Immortal Irishman | Timothy Egan

Can Timothy Egan write a bad book? Nope, don't think so. This was one I wasn't familiar with and it was great. A bit slow going in parts, especially the start, but stick with it. I learned so much about Irish history (and what the English Crown did to them--kinda makes me rethink my BBC fixation), and Civil War history and even some early settling of the American West. Fascinating stuff.

The Irishman of the title is Thomas Francis Meagher (pronounced "mar"), a rebel from an early age who strives to make things better for himself and his fellow Irishman. Here's a guy who led rebellions during the Great Hunger in Ireland, was banished to Tasmania, escapes from this island, makes his way to America, marries the daughter of one of the scion's of New York society, joins up with the North in the Civil War, becomes a General, and then is appointed to be the territorial governor of Montana. After which he vanishes. It's an incredible story and Egan does a great job telling it.

Meagher has a gift of gab and became prominent, in no small part, for his ability to speak and motivate people to action. For example, I had no idea that large numbers of Irishmen were recruited, by Meagher's rallying speeches, by the North in the Civil War. They were involved in some of the bloodiest battles of the war and were lauded for their fierceness and bravery.

Statues and tributes to Meagher are still standing, but to be honest, I'd never heard of him. Of course we've all heard about the potato famine and the arrival of so many Irish immigrants to America during this time. But the background on how this all came to be and how it was "managed" by the English was fascinating and horrifying and new to me. The details on banishment to Australia and Tasmania were really similarly interesting. The role of the Irish in helping the North during the Civil War was also detail that was new to me. To say that Meagher was an exceptional man isn't the half of it. Maybe I was out sick that day, but there was a lot of historical information that I hadn't know about, at least in the vivid detail that Egan provides in this story.

At a time when so many things are changing in America, it was a great reminder to read how America was such a shining beacon of opportunity for so many people who went on to build the country. And how much is at stake today.