The man who made ireland

The notion of violence as a commonplace aspect of both Irish political and social life in the 20th century. From the Easter Rebellion in 1916, to the IRA and their paramilitary efforts; violence, on a state sponsored as well as in extra-military affairs, has persistently served to shape life in Ireland. From the center of this conflict and turmoil arose a young military man, Michael Collins. In his detailed account, Michael Collins: The Man Who Made Ireland, author Tim Pat Coogan outlines Collins ascent from his youth to his ultimate place in Irish history. Collins rose the ranks in a few short years to become one of the most influential and powerful men in all of Irish history, and Coogan outlines his rise.

In this intricate biography, Tim Pat Coogan carefully crafts a structural framework for the legend that Collins' life has become. The book opens with an account of the Rebels captured after the Easter rising in 1916.

English: Sackville (now O'Connell) Street, Dublin,...

The Easter Proclamation of 1916.

A plaque commemorating the Easter Rising at the Ge...

The purpose of this chronicle is to provide a mini preview for the reader of where it is that Collins will be headed in his life. From here the author reverts back to the childhood of Michael Collins in the chapter titled "The Little Fella." Now for those readers, who are unclear on who Michael Collins was or what he eventually did for the nation state of Ireland, there is an important foreshadowing at the beginning of this chapter. Placed in a non-attention-drawing manner at the top of the page is a quote from Michael Collins Sr.: "One day he'll be a great man. He'll do great work for Ireland." If a reader is unaware or not paying attention, they are likely to miss this forecast. The elder Collins uttered these prophetic words on his deathbed…when the younger Collins was only...