, was how successful Fianna Fáil were under de Valera to greatly advance Ireland’s economic and political sovereignty by loosening links with Britain. Considering the state of Ireland in 2011 when effective economic sovereignty has been lost reading the book at times was quite poignant.… (plus d'informations)