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paradisecreated's review against another edition
Absolutely loved it. It is incredible how sharp her analysis is at such a young age, but then it is entirely formed by lived experience first as she is so committed to her community, so this makes sense. Her politics are real, not simply theory.
caitlin21521's review
3.0
provides quite a bit of insight on the sectarian situation in Northern Ireland in the 1960s. It's a bit twofold - partly about Bernadette's upbringing and her parents, and partly about her political career and Irish politics. It does get a little confusing especially during her election because there are so many opponents and political figures to keep track of, and I'm not especially familiar with them. But it's also a bit of a primer on socialist revolutions.
rachelagain's review
5.0
Part memoir, part thesis, part explanatory memo - this is a must read for anyone interested in the history or present of Northern Ireland. Devlin recounts her early life in Cookstown, how her politics were shaped by poverty and education, the events of 1968-69, the rise and fall of People's Democracy, and her election as MP for Mid-Ulster.
The highlights of the book are Devlin's astute analysis of political players in Northern Ireland, Dublin and Westminster, and her nuanced examination of segregation's impact on CNR and PUL working classes at that time. Unfortunately, so much of her analysis remains relevant to present day Northern Ireland and is far superior to the vast majority of contemporary political commentary despite being written 4 decades ago.
It's a shame that this book is no longer in print and therefore difficult to access. I hope that it can find a new audience through future publication in e-book form.
The highlights of the book are Devlin's astute analysis of political players in Northern Ireland, Dublin and Westminster, and her nuanced examination of segregation's impact on CNR and PUL working classes at that time. Unfortunately, so much of her analysis remains relevant to present day Northern Ireland and is far superior to the vast majority of contemporary political commentary despite being written 4 decades ago.
It's a shame that this book is no longer in print and therefore difficult to access. I hope that it can find a new audience through future publication in e-book form.
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