Sean Macstiofain (3 results)

Hardcover. Condition: Near Fine. Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good. 1st Edition. A clean unmarked copy in the dust wrapper, nick to the top of the spine but the wrapper is complete. Scarce.

Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good. First Edition. First printing of the true first edition. Illustrated with eight pages of monochrome photographs. A true first edition, published in 1975 at the height of "The Troubles", by an obscure publisher (Gordon Cremonesi) most likely due to the nature of the subject of the book. ***This copy SIGNED & DATED by the author - very scarce signed. ***Very good in tan cloth-covered boards with gilt titles to the spine. The gilt is still nice and bright. Boards clean and unmarked, but slightly torn (two closed tears) at the bottom of the spine where the book has been pulled off a shelf. Head and tail of spine slightly creased. Corners sharp. Edges of page block clean with no foxing. No reading lean to the binding. Spine tight. Internally also very good with the authors inscription as mentioned to the title page. Pages clean. No creases or tears. ***In a very good colour illustrated dustwrapper, which has not been price-clipped, retaining the original publisher's printed price of £6.00 net on the front flap. The dustwrapper is complete, with just a couple of small closed tears at the head of the spine. Edges of dustwrapper slightly rubbed and creased. Orange lettering to spine only very slightly faded. The red lettering on the spine has faded - the orange titles remain bright. No significant creases or tears. ***372 pages including a detailed eight-page index at the back of the book. ***240mm x 160mm. ***'This is the forthright autobiography of a revolutionary - the one-time 'Chief of Staff' of the Provisional Irish Republican Army and a major figure in the tragedy of Northern Ireland. It is also a detailed account of recent events in that unhappy province as seen and experienced by a dedicated republican. Again, it is a history of the IRA and the 'Provos' over a quarter of a century. ---This controversial book is indispensable reading to anyone - whatever his or her own opinion of "The Irish Question" - wishing to weigh the rights and wrongs which have led to one of the darkest periods in the history of these islands. ---MacStiofain has been in the forefront of IRA policy making - first as the organisation's intelligence chief and then, after 1969, as "Chief of Staff" of the Provisionals. It has been his responsibility to interpret British policy and to create the pattern of his movement's strategy. ---Many have regarded him as a 'terrorist'; others have seen him as a fanatic motivated solely by a thirst for destruction. He, however, regards his twenty-five years in the republican movement as twenty-five years of hard work for the cause in which he believes. ---Few revolutionary leaders in this century have recorded precise, detailed accounts of how their movements were organised and policy decided. Fewer still have revealed how operations were planned. Or discussed their relations with friends, enemies and families. ---MacStiofain's guerrilla activities have stemmed from his own interpretation of Irish history and his conviction that Northern Ireland is 'occupied' territory. Here is his explanation of what he has done and why he has done it.' (Quote taken from the front flap of the dustwrapper) *** A valuable work written by one of the founding members of the Provisional IRA. The book gives a good feel of the tensions and issues of what are now referred to as the 'dark days' of the early seventies. An extremely hard to find first edition, long out of print. This is a scarce title anyway, but particularly scarce signed and dated in 1975 at the time of publication. ***For all our books, postage is charged at cost, allowing for packaging: any shipping rates indicated on ABE are an average only: we will reduce the P & P charge where appropriate - please contact us for postal rates for heavier books and sets etc. Signed by Author(s).

Hardcover. Condition: Good. Fairly good condition for year.