I've been reading many books of late about Irish history in general and Michael Collins in particular. I was fortunate to find this one in my read stack one night, when I wanted something "different" from the normal biography -- this book fit the bill!

First, it a collection of letters, with a few pages of text from the editor. These pages help place the letters into the context of Collins' and Kiernan's life.

Second, the editor didn't edit the letters (though there are few comments to explain a few obscure references); thus the reader is allowed to read the text with a minimum of "outside interruptions"; some people may not like this.

Third, there are a few photographs and samples of handwriting included. The photographs were what one would expect; they included the couple, as well as some mutual friends. What intrigued me more than the photos, were the samples of handwriting. Collins and Kiernan both referred to their pages as "quick notes" and such, yet the pages contained few cross outs and changes which indicated that that both writers gave their "quick notes" quite a bit of thought.

These letters are remarkable, as they allow the reader to see how the events impacted the writers; especially true for Collins, as he was quite dedicated to writing letters to Kiernan in addition to his duties. It is remarkable to read these notes from a man whose time was consumed by governmental duties, treaty negotiations and fighting yet still found the time to tell his beloved how much he loved her.

This volumne is a rare bird, as it both a book for historians and for lovers. Enjoy

These excerpts from the voluminous correspondence between Michael Collins and his fiance Kitty Kiernan reveal a rather strange relationship between a dynamic revolutionary leader-turned-statesman and a woman who seems almost totally focused on herself and virtually oblivious to the pressures and dangers under which he was laboring. The feelings between the two seem to reflect a range of emotions, including irritation, jealousy, perfunctory interest and exhaustion (his)during a particularly fascinating period of Irish history. One wonders what the attraction was between these two since she seems very little interested in or informed about the momentous events in which he was a key player. One also wonders whether the match would have been very successful had Collins lived long enough to marry his lady. Nonetheless, engrossing reading.

The Michael Collins we see in these letters is a man of deep feelings, not primarily for Kitty Kiernan (although that too), but for his country and his fellow Irish. It is hard to read these letters and understand where your editorial reviewer gets the idea that Collins was "vainglorious" or "petty" (was he/she perhaps thinking of DeValera?). Collins certainly had his faults but these were not among them and certainly are not reflected in these letters. Rather, we see a man tormented by the burden laid on him in trying to end the 700-year oppression by the British and save his country from the terrible civil war that ensued after the signing of the Treaty. These letters are fascinating in their revelations of both Collins' character and that of Kitty Kiernan, who comes across as rather shallow or at least uncomprehending of the terrific strain under which Collins labored. These are a must-read for anyone fascinated with Michael Collins and that era of Irish history.