Baba's Reviews > Through the Barricades

No movement can be assured of success that has not a woman in it"
---Denise Deegan, Through the Barricades.
Oestensibly this is a love story across the divided Dublin before, and during the Easter Rising (Google it) in 1916. Starting from before the Great War and focusing on the couple in their late childhoods, Deegan expertly draws a picture of the enforced poverty and destitution of the Irish masses under the pretty awful rule of the British Empire, an Empire working hand-in-hand with many of the Irish middle, upper and business classes. This story is that much more impactful because the inequalities are seen through the eyes of the cast and not through an omniscient narrator . The romantic storyline in itself is quite interesting and far from a distraction. The coming of the Great War also gave Deegan another opportunity to show us the savage tragedy that war is, this time through the eyes of 17 year old Irish boys! Overall it's paradoxically detailed, yet seemingly light-touch look at pre-Easter Rising Dublin and the portrayal of the varying perspectives and views that make this book a pretty interesting read.

When I read any book about British 'colonies' it opens my eyes just how much history has been white washed in favour of mostly White, mostly Protestant, mostly male Europeans, and the reason why we haven't learnt from history... is because we haven't been teaching and learning history, it's just propaganda to make the current powers not feel too guilty about how, and where their wealth is derived from. All-in-all a really interesting read, one that has stirred up a keen interest in the Ireland of the past for me. 7.5 out of 12