Immortal Irishman: The Irish Revolutionary Who Became an American Hero | 
pickMeagher was an elite Catholic revolutionary in 1840s Ireland. The nugget for me that conveys the book's able addressing of Meagher‘s Irish and American contexts together was that the Irish recruits in the Union Army were not necessarily abolitionist- in his Army role, Meagher ignored Lincoln/slavery when organizing Irishmen. Ironically, freedom for Ireland did not always translate to support of freedom for others
pickWell-researched narrative of the incredible life of Thomas Francis Meagher. He led a failed uprising against British rule in Ireland, was banished to Tasmania for life, escaped and made his way to America where he served as general of the Irish Brigade in the Civil War, and became governor of the Montana Territory—all before the age of 43.
Have book, will wait for ferry from Kitsap Peninsula into Seattle.
I mean, everyone goes on vacation with a fully stocked e-reader AND two extra paperbacks just in case AND stops at several local bookstores during their trip and buys even more books that will have to fit into the already jam-packed carry-on suitcase. Right?
#BookNDinner! Part 2, entrée. #LonghornSteakhouse Edition. I forgot my book, so an audiobook it is! Accompaniment so far this very calm and pleasant evening: a giant medium bone-in ribeye , mushrooms, loaded baked potato, and nice hot bread & butter, with iced tea. MMMmmmmm ?! Happy reads & happy eats! ???
#BookNDinner! Part 1, appetizer. #LonghornSteakhouse Edition. I forgot my book, so an audiobook it is! Accompaniment so far this very calm and pleasant evening: baked potato soup with bacon and scallions, a Caesar salad, and nice hot bread & butter, with iced tea (the bourbon looked awesome, but I‘ve gotta drive home 🙈). MMMMmmm 😋! Happy reads & happy eats! 😎👌🏻
Are you listening to any audiobooks right now?! This one‘s fantastic if you like biographies 😁👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻. Do you use different speeds?
As you can see, revolutionary American history has always been my main historical specialty, so The Immortal Irishman is a bit different; but I loved it so much! All four of these books are great. #behindthescenesatbookmans
pickFascinating. I had no idea who Marr* was before I read this book, and I learned so much. The Irish accent on the audible version was delightful. I had to speed-listen to the chapters about the famine because I was bawling my eyes out at work... and I actually almost quit it at one point because it was depressing me. But I hung on through the grim part, and once Marr fled captivity in Tasmania I was totally hooked.
*Note in comments.
My driving companion. ☘️
Making me Irish. 🍀
pickAnd so continues an incomplete education, with Timothy Egan as my guide through 19th century Irish history, the plight of immigrants in New York and then the awful morass of the Civil War. Listening to this #audiobook, I grew to despise the heartless British overlords whose policies during the potato famine exacerbated and prolonged the disaster.
pickWhat bookstore would let you don your wedding attire to launch a magazine? My favorite indie bookstore, Water Street Books in Exeter,NH. Over 25 years in business, and they have created a real bookish community. Litsy told me its indie bookstore month, hence the photo -- but Dan, the intrepid bookstore owner, did recommend this fab book ( Immortal Irishman) which I have read, enjoyed, and given 2 as gifts!
so-soLots and lots of details but not a narrative arc that was gripping for me. I did learn a lot about Irish history.
pickDense in a good way, this story traces Thomas Meagher from Irish revolutionary to prisoner on Tasmania to American Civil War hero to governor of Montana. An amazingly full life. I learned a lot!
The seven-plus years of organized torment originated in a letter from Pope Adrian IV in 1155, which empowered King Henry II to conquer Ireland and "it's rude and savage people."
