|
|
Sold Out
Book Categories |
"Dublin Made Me, the first of C. S. ('Todd') Andrews' two celebrated volumes of autobiography, describes in loving detail the pre-independence Dublin in which the author grew up and provides a vivid participant's account of the War of Independence and the Civil War." "Born in 1901, Andrews lived with his family in Summerhill until 1910, when they moved to the distant suburb of Terenure. Andrews' account of the two Dublins of his youth - the bustle, intimacy and poverty of the north side, and the bucolic pleasures of Terenure - is an unsentimental urban pastoral, sensuous and immediate. He describes his schooling with the nuns in Dominick Street, with Patrick Pearse for an unhappy year in St. Enda's, and then with the Christian Brothers in Synge Street. And he gives a rich, detailed account of his apprenticeship in Irish republicanism, from his pre-1916 experiences as a youthful 'camp-follower of the Volunteers' to his active service in Dublin in the War of Independence and his dangerous days as adjutant to Liam Lynch, chief of staff of the anti-Treaty forces during the Civil War. Andrews writes dispassionately of internment and hunger-strikes, and of the bitter divide between the pro- and anti-Treaty sides, once comrades-in-arms." Dublin Made Me is a unique account of an ordinary childhood transformed by war and revolution. Together with its sequel, Man of No Property, it provides an unmatched first-person chronicle of the making of twentieth-century Ireland.
Andrews recounts his life in Dublin, where he was born in 1901. As a child he moved from an impoverished area to a more upscale one and here reflects on both. He also discusses his early gravitation toward republicanism and his work with the anti-British forces. This 1979 volume provides an honest, firsthand account of a pivotal time in Irish history. Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.
| Price | Condition | Delivery | Seller | Action |
| $99.99 | Digital |
| WonderClub |
Nunya Bizness
reviewed Dublin Made Me on October 09, 2016
Dublin Made Me
This is the autobiography of 'Todd' Andrews, who was 'in and around' most of the leaders of the 1916 Rising and then went on to be a protagonist in the War of Independence and the Irish Civil War in 1922. He was born in 1900, grew up in Summerhill and then when he was about 10 his family moved to Terenure. Thereafter a lot of the locations mentioned are well known to me, which helped bring the book to life.
In some ways it's a slightly one-dimensional book, in that it is a factual telling of an infancy in a down at heel area of Dublin and then a gradual drift as an adolescent into the Republican movement. He was marginally too young (or perhaps just not engaged by) the 1916 rising, but thereafter he was a participant in the War of Independence and very much so in the Civil War.
In that latter conflict he was on the Republican side and it's very noticeable how much of the bitterness toward the 'Free State' side he retains. In fairness I suppose when you have been interned, been at risk of summary execution and know a large number of people who were 'taken out and shot' it'd be hard to avoid this perspective. And yet at times in the book it appears to be a 'game', with pen pictures of many people he knew and then the phrase 'he was murdered by the Free State'. I have no views on this either way, save that I'm sure there were atrocities carried out on both sides.
One noticeable trait - possibly the carefree view of a young man - is how he 'expected' (if he ever thought about it) his parents to continue to fund and support him. It's not that he seems to have felt this was 'because he was about important business', but maybe more because at this point in his existence, getting a job and supporting himself seems to have been far from his mind. And there seemed among the Republican 'fighters' to have been a 'commandeering' mindset - as in 'I need your car to support the development of the fledgling Republic'. Possibly reinforced with a pistol in hand.
Taken as a whole though, it is a fairly passionate but factual record of a hugely important period in the development of the nation, told by a protagonist. So it's a very easy read and a good record of 'the times that were in it'. There's a second volume about his later years called 'Men of no property' which I might get around to reading in due course.
Login|Complaints|Blog|Games|Digital Media|Souls|Obituary|Contact Us|FAQ
CAN'T FIND WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR? CLICK HERE!!! X
You must be logged in to add to WishlistX
This item is in your Wish List
X
This item is in your Collection
Dublin Made Me
X
This Item is in Your Inventory
Dublin Made Me
X
You must be logged in to review the productsX
X
X
Add Dublin Made Me, Dublin Made Me, the first of C. S. ('Todd') Andrews' two celebrated volumes of autobiography, describes in loving detail the pre-independence Dublin in which the author grew up and provides a vivid participant's account of the War of Independence and the, Dublin Made Me to the inventory that you are selling on WonderClubX
X
Add Dublin Made Me, Dublin Made Me, the first of C. S. ('Todd') Andrews' two celebrated volumes of autobiography, describes in loving detail the pre-independence Dublin in which the author grew up and provides a vivid participant's account of the War of Independence and the, Dublin Made Me to your collection on WonderClub |
