Behind the Mask

Rating:
Summary: Secret History of the IRA
Review: Peter Taylor has done a phenomenal job bringing the truth out about the Republican Community. He has consistently managed to reverse the British Government's efforts to dehumanise the people of Ireland. This book is a great start for anyone looking to get a better idea of exactly what Sinn Fein and the IRA are and were about. Buy the book, you can't be disappointed. Additionally, the video tape from the PBS broadcast is *INCREDIBLE*. You can order it from pbs.org - I suggest you do. It will give you more of an idea of how human these men and women really are/were.

Rating:
Summary: Can the Brits hear us now?
Review: Peter Taylor has done a phenomenal job bringing the truth out about the Republican Community. He has consistently managed to reverse the British Government's efforts to dehumanise the people of Ireland. This book is a great start for anyone looking to get a better idea of exactly what Sinn Fein and the IRA are and were about. Buy the book, you can't be disappointed. Additionally, the video tape from the PBS broadcast is *INCREDIBLE*. You can order it from pbs.org - I suggest you do. It will give you more of an idea of how human these men and women really are/were.

Rating:
Summary: A powerful book about true freedom fighters
Review: This book is a very informative and accurate portrayal of the struggle in Northern Ireland. It does not take a biased point of view, it shows the most glorious moments of the Irish Republican Army's history, as well as it's lowest points. It outlines the path to peace that Sinn Feinn and other Republicans along with some Loyalists are trying to achieve. It is wrong though, for the way that some people ignorantly call the Irish Republican Army a "Terrortist" organization.

The Irish Republican Army is exactly that, they are an organized Army fighting for their homeland and the freedom and protection of the minority Catholics in Northern Ireland. They are just as much of a defense force as any other nations military, and are just as much an organized military force as the British army, and if I might add, much more humane. I could easily compare the situation to that of German invading forces in yugoslavia in WWII. There was a resistance army that fought the foreign invading forces, yet the world community did not refer to them as "Terrorists" but as freedom fighters. That is exactly what the IRA is, unfortunately, when they choose to make progress towards peace, Sectarian violence has always gotten in the way, splinter groups of Republican and Loyalists have constantly thwarted the peace process, I hope that such things will not happen in the future. Great book, a must read for anyone who wants information on the struggle in Northern Ireland.

Rating:
Summary: A powerful book about true freedom fighters
Review: This book is a very informative and accurate portrayal of the struggle in Northern Ireland. It does not take a biased point of view, it shows the most glorious moments of the Irish Republican Army's history, as well as it's lowest points. It outlines the path to peace that Sinn Feinn and other Republicans along with some Loyalists are trying to achieve. It is wrong though, for the way that some people ignorantly call the Irish Republican Army a "Terrortist" organization.

The Irish Republican Army is exactly that, they are an organized Army fighting for their homeland and the freedom and protection of the minority Catholics in Northern Ireland. They are just as much of a defense force as any other nations military, and are just as much an organized military force as the British army, and if I might add, much more humane. I could easily compare the situation to that of German invading forces in yugoslavia in WWII. There was a resistance army that fought the foreign invading forces, yet the world community did not refer to them as "Terrorists" but as freedom fighters. That is exactly what the IRA is, unfortunately, when they choose to make progress towards peace, Sectarian violence has always gotten in the way, splinter groups of Republican and Loyalists have constantly thwarted the peace process, I hope that such things will not happen in the future. Great book, a must read for anyone who wants information on the struggle in Northern Ireland.

Rating:
Summary: Secret History of the IRA
Review: This is a fair and informative book on The Troubles. I've read many (Holland, Coogan, Bell, etc) and thought this one was the best until I read "Secret History of the IRA" by Ed Moloney. In terms of depth of insight and analysis, especially as it relates to Gerry Adams and the Peace Process, Behind the Mask pales.