A Path To Freedom

Published in 2010, several years after the first paperback version of it, "A Path To Freedom" dates all the way back to 1922, when the Irish had just managed to get the British out of most of the country and Michael Collins, "The Big Fella", was dealing with the beginnings of the Irish Civil War. Because he was killed before the war's end, Collins refers to the newly-established Irish Free State's disagreements as an ongoing problem, and is obviously unable to comment on anything that happened later in the war or afterwards. That, however, is really just a footnote, and in no way does it make "A Path To Freedom" not worth reading.This is one of the shortest books I've ever read, of any kind. A mere 80 pages long, "A Path To Freedom" is the same kind of book as General George S. Patton III's "War As I Knew It". In both cases, you are reading an unfinished and unpolished but nonetheless excellent work, constantly giving you hints of what it could have been if its author had lived to refine and perfect it. Both books are "a diamond in the rough", as I believe the saying goes. Unfinished, but the diamond's brilliance shines through nonetheless.And that brilliance does shine through. Reading through these eighty pages, you will surely begin to realize something- this is an intelligent man you're dealing with, here. Not the uneducated, rude and crude country bumpkin that some would have you believe he was, but an exceptionally well-informed and intelligent self-made soldier and statesman. Collins writes about the British invasion and occupation of Ireland, their extensive efforts at what basically amounts to terrorist campaigns against the Irish people and a genocidal effort towards anything Irish. He details how many Irish saw World War I and the role of Germany, Britain, and the United States in it. Collins clearly saw the British as hypocrites and wished for the world to brand them as such- they boasted to be fighting for the freedom of smaller nations, while denying Ireland that very thing. WWI presented an opportunity for the Irish to rise up while Britain's strength was occupied elsewhere- thus, the 1916 Easter Rising occurred. Collins comments that while the battle was a loss, it showed both Britain and Ireland that freedom was something many Irish wanted to have and were willing to fight for.Elsewhere in the book, Collins describes the IRA's campaign to run the British out of Ireland and his hopes to retake the six counties of Northern Ireland as well. His plans to that effect were, ironically, cancelled by the Anti-Treaty Republicans starting the Irish Civil War and their killing of The Big Fella. And speaking of the Republicans- Michael Collins addresses their, and in particular, Eamon De Valera's arguments against the Treaty and their own ideas on what should take its place. He addresses and refutes Document No. 2 clause by clause. In closing he says of it, "It merely attaches a fresh label to the same parcel, or, rather, a label written, on purpose, illegibly in the hope of making belief that the parcel is other than it is."Michael Collins believed fully in the IRA and its original mission. He believed, without a doubt, in the Treaty and the Irish Free State- because, to him, those were the most Ireland could have got from the British at the time, and that giving in to the Anti-Treaty Republicans' demands would have been madness. The thing that impressed me even more than Collins' intelligence was how clearly he was nothing other than an Irish patriot. People who think he was a traitor to Ireland obviously never knew him.This is one of the shortest, and yet one of the very best, books I've ever read. It tells a great deal about who Michael Collins was and how he viewed the politics of his time. The hardcover version is very nicely done- the only thing that isn't a fine Irish green is the black lettering of the title, a small part of the image of Michael Collins on the front, and the white of the interior pages. To be honest, green was not the color I had expected the hardcover to be- the cover image slipped my mind, I guess- but now that I think about it, no other color would have been appropriate.

Really good insight into what he was fighting for. A great read for anybody interested in that part of Irish history.

My Irish roots get me to read much about my great Grandfather's & Grandmother's homeland which helps me to connect to my roots. This book is told by Michael Collins who played an important role in kicking Britain out of most of our beloved country in the early 1920's. Others of like-mind will enjoy this read as it is from Mic's heart and soul about how he helped to bring back Ireland to the Irish rule after 800 long years of oppression. There are still 6 County's that need to be brought into the fray and one day it will happen, God willing !

Especially for such a young man he was brilliant with a very old soul. He had such insight. I wonder what the world would have looked like or at least his world in Ireland had he lived. If you want to hear the mans words in book form here it is.

If you haven't seen the movie Michael Collins starring Liam Neeson then you should and read this book to get a fuller picture of what an amazing man Collins was. I was struck by the passion in the pages, how coherently - and consistently - Collins framed his arguments for a free and independent Ireland. I was shocked to be reminded that he was so young when he put pen to paper to create these essays. Collins clearly knew what he was talking about!

Michael Collins was a fascinating character, and this collection of his public statements gives a good idea of what he stood and fought for.Ireland was lucky to have had him.

This book was amazing to me because I had no idea that Michael Collins was so articulate. Thank goodness 'the troubles' are over mostly because reading his articles & speeches will get any Irishman or woman's back hair up. While visiting Ireland recently we found that Michael Collins is still incredibly beloved - they even sell his likeness in miniature at the Tin Soldier Factory.

This is a book of essays composed by Michael Collins. It is NOT a book filled with plots; it is a thoughtful presentation of the events of the time 1921-22 and his viewpoints.

Inspired reading from a great man.

Money well spent, good delivery time and good quality.The book itself is what it is, the words written my Mr. Collins himself.They truly do give you an insight to the man himself. Difficult read at times but none the less, a good book.

A bit of an eye-opener for any of you who have bought into the legend of the freedom-fighter cruelly cut down by enemies who never really gave the treaty a fair chance. He reveals his true colours in several places, most notably in the parts where he says that socialism is not the Irish way or for the Irish people, a total betrayal of all that James Connolly and the gallant men of the Irish Citizen Army believed in and died for. Instead, his ideal New Ireland was one of a Gaelic-speaking peasant economy. And history speaks for itself; Collins and the rest of the Free- Staters couldn't don those second-hand British uniforms quick enough, could they?

One of the best books I’ve ever read.

very interesting read