Michael Collins: The Secret File [Paperback]

A. T. Q. Stewart (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 1997

This volume gives an insight into the undercover surveillance carried out by the Royal Irish Constabulary during the time when Michael Collins was recruiting and drilling the flying columns of the imminent War of Independence. The RIC file on Collins runs from December 1916 to April 1920 , of which the greater part is contained in this book. The reports provide readers with a feeling for the times. The papers have been selected by A.T.Q. Stewart, who has also written an introduction and commentary for the text.

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Blackstaff Press Ltd (January 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0856406147
• ISBN-13: 978-0856406140
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,909,563 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing and Interesting Secrets Revealed, February 17, 2002

By 

Sara (OK, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Michael Collins: The Secret File (Paperback)

Simple copies of the secret files that were kept on Michael Collins would have been wonderful enough, but A.T.Q. Stewart's articulate introduction to the material makes for a truly outstanding reading experience. The introduction is well decorated with a number of black-and-white photos, some that will probably be familiar (e.g.- the uniformed General Collins and Collins posing with Arthur Griffith before the Treaty negotiations) and some that will be new to the eye. The actual text of this book consists of just over 100 copies of documents regarding Collins. A particularly telling document speaks of Collins as "a young man of fair complexion, clean shaven, strong jaws and features" who "belongs to a family of `brainy' people." Stewart mentions this passage in his introduction and relates the astonishing story of how Collins was smuggled into the G-division of Dublin's Metropolitan Police HQs to read the files kept there. He narrowly missed being discovered and was able to read that amusing statement about himself.

This book reveals as much about the Irish struggle for independence and the bloody civil war that followed as it does about the life of Collins. The fact that reading this text is tantamount to reading pieces of history makes the adventure take on a very real dimension; the names you encounter are names of actual people rather than fictional characters. I believe this book to be a great investment for anyone interested in the Irish pursuit of independence, the Troubles, and/or the life of Michael Collins. If, however, you are looking for an introduction to the life and times of Collins, I would suggest that you pick up a traditional biography of him (see the works of Frank O'Connor or Tim Pat Coogan) rather than this title simply because the names, dates and places will mean much more to you if you are already acquainted with the basic story before you dig in.