Torn Asunder by Renny DeGroot
Torn Asunder covers events from the Easter Rising of 1916 to about 1943. However, the historical events are a setting, the actual story is the family drama of Emmet Ryan, We get to know Ryan rather well, his character is by far the most developed. He is a complex man, and the folks around him are likewise sharply drawn. The character of early twentieth century Irish folk is on full display.
Torn Asunder is well-paced. The author provides a cast- of – characters in the preface, and readers should take the time to get these names in mind; but when the actual story begins it moves right along. I read the book in only two sittings!
Americans may wonder why the strong antipathy between the Brits and Irish. The dislike – shading to hatred – is obvious in the story but Renny DeGroot offers no explanation. Oh, there was cause: land appropriation (shall I call it thievery?) in the 18th century, outrageous rents, displacement of Gaelic in favor of the English language, and a caste-system attitude by the Protestant English towards the largely Catholic Irish. Mix it all together with repressive policing and you have a sort of bomb in search of a fuse.
If you really want to understand the depth of Irish discontent here’s an example: in 1945 Irish Republic Prime Minister de Valera proffered a note of condolence to Germany after Adolph Hitler died in his bunker. There’s a slap in the face for you!
Renny DeGroot gives short shrift to British troubles. They had a very costly war going in 1916, and weren’t about to tolerate a second front opening up in their back yard. The Germans offered a bit of tepid support to the Irish cause, further inflaming the British attitude. After the war, Irish Nationalists kept pushing (and Renny DeGroot shows us this. More police were needed, and Britain had a surplus of unemployed soldiers. They became the dreaded Black and Tans. Bloody Sunday is dramatized in this book very nicely. Realize, if you please, this is what happens when you have experienced soldiers facing an only moderately competent ( DeGroot shows this, too) guerilla faction who are willing to “hide in plain sight”. Unleashing the actual ferocity of trained soldiery in a semi-civilian setting is a huge political mistake, and Renny DeGroot showed how attitudes changed after Bloody Sunday.
In WW2 times British again stationed soldiers in Northern Ireland, this time to guard against the IRA. Again, they would not put up with a second front when they were so fully engaged in serious combat. There’s a sad incident I won’t describe further, but it once again illustrates how the heavy-handed use of military units to police civilian living spaces does not work well.
After formation of the Republic, a faction of Irish nationalists became the IRA, and continued a violent struggle to unite the island politically. What Renny DeGroot does best is to show how all this discontent worked inside her characters when came to a head in 1916-22. and in the same way how it simmered in the IRA (and sympathizers) through the 30s and up to 1943.
There are a few typos...not too bad. Overall, very good prose.
Especially if you are interested in those times – and maybe share a few of those Irish genes – you’ll like this book.
I purchased this book through Kindle in order to make this review. J. Paige Straley
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Top reviews from other countries
Mary Markstrom
A fast paced story with engaging characters and a great story.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on April 22, 2020Amazon Customer
Become immersed in the Irish life during these turbulent times
Reviewed in Canada 🇨🇦 on May 6, 2020
