Historian Hopkinson (Green Against Green) has written an all-encompassing account of the Irish War of Independence (1919–1921), covering military, diplomatic and political issues. As Hopkinson points out, the war was largely one of tit-for-tat reprisal killings between the IRA and local police until the British brought in the Black and Tans, and the violence escalated to bloody guerrilla warfare. Hopkinson devotes a large part of the book to a localized, county-by-county recounting of the war: Dublin and Cork witnessed loads of violence, for instance, while Galway saw almost none. Hopkinson also describes at length how Michael Collins defeated the British through the use of informers and spies. As the author makes clear, the war could have ended in 1920, but a crucial diplomatic opportunity was lost. Hopkinson really knows his sources, using diaries and government documents to show how the British moved from a policy of coercion to one of negotiation. Indeed, the book's strongest point is its exploration of the behind-the-scenes shifts in British policy. Hopkinson's breadth is also impressive, as can be seen from his exploration of the American aspect of the war (the U.S. was a source of funds and weapons for the Irish. Indeed, Sinn Fein leader Eamon de Valera spent most of the war in the U.S. raising money and seeking American recognition). All in all, this is an exhaustive, if sometimes dry, account that should appeal to those interested in modern Irish history. (Nov.)
