The Illustrated Life of Michael Collins [Hardcover]

Colm Connolly (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1996

An unprecedented look at the life and times of "the man who made Ireland," The Illustrated Life of Michael Collins ties in with the release of a new film, Michael Collins, coming this fall, starring Liam Neeson, Julia Roberts, Alan Rickman, Aidan Quinn, and Stephen Rea. 100+ photos, many in color.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Although Collins (1890-1922) was the leader of the Irish Free State when he was assassinated, there are relatively few photographs of him available because, as director of IRA intelligence and the inventor of urban guerrilla warfare, he was wary of being photographed when the British were offering 10,000 (the equivalent of $50,000 in today's economy) for his apprehension. Connolly, who wrote an award-winning 1989 TV documentary on Collins, The Shadow of Bealnablath, and has helped the production team of the new Neil Jordan film, Michael Collins, with Liam Neeson in the title role, here compiles 100 extraordinary photos of the father of the modern Irish Republic, found in archives in Ireland and England. There is a candid shot of him and Eamon de Valera laughing; pictures of Collins entering No. 10 Downing Street during the treaty negotiations in 1921 that reveal his raw energy; and a blurry, frightening photo of him being surprised by a photographer and reaching for his gun. There are also pictures of him as head of state, mingling and joking with the people, and three photos of his dead body. The text adds insight into how Collins waged his campaign for Irish independence. There are significant comments from Vinnie Byrne, one of Collins's "12 Apostles"-his own private assassination squad-on the events of "Bloody Sunday" 1920 when Collins had the entire British Secret Service in Dublin gunned down. A book that admirers of Collins will cherish.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 94 pages
• Publisher: Roberts Rinehart Pub; 1st ed edition (November 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1570981124
• ISBN-13: 978-1570981128
• Product Dimensions: 12.1 x 9.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #386,473 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Kudos to Connolly, May 10, 2000

By 

Sara (OK, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Illustrated Life of Michael Collins (Paperback)

Everyone has heard the cliche "A picture's worth a thousand words" and Connolly proves it is true. History comes to life beautifully as the reader is enveloped in headlines, photos, drawings and letters of the time. As well as eye candy, The Illustrated Life of Michael Collins provides an accurate, easy-to-read biography and a palatable political analysis. Unlike some other historical profiles, Connolly stays away from melodrama and hero worship, telling the facts as they were and leaving the observer to make his own choices. A worthwhile purchase for anyone interested in Michael Collins and/or Irish history.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful photo tribute to "The Big Fellow"!, April 21, 2005

By 

Dave (Tennessee United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Illustrated Life of Michael Collins (Hardcover)

Ever since I saw the outstanding 1996 Neil Jordan film "Michael Collins", I have been fascinated in the story of Collins and the violent early years of the IRA. This excellent pictorial history gives a brief but concise summary of his life, along with dozens of extraordinary and rare photos. From his growing up in West Cork, Ireland, to his tragic death at the age of 31, this book explains his amazing life in a simple, straightforward way that will please both experienced Irish history buffs and "rookies" who're looking for a good place to start.

What I find most tragic about Collins is that after years of fighting the British to achieve Irish independence, he was ambushed and killed by his own countrymen during the Irish Civil War of 1922. There are photos of his fiancee Kitty Kiernan, his best friend Harry Boland, and various IRA associates, and of course photos of his enemies, both Irish and British. There's a particularly chilling photo an R.I.C. Constable alongside two Auxiliaries (known for their brutal methods), all with evil grins and guns drawn. This book is an absolute must for any Irish history buff!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Pictorial Guide to Ireland's Most Charismatic Hero, July 6, 2000

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Illustrated Life of Michael Collins (Hardcover)

For anyone interested in getting to know more about Michael Collins and Ireland's finally successful struggle for freedom from Britain, this book is an excellent, easily read introduction. It depicts in words and photos a terrible and critically important period in Irish history and introduces the reader to one of the most fascinating and compelling figures in that history or any other. Highly recommended.