Rebel Hearts : Journeys Within the IRA's Soul [Hardcover]

Kevin Toolis (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1996

A harrowing portrait of the men and women of the IRA offers compelling portraits of individual IRA leaders, discusses the roots of the conflict in Northern Ireland, and examines the history and consequences of the organization's war against Britain from a personal perspective.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

A journalist who has reported on the Irish Republican Army in Ulster for many years, Toolis here draws together many facets of militant IRA republicanism. Weaving together the history of the troubles in Northern Ireland with the stories of families and individuals, he looks into the "rebel hearts"of these partisans and offers reasons for their joining the IRA. His portraits of brothers Dermot and Martin Finucane, Chieftain Martin McGuinness, and informer Patty Flood are compelling. But no less important is the historical detail of a quarter-century of violence, reprisal, loss, and sadness. Toolis offers measured and heartfelt judgment on?but does not condemn?the hypocrisy, callousness, and stupidity of the Ulster police, paramilitary, and ideologues. Recommended to general readers for the fullness of detail and content but also to more sophisticated readers for the author's insights.?Richard B. Finnegan, Stonehill Coll., North Easton, Mass.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

The Irish war for independence has been an 800-year series of skirmishes that Toolis characterizes as "the longest war the world has ever known." Born in Edinburgh of Irish parents, the journalist spent 10 years in Ulster in an attempt to understand the mind and rebel heart of the "Republican Soul." His book is a profoundly personal and chilling close-up of the IRA and its effects on those it wounds and is wounded by. Toolis' first-person account introduces us to panicky informers, volunteers who want to "be somebody," unintimidated chieftains, and an entire Irish family whose sons each experience the IRA from a different perspective. Toolis conveys combat nerves, bravado, hatred, and rage with on-site dialogues with IRA members and their families. Through his eyes, we witness home raids, arrests, close escapes and prison escapes, killing, and counter killing. At the end of his journey, Toolis admits that he lacks the intensity to kill for the Republican cause, yet he remains a product of his bloodline--he, too, possesses a rebel heart. This is a riveting read. Patricia Hassler

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 384 pages
• Publisher: St Martins Pr; First edition. edition (March 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312144784
• ISBN-13: 978-0312144784
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.3 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #966,831 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Review of Rebel Hearts, December 13, 2003

By 

C. J. Stewart "Cstewart" (Greensboro, NC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Rebel Hearts : Journeys Within the IRA's Soul (Hardcover)

I have read many books on the struggles in Northern Ireland but this book stands apart from them all. Toolis has the unique ability to remain both objective and passionate about this topic. As the subtitle suggests he truly gets into the soul of the IRA. His book is based on research, interviews and perosnal experiences that could have placed Toolis himself in harms way. Some may see this as a weakness, but Toolis's conclusions are clear. Prior to reading this book I knew a lot of facts about the struggles of the IRA. After reading Toolis's book I suddenly understood some of what created and continues to fuel these struggles. I recommend this book to anyone who is interested in Irish History, the history of the IRA or interested in the violent struggles that mark the 20th century.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An amazing piece of work, June 25, 2000

By 

jennifer brooke lilly - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rebel Hearts: Journeys Within the IRA's Soul (Paperback)

Leaving this review short, I will say that "Rebel Hearts" is an amazing book. I believe that Kevin Toolis does an excellent job in telling the stories of individuals, families, and groups involved in the Troubles of Northern Ireland. I found his personal commentary made his stories more interesting. Not only is it a documentation of people's lives and experiences, but a first person account as well. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in this topic, and even those who may not be.

19 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Both Profound & Better than Expected, June 18, 2003

By 

Sara (OK, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rebel Hearts : Journeys Within the IRA's Soul (Hardcover)

I read _Rebel Hearts_ as part of my research for my senior thesis on the Northern Question and found it better than I ever imagined. While it does indeed profile the lives of particular IRA members (as already mentioned by other reviewers), it does so much more: it delves into the psychology of how and why the IRA exists and operates. To me, this is a much bigger issue than individual biographies, as good as they are. From the book's preface, Toolis is clear about his position: he foresees peace in Ireland only through "a transfer of power away from the British Crown." He explores Irish martyrdom, politics, history, and methodology, though I would caution that this book is no crash-course on Irish history. If you are looking to know more about that subject, _Rebel Hearts_ already presumes a fair amount of knowledge. (But Toolis does include a list of abbreviations at the beginning.) Toolis delves into the link between politics and religion without browbeating the reader and he thoroughly explains the deep-seated spiritual issues that accompany the political conflicts in Northern Ireland. His compelling conclusion at the book's close gave me goosebumps as I read it: "There will be peace in Ireland and it will be a republican peace." Here, here.