On Another Man's Wound
by Ernie O'Malley
Buy on AmazonMore than any other book of the period, On Another Man's Wound captures the feel of Ireland—the way people lived, their attitudes and beliefs—and paints brilliant cameo sketches of the great personalities of the Rising and the War. Like many of the Irish, O'Malley was largely indifferent to the attempts to establish an independent Ireland—until the Easter Rising of 1916. As the fight progressed his feelings changed and he joined the Irish Republican Army.
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"On Another Man’s Wound takes its title from an old Ulster proverb—”It’s easy to sleep on another man’s wound.” First published in 1936, it remains the defining account of Ireland’s revolutionary years from 1916 to 1921. Through vivid, lyrical prose, O’Malley captures the texture of Irish life at the time—the beliefs, songs, legends, and landscapes that shaped a generation. His portraits of comrades and leaders bring the era to life with immediacy and depth. The story continues in The Singing Flame , charting O’Malley’s Civil War experiences, and Raids and Rallies , recounting his comrades’ campaigns—both also published by Mercier Press."
Five Books That Capture the Irish Struggle for Freedom · fivebooks.com