Michael Collins and the Nationalist Retrospective

There will be three chapters in this thesis. The first two will compare and contrast how six different biographers treat their subject Michael Collins and the surrounding political context in which he worked. This thesis is not concerned with the quality of the research in the books. It merely focuses on how they vary and compare in their expression. These biographers can be categorised into three different sections. Firstly those who themselves were active nationalists during the period 1916 - 1922. Piaras Beaslai, Frank O Connor, Leon O Broin and Desmond Ryan fill this category. Secondly, the biography of Margery Forester who is writing from a foreign perspective. Finally, a biography from an Irish historian of a later generation, Tim Pat Coogan. There are in excess of twenty historians who deal significantly with the life and work of Michael Collins. But due to the size and time constraints imposed on this work it is necessary to focus on just six. These however are probably the most popular and between them it is possible to correlate certain traditionally nationalist trends, as regards history writing on Ireland. It will be shown how all the biographers support the ideals of Irish nationalism, and how they support violence as means to achieving Irish independence. Though in some of them this is expressed, only, tacitly. Regarding the character of Collins, certain books, are more revealing and objective than others.

Level dc:type.qualificationlevel

masters

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

National University of Ireland Maynooth

Year dc:date.issued

1997

Author dc:creator

• Donnelly, Derek

• History

Language dc:language

en