The Easter Rising of 1916

5 Books About the Undaunted Irish Rebellion

The shell of the General Post Office on Sackville Street after the Easter Rising

Growing up watching Riverdance and Michael Flatley’s Lord of the Dance on video, as well as Disney’s classic Darby O’Gill and the Little People, I have always had a special place in my heart for Ireland. However, the first I ever heard of the Easter Rising was in an episode of the popular British period drama Downton Abbey, which aired during my college years. Tom Branson, the Irish chauffeur, mentions it in passing, yet the reference piqued my interest. Around the same time, I saw the traditional Irish band Derek Warfield & The Young Wolfe Tones (an offshoot of the legendary Wolfe Tones) perform at an Irish festival and was moved by their rousing rebel songs. After discovering a similar Irish band – The High Kings – the following year, I was primed to delve into a decade-long obsession with Irish history.

On Easter Monday, April 24, 1916, over one thousand Irish men and women initiated an organized armed insurrection in Dublin in protest over Britain’s continued refusal to grant Ireland the power of self-government, or Home Rule. A Proclamation was issued by Irish Nationalist groups declaring Ireland’s independence from Britain and read aloud from the steps of the General Post Office by leader Patrick Pearse. The insurrection, which would become known as the Easter Rising, lasted for six days before being squashed by the British Army. The timing of the rebellion – purposely enacted while England was engaged in the First World War – led to its instigators being treated as traitors and receiving courts-martial with no defense and execution sentences. As the trials and executions dragged on for several days, public sentiment shifted from indifference to support for the rebels and outrage towards Britain.

The 1916 Easter Rising has been considered the last noble armed conflict in Ireland. The subsequent War of Independence, though likely necessary to obtain freedom from England, devolved into a war of retribution on both sides, as did the Irish Civil War which immediately followed. The decades-long Troubles in Northern Ireland from the 1960s through the Good Friday Agreement in 1998 to cease hostilities has also seen indiscriminate violence between the IRA and British Armed Forces over a questionable pursuit of independence and reunification with the Republic of Ireland in a province where the majority of the population has voted to remain part of the United Kingdom. The following five books listed here all tackle the causes and circumstances that led up to the planning and implementation of the rebellion, the failures and successes during the events of the historic week, and the role it played in altering the course of Irish history.

1 | 1916: A Novel of the Irish Rebellion Morgan Llywelyn

After surviving the sinking of the Titanic, teenager Ned Halloran returns to Ireland and enrolls in St. Enda’s School in Dublin. It is run by the Nationalist poet and scholar Patrick Pearse, who is busy plotting a rebellion in pursuit of independence for Ireland. Ned becomes heavily involved in the insurrection and crosses paths with many of the key instigators. When the day of the Rising finally comes, all the plans have gone awry, and Ned witnesses first-hand the cost of freedom.

I found this historical novel in the clearance section at Half Price Books and wondered, “Is this what Tom Branson was referring to in Downton Abbey?” Clearly, as I am now reviewing it, I purchased and read the book, finally learning what the Easter Rising was all about. At times the scope of the novel felt a bit overwhelming due to the vast amount of historical information and run-ins with real-life characters. Later, after familiarizing myself with 20th-century Irish history, I appreciated the story even more. The author name-drops historical figures quite a bit but on my second read, I had a base of knowledge regarding the cast of characters, so I wasn’t put off by it. I was blown away by the author’s attention to historical detail – she includes footnotes in a fictional story! As someone who is meticulous and critical of historical accuracy in fiction, I applaud Llywelyn’s dedication to the research behind this novel. 1916 may not appeal to readers who are interested in lighter or more casual history, but as someone who loves more academic historical fiction, this novel (and the subsequent books in the series:1921, 1949, 1972, and 1998) is right in my wheelhouse.

My Goodreads Rating: 5 Stars

2 | Rebels: The Irish Rising of 1916 Peter de Rosa

Rebels follows the major players in the Easter Rising from its inception and planning through its botched execution and fallout. After a series of misfortunes occur leading up to the planned date of the rebellion, the leaders know it is guaranteed to fail. However, aware they are already marked for execution for signing the Proclamation declaring Ireland’s independence, the signatories decide to take a heroic stand against the tyranny of British rule and proceed with the insurrection anyway.

This nonfictional account reads like a compelling dramatic novel rather than a dry history book. The plot is intriguing, the action is fast paced, and the real-life characters are admirable in their pursuit of freedom. I found myself heavily invested in each person’s fate and how various historical figures worked together or against one another to bring about the tragic and triumphant events of the Easter Rising. Rebels focuses on the details of the doomed week of insurgency, but the author makes it clear that this was only the beginning of Ireland’s journey towards independence. I rarely remember literary quotes (unless it is particularly amusing) but the last line of this book has stuck with me throughout the years since I first read it. It is brutal and liberating, conveying the sentiment that freedom does not come without sacrifice. This volume is clearly a heartfelt dedication to the martyred rebels who gave up their lives in hopes their country would one day be free.

My Goodreads Rating: 5 Stars

3 | 1916: The Easter Rising Tim Pat Coogan

This non-fictional account of the Easter Rising covers the chaotic six days of insurrection, citing England’s and Anglo-Irish Unionists’ unwillingness to grant the people of Ireland the ability to self-govern in defiance of the democratic process, as well as the split in the Irish Volunteers over enlisting in the British Army to fight in the war in Europe, as the source of instigation. Coogan introduces the chief figures who played crucial roles in the rebellion and their legacy in its aftermath as the execution of the leaders, drawn out by the British over several days, swayed public opinion in favor of the cause which would ignite the War of Independence.

The self-proclaimed best-known Irish historical writer, Tim Pat Coogan, touts over a dozen works dedicated to 19th and 20th century Irish history, many of which I have displayed on one of my bookshelves. He played a vital role in bringing the IRA/Sinn Féin into peace talks during the 1990s and has been known for his occasionally controversial opinions and books. While this particular book is not controversial – his stance on the Easter Rising matches the general consensus of Irish writers on this topic – it is decidedly biased in favor of lionizing the efforts of the rebels and their martyred leaders. Having picked up 1916: The Easter Rising with that precise expectation, I was satisfied with Coogan’s telling of events and key participants.

I gave this book only four stars due to lack of organization. Apart from an introductory cautionary tale and an epilogue on the subsequent decades of history that followed, the entirety of events is presented in a single never-ending segment, jumping from one subject to the next. I would have preferred a few chapter breaks, but it’s a small criticism of what is otherwise a phenomenal account of the Easter Rising.

My Goodreads Rating: 4 Stars

4 | Easter 1916: The Irish Rebellion Charles Townshend

At the outbreak of the First World War in 1914, the contentious topic of Home Rule in Ireland is put on hold, frustrating Irish Nationalists who have put their trust in the political system to peacefully re-establish a government in Dublin and ultimately break free from British rule. A group of rebels resolves to take matters into their own hands, raising a volunteer army to foment insurrection against the Crown while it is distracted by the war abroad. On Easter Monday, 1916, the rebels take the British completely by surprise when they launch a full-scale rebellion throughout Dublin city.

British historian Charles Townshend provides a comprehensive, unbiased account of the events of the Easter Rising within the context of British Imperialism and World War I. Townshend consults the previously under-referenced Bureau of Military History Records to provide fresh details of the rebellion. However, in achieving this thorough, impartial tome aimed at conveying facts rather than reveling in the heroism of the rebels, the author forfeits passion by neglecting to flesh out the notable people involved. The stories of key figures like the religiously devout Patrick Pearse who embraced and romanticized martyrdom, the workers’ advocate James Connolly who stood up for the rights of the people, and the long-suffering Tom Clarke who spent 15 years in British prisons are what stir the emotions of the reader and make them sympathize with the choices and sacrifices that were made in attempt to achieve Irish independence. Without these character developments and insight into the leaders’ motivations, the book feels cold and technical at times, though indisputably well-researched.

My Goodreads Rating: 4 Stars

5 | The Insurrection in Dublin: An Eyewitness Account of the Easter Rising, 1916 James Stephens

First published in 1916 shortly after the events of the Rising, Irish writer James Stephens records his observations of the insurrection day by day. He includes details of the general atmosphere in Dublin during the siege, both grim and amusing anecdotes, and rumors and predictions circulating the city at the time. He makes a concerted effort to analyze the causes of the rebellion and offers insights into the potential enduring legacy of the Rising that prove to be rather prophetic. Even by the time of writing the Foreword for publication a few months after his initial recordings, he notes that sentiments have changed in Ireland: A bitterness toward England now exists that did not at the time of the Rising. Unbeknownst to Stephens, that bitterness would lead to another war for independence in Ireland a few years later.

Stephens was a dedicated Irish Republican and close friend of the poet and playwright Thomas MacDonagh, one of the executed leaders, so his account is meatier and more knowledgeable of the circumstances than the average bystander. Even so, Stephens writes without the benefit of hindsight or the wealth of resources afforded the typical historian, making this book unique in its place in history. The 1999 Barnes & Noble edition I read includes an introduction and an afterword to give the narrative historical context, though by the time I read this book I was well-versed in the history surrounding the Easter Rising.

My Goodreads Rating: 4 Stars

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Further Resources:

The three-part PBS documentary 1916: The Irish Rebellion narrated by actor Liam Neeson is an informative, heartfelt account of the Easter Rising.

Season 1 of the Netflix series Rebellion covers the events of the Easter Rising in a fictionalized drama series.

Click to listen to Irish rebel songs about the Rising and its leaders:

“Padraig Pearse” performed by The Wolfe Tones

“James Connolly” performed by The Wolfe Tones

“Arbour Hill” performed by Derek Warfield & The Young Wolfe Tones

“Grace” performed by The High Kings

“The Foggy Dew” performed by The Young Dubliners