Ten Men Dead: The Story of the 1981 Irish Hunger Strike

"Ten Men Dead" is the story of the 10 1981 Irish Republican Army hunger strikers. All starved themselves to death protesting both the British occupation of Northern Ireland and their own treatment in Long Kesh Gaol. TMD is as much about the families and loved ones involved as it is about the 10. TMD is well researched and documented, despite the cries of at least one previous reviewer, claiming it to be "fiction". TMD is not "fiction"! In fact, author Beresford was granted extraordinary access and cooperation by the IRA high command. The powers that were allowed Beresford to research scores of "comms", secret messages smuggled in and out of Long Kesh in "body orifices" of prisoners. The comms circulated behind the prison walls in the same shadowy and earthy fashion. The author has performed a first rate job of painting the background and context of a very grim situation. TMD is fast moving and rapid reading. It maintains suspense and interest throughout, though many readers will already be aware of the outcome. A nice postscript closes the circle for some of the families and supporters. Books like TMD allow Irish Americans to stay connected with the home country without being consumed by "the Troubles". We owe it to ourselves to periodically do so. Like many,if not most, previous books and movies concerning Ireland, TMD assumes a prior knowledge of that country's strifes and difficulties. Eager readers without such insight should pick up the drift quickly enough. On a closing note, this reviewer was truly saddened by some of the reviews which follow below. The harsh and mean-spirited tone of some is a perfect example of the difficult atmosphere good people on both sides of the "the Troubles" must face every day.

Social protest takes many forms. Some simply write letters. Some picket, or go on strike, risking their jobs. Some even go on a hunger strike for a few days.The ten members of the IRA whose story is told (in incredibly moving detail) in this book take social protest to a level most of us are not familiar with. They quite literally agreed to sacrifice their lives...not in one fell swoop (like those who set themselves on fire), but in a slow, agonizing death drawn out over many weeks.This is true dedication to a cause. Having read the book, one is tempted to view all other social protests as half-hearted. Of course, their protest only made sense because of the mass organization and widespread support the strikers had, both inside the prison and on the street. Bobby sands was actually elected to Parliment while dying!Anyone who wants to learn about what it takes to effect change, and the pitfalls of adopting such radical tactics, must read this book.

Outstanding book, a classic. Excellent writing and fascinating information using special access to secret documents. If you're interested in the Irish Hunger strike and the politics around them, this is the book for you.

Love it!

Great book

something I didn't know about and now I do

Great condition.

Great !

David Beresford was the "Guardian" correspondent in Belfast during the time of the H Block hunger strikes in 1980-81.He has had remarkable access to some secret republican archive-though according to Ed Maloney,his access was restricted and censored,probably without his knowledge.The IRA/INLA prisoners communicated with the outside world though what they called "comms",messages written on cigarette papers and then smuggled out by visitors.This is the archive that Beresford tapped into,and it is most revealing.He also has interviewed overground leaders in Britain and Ireland,including Catholic Church leaders,and his portrait of them is far from flattering.He recounts how Cardinal O'Fiach once complained to Margaret Thatcher about British press coverage of him, and Mrs. devastatingly said "Well,have you seen what they write about me?"The claustrophobic nightmare of the H Blocks is well depicted,and at the end,Beresford quotes a comm from an IRA prisoner talking about the need to intensify and develop political activity-even to the extent of imagining a republican MP putting accross Sinn Fein arguments in the House of Commons.Knowingly or unknowingly,this (anonymous)prisoner foresaw the IRA/Sinn Fein strategy from 1981 onwards,which culminated in the 1997 Good Friday agreements,even if Gerry Adams never made it to Westminister in the end.I read this when it first came out in 1987,I don't know if they're is a new edition.It is great reportage,well worth reading whatever your position on Northern Ireland.Also,in just two years,the British official records of this period will become available to scholars-maybe that is the time for a new edition.

Without reading this book it is nearly impossible to understand Irish Republican thought and action.Every once in a while a book comes along and is able to fully comprehend and explain its subject matter. This is one of these books. If you only read one book about the recent conflict in Ireland make sure it is this bookTo understand the importance and complexity of the 1981 Hunger Strike in which 10 ordinary men using their body as a final weapon of last resort slowly and painfully starved to death to show the world that they were political prisoners. Read the book and you will understand as more recent events demonstrated, such as the Good Friday Agreement, that only a political agreement with all of the differing groups in Ireland is the only way to find a lasting peace in Ireland.

The book arrived on time but was ripped on the inside So not sure about tge senders credibility. I have read this book befire and would recommend it to anyone wjo wants to know about the suffering Republican prisoners went through during the blanket an hunger strike protests5 stars for the book itself1 star for the sender an the condition of the item

Tedious at times. Hunger strikers used as pawns.

Was really interesting although perhaps more so if you can relate to it and grew up in Ireland with all the troubles. Those men really were passionate about what they believed in and obviously went through hell, as did a lot of people on both sides at the time.