One bold deed of open treason
Subtitle: the Berlin diary of Roger Casement 1914-1916
By: edited by Angus Mitchell
Contributors: Mitchell, Angus, editor
Publisher: Merrion Press
Published: 2016
Place of publication: Sallins, Co. Kildare
Language: eng
Number of pages: 280
ISBN-13: 9781785370571; 9781785370564; 9781785370588; 9781785370595; 9781785370601
Subjects: Diaries; Nationalists; Biography; Nationalistes; Biographies
Description: One Bold Deed of Open Treason describes the astonishing journey by Roger Casement to Germany in 1914, via USA and Norway, to secure support from the German government for the Irish Volunteer's military plan against the British, and to recruit an "Irish Brigade" from the 2,000 Irish prisoners-of-war taken in the early months of the war. Through his vivid and gripping diary entries - that read like a spy novel and reveal the motives behind his pivotal role in the Easter Rising - his mission to seek arms and ammunition from Germany was to be the deciding factor in the outcome of the Irish insurrection. Casement's story is an essential component in understanding the European context of the Rising and the reference to 'our gallant allies in Europe' within the Proclamation of the Republic. A prolific diarist, Casement recorded his daily movements and efforts to complete his mission and ultimately return to Ireland with enough guns and ammunition for the planned Rising; but in a terrible irony, his diary was to seal his fate following his capture on the sands of Banna Strand in North Kerry in April 1916, on board the Aud Norge with a cargo of rifles, machine guns and ammunition. With an expert editorial hand, Angus Mitchell provides clear context to Casement's diaries, also revealing his gruelling visit to the Western Front, the shocking interplay between the Easter Rising and the international theatre of the First World War, and the grand, self-destructive conclusion of an unremitting life.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (pages 271-273) and index.
Table of contents: title: pt. I, An introduction by Angus Mitchell :; title: The politics of diary writing; Dispersal of papers; Publication of the diaries; Notes on the editing; title: pt. II, The diaries :; title: A brief account of the journey from Ireland to New York; On the train; My journey to the German headquarters at Charlville (12-19 November 1914); Berlin (24 November to 2 December 1914); Limburg (3 to 10 December 1914); Berlin (11 to 27 December 1914); Limburg revisited (8-22 January 1915); Berlin (23 January to 11 February 1915); Bridgin entry (March to December 1915); A last page (17 March to 11 April 1916); title: pt. III, Appendices :; title: Appendix 1: Why I went to Germany; title: Appendix 2: Roger Casement's letter to Sir Edward Grey; title: Appendix 3: The treaty; title: Appendix 4: Biographies.