Published By
Created On
5 Feb 2021 04:02:01 UTC
Transaction ID
Cost
Safe for Work
Free
Yes
More from the publisher
83274
Author: Barry Whelan
File Type: pdf
Leopold Kerney was one of the most influential diplomats of twentieth-century Irish history. This book presents the first comprehensive biography of Kerneys career in its entirety from his recruitment to the diplomatic service to his time in France, Spain, Argentina, and Chile. Barry Whelans work provides fascinating new perceptions of Irish diplomatic history at seminal periods of the twentieth century, including the War of Independence, the Irish Civil War, the Anglo-Irish Economic War, the Spanish Civil War, and World War II, from an eyewitness to those events. Drawing on over a decade of archival research in repositories in France, Germany, Britain, Spain, and Ireland, as well as through unique and unrestricted access to Kerneys private papers, Whelan successfully challenges previously published analyses of Kerneys work and debunks many of the perceived controversies surrounding his career. Irelands Revolutionary Diplomatbrings to life Kerneys connections with leading Irish figures from the revolutionary generation including Michael Collins, Ernest Blythe, George Gavan Duffy, Desmond FitzGerald, Arthur Griffith, and Sean T. OKelly, as well as his diplomatic colleagues in the service. More importantly, the book illuminates the decades-long friendship Kerney enjoyed with Eamon de Valerathe most important Irish political figure of the twentieth centuryand shows how the Chief trusted and rewarded his friend throughout their long association. The book offers a fresh understanding of the Department of External Affairs and critically assesses the roles of Joseph Walshe, secretary of the department, as well as Colonel Dan Bryan, director of G2 (Irish Army Military Intelligence), who both conspired to destroy Kerneys reputation and career during and after World War II. Whelan sheds new light on other events in Kerneys career, such as his confidential reports from fascist Spain that exposed General Francisco Francos crimes against his people. Whelan challenges other events previously seen by some historians as controversial, including Kerneys major role in the Frank Ryan case, his contact with senior Nazi figures, especially Dr. Edmund Veesenmayer and German military intelligence, and his libel case against an acclaimed Irish historian Professor Desmond Williams. This book offers new observations on how Nazi Germany tried to utilize Kerney, unsuccessfully, as a liaison between the Irish government and Hitlers regime. Captured German documents reveal the extent of this secret plan to alter Irish neutrality during World War II, which concerned both Adolf Hitler and the leading Nazis of his regime. Review Leopold Kerney is a worthy subject for a full-length book not only in the biographical sense but also because of the light it throws on interwar international relations. It is a major treatment of the career of a diplomat from the early years of the Irish state. (Peter Collins, editor of Nationalism and Unionism Conflict in Ireland, 18851921) Irelands Revolutionary Diplomat provides a much-needed study of Leopold Kerney, an important but often overlooked figure in Irelands turbulent twentieth-century political history. Barry Whelan presents a balanced, meticulous, and thorough work that is a delight to read. You will not be disappointed. (Timothy J. Demy, U.S. Naval War College) This biography of Leopold Kerney focuses on his time in Spain during the Spanish Civil War and the first decade of the Francoist regime. The work draws on the previously unavailable private papers of Kerney. To me, the central point illuminated by this book is the difficulties in moving from a clientalist system to a professionalized civil service. Barry Whelan has done an admirable job highlighting this issue. (Jason Knirck, Central Washington University) Barry Whelan has produced a well-written and impressively sourced portrait of Leopold Kerney, Irelands controversial Minister to Spain between 1935 and 1946, tracing his political development from liberal Protestantism to De Valerite Republicanism. Whelan has rescued Kerneys reputation, showing him to be a loyal servant of the new Irish State, a humane man with an independent mind who was denigrated by conservative colleagues in Dublin and later subjected to unfair treatment at the hands of revisionist Irish historians. (Barry McLoughlin, Vienna University) This new study of Leopold Kerney provides a fascinating account of a largely overlooked figure in Irish history. As a biography, it fulfills an important role, but it also provides a valuable new perspective on Irish, French, and Spanish political culture in the early twentieth century. Barry Whelans use of sources is excellent, and he provides an insightful account of the career of an Irish diplomat during a turbulent period in Europes history. Highly recommended for anyone interested in this period or in politics and history in general. (David Murphy, Maynooth University) About the Author Barry Whelan is a lecturer of Irish and European history at Dublin City University.
Transaction
Created
3 weeks ago
Content Type
Language
application/pdf
English