- Paperback: 256 pages
- Publisher: Brandon / Mount Eagle Publications Ltd; New edition edition (1 Jun 2003)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0863223125
- ISBN-13: 978-0863223129
- Product Dimensions: 19.4 x 13 x 2 cm
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 691,689 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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More About the Author
Product Description
Senator George Mitchell
There is not a more impressive politician in Northern Ireland than David Ervine.
--This text refers to the
Hardcover
edition.
Book Description
In the wake of the loyalist ceasefire of October 1994 many were surprised by the appearance, as if from nowhere, of a new, personable breed of spokesmen, who were open-minded and down-to-earth. None have impressed more than David Ervine, whose ready wit and refreshing manner have given sympathetic expression to a new unionism. In this fascinating biography of a remarkable man, Henry Sinnerton tells the inside story of the personal and political path taken by David Ervine, one of the most courageous architects of conflict resolution in Northern Ireland.
His journey began in a working-class terrace house in east Belfast, where he grew up identifying closely with the community of which he was part. Leaving school before his fifteenth birthday, he began his working life in an atmosphere not just of tension but of violent confrontation. At 19 he joined the UVF, believing that this was the necessary way to defend his community. He was arrested in 1974 for possession of explosives, and convicted. He served his sentence in Long Kesh, a wasteland that he and other prisoners transformed into a place of personal and political growth and development. Released in 1980, he stood in local council elections as a Progressive Unionist Party candidate in 1985, and when the militarists of the UVF were seeking a new way forward, it was to Ervine they turned. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I felt cheated by the blurb on the back cover of this book which describes it as a " fascinating biography of a remarkable man " and yet that is not a criticism of the author !
David Irvine has been a public figure for some years now and with him what you see is what you get. As the author himself says, "...but the pervading sense that abides (with Irvine) is honesty." Therefore when the author relates how Mr Irvine came to a decision, dealt with a situation, formulated a plan, or expressed an opinion it is as if he (the author) is telling the reader something they already knew!! I am however grateful to Henry Sinnerton for confirming my opinions of David Irvine.
David Irvine has been a public figure for some years now and with him what you see is what you get. As the author himself says, "...but the pervading sense that abides (with Irvine) is honesty." Therefore when the author relates how Mr Irvine came to a decision, dealt with a situation, formulated a plan, or expressed an opinion it is as if he (the author) is telling the reader something they already knew!! I am however grateful to Henry Sinnerton for confirming my opinions of David Irvine.
So in my view this book is not so much a biography of David Irvine as an account of the birth and early years of Loyalist politics, an analysis of the relationship between the different strands of Unionism and a fine synopsis of the birth of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement and the part that David Irvine and the PUP played in it all.
I enjoyed reading this book. It is very well written. Like the subject himself it is honest and down to earth. I found it very educational and would thoroughly recommend it to anyone seeking an insight into Loyalist politicians' aspirations regarding the future of this island and its people.
Format:Paperback
Growing up I thought the usual things that most people I suppose think about Northern Ireland, the Unionists were the oppressors and the Catholics were the downtrodden of the province.
Reading this book and others about working class Loyalist communities I began to realise that actually the real victims of the Northern Irish conflict were predominantly the working class people of both sides. They usually suffered the worst attacks and lost the most dead and injured as a consequence. Some Loyalists realised this and began to see the virtue of questioning the whole concept of the "Orange State for an Orange People". Was it in fact an "Orange State for the ruling Orange (Upper)Class"??? This book is of a brilliant man and politican who asked these questions and many more.
An excellent book to read and one that will cause you to question many assumptions that you may hold about the nature of the whole conflict in Northern Ireland.
Reading this book and others about working class Loyalist communities I began to realise that actually the real victims of the Northern Irish conflict were predominantly the working class people of both sides. They usually suffered the worst attacks and lost the most dead and injured as a consequence. Some Loyalists realised this and began to see the virtue of questioning the whole concept of the "Orange State for an Orange People". Was it in fact an "Orange State for the ruling Orange (Upper)Class"??? This book is of a brilliant man and politican who asked these questions and many more.
An excellent book to read and one that will cause you to question many assumptions that you may hold about the nature of the whole conflict in Northern Ireland.
Format:Paperback
I would say this book was a political biograph of David Ervine. It really charts David Ervine political journey from being a member of the UVF being caught and imprisoned in the Long Kesh compounds.
It then shows Ervine grow from someone who was following orders to someone who questions everything, under the guidance of Gusty Spence. In some way Ervine's journey is similar to that which many IRA prisoners have taken.
This book documents the political think of Ervine and how he formed his ideas and how he talked with all the other political parties. Even how some of his ideas were incorporated into the Good Friday Agreement.
In some way his ideas were well before their time and this books outlines quite a lot of those ideas and for that reason this book is worth a read, whether you are loyalist, nationalist, republican or unionist.
It then shows Ervine grow from someone who was following orders to someone who questions everything, under the guidance of Gusty Spence. In some way Ervine's journey is similar to that which many IRA prisoners have taken.
This book documents the political think of Ervine and how he formed his ideas and how he talked with all the other political parties. Even how some of his ideas were incorporated into the Good Friday Agreement.
In some way his ideas were well before their time and this books outlines quite a lot of those ideas and for that reason this book is worth a read, whether you are loyalist, nationalist, republican or unionist.
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